> I have always thought that a mort cloth was just what you > described...until a recent exchange on the "Aberdeen list" on > more or > less the same subject. There the ever-so-authoritative Gavin > Bell > suggested that its origins were as a cover for the dead body > where there > was no coffin. For the first time I saw a purpose to it. > No doubt it was also used as an over-coffin drape Yes, it would have been used for both - either with or without an actual coffin. Anne

Anne Burgess wrote: >> I have always thought that a mort cloth was just what you >>described...until a recent exchange on the "Aberdeen list" on >>more or >>less the same subject. There the ever-so-authoritative Gavin >>Bell >>suggested that its origins were as a cover for the dead body >>where there >>was no coffin. For the first time I saw a purpose to it. >> No doubt it was also used as an over-coffin drape >> >> > >Yes, it would have been used for both - either with or without >an actual coffin. > > As late as the mid-18th century, in the Aberdeen town parish of St Nicholas, the town authorities (who controlled the kirkyard) made you pay extra if you were buried in a coffin (and oak was dearer than fir). There was also a sort of "in-between" arrangement known as a "half coffin" - essentially a flat board with a low rim attached. This would have been cheaper than a complete coffin. And some parishes apparently had a re-usable coffin. It is unclear whether this had a sort of trap-door arrangement, or whether the shrouded body was simply lifted out at the graveside. But all of these would have had the Mortcloth draped over them on their way to the grave as a mark of respect to the departed (and as another way for the parish to increase its revenue) Gavin Bell