Scott Riggs
On the Trail of Burke and Hare
William Burke and William Hare were two notorious serial killers, often mistakenly referred to as grave-robbers, who lived in Edinburgh in the 1820′s. They were responsible for the murder of sixteen innocent victims and sold their bodies to local anatomists for dissection before they were caught and tried at the High Court in Edinburgh. Hare turned King’s Evidence on his partner in crime, escaping with his life and fading into obscurity while Burke was publicly hanged in front of a baying crowd of 25,000 citizens in January of 1829.
But did you know that many of the actual locations in Edinburgh associated with Burke and Hare can still be seen and visited to this very day?
Tanners Close – was the site of Hare’s lodging house and stood in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle. Neither the old tenement building nor Tanners Close now exist and a modern, private car park marks the spot where the building once stood. It is accessed from a lane known as Kings Stables Road in the West Port area of Edinburgh, just off the Grassmarket. All but one of Burke and Hare’s known victims were murdered in the alleyway which was then Tanners Close.
West Port – a street in the Old Town of Edinburgh, just south of Edinburgh Castle and running from Main Point, at the junction of Bread Street, Lauriston Street, East Fountainbridge and High Riggs, to the south west corner of the Grassmarket. The name is derived from the West Port which was the only westwards exit from the city at the time when the city walls stood, allowing a passage through the old Flodden Wall. It was in this squalid part of the Old Town that Burke and Hare lived and committed their crimes, hence why they are often referred to as the West Port Murderers.
Grassmarket – located at the foot of Edinburgh Castle and adjacent to the Cowgate. Originally an open, cobbled market square and the location of some of Edinburgh’s tallest buildings, some of eight or nine stories, the Grassmarket was also a scene of public executions, the last being held there in 1784. It was from here that Burke and Hare lured many of their unsuspecting victims to their deaths.
Surgeons Square – located behind the Old High School Building and the New Surgical Hospital, off High School Yards. Several of the houses around the square were used for privately-run anatomy classes including those conducted by the famous Dr. Robert Knox at Number 10, Surgeons Square. It was to this address that Burke and Hare delivered the freshly killed corpses of their victims for dissection.
Gibb’s Close – in the Canongate, towards the bottom of the Royal Mile, on the “tail” of the Castle rock. On this site in 1700 a tenement was erected by the 4th Earl of Traquair and it was here that he made his residence. Coachbuilder Robert Gibb chose to make this his home in the latter part of the century and it bears his name to this day. This was the scene of the murder of Mary Paterson by Burke and Hare. A shop selling Scottish tourist goods now occupies the site.
Edinburgh University Anatomy Museum – University Medical School, Teviot Place. After William Burke was hanged on 28th January 1829, his body, as ordered by the court, was publicly dissected by Professor Alexander Monro tertius and his skeleton remains hanging to this day in a glass cabinet where the post-mortem saw cut to his skull can be clearly seen.
Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh – Surgeons’ Hall Museum, Nicolson Street. After his death, Burke’s tanned skin was made into several items, including a pocket book which is on display in the Surgeons’ Hall Museum together with his death-mask. Another example of one of those books can be seen at the Police Centre, a museum on the Royal Mile which houses exhibits and contains information on some of Edinburgh’s most notorious criminals.
Supreme Courts of Scotland – Parliament Square. It was here at the High Court of Justiciary that the trial of William Burke took place (most of the work of the High Court of Justiciary now takes place in a building on the other side of the Royal Mile). The trial began on Christmas Eve 1828 and the jury returned a guilty verdict on Christmas Day after deliberating for only fifty minutes.
Site of Burke’s Execution – Lawnmarket, Royal Mile. William Burke was publicly hanged on a wet Wednesday morning shortly after 8 a.m. on 28th January 1829 in the Lawnmarket at the head of Libberton’s Wynd. The event generated such interest that it was even witnessed from a coveted upstairs tenement window by the famous novelist, Sir Walter Scott. Libberton’s Wynd no longer exists, having been demolished during the construction of George IV Bridge but three brass blocks in the shape of an ‘H’ mark the spot where the gallows were erected. In the same area, diagonally opposite Deacon Brodie’s tavern, a brass plaque marks the site of the last public execution in Edinburgh, that of George Bryce (“The Ratho murderer”) who was hanged on 21st June, 1864.
About the Author
Leona Tyrie is the producer of “The Body Merchants: The Shocking Truth about Anatomy Murder“, a documentary which recounts the horrifying true story of the serial killers Burke and Hare, examines the socio-legal problems of Georgian Britain which not only spawned the body trade, but also gave rise to murder… and culminates by exposing the terrible truth that such crimes are not confined to history.
2006 Scott Riggs Texas Crash
|
|
Scott Riggs Valvoline race used Drivers Suit- autogr. $1,450.00 |
|
|
NASCAR Autographed Scott Riggs Wizard of Oz Full Size Bell Helmet, Car & Case $1,250.00 |
|
|
DISNEY CARS NASCAR KYLE BUSCH & SCOTT RIGGS 1:24 & 1:64 SPECIAL EDITION CARS -9 $169.00 |
|
|
Scott Riggs Nesquik race used team pit crew shirt / pants XL $159.99 |
|
|
Scott Riggs Nesquik Racing team issued Pit Crew Shirt 3XL $139.99 |
|
|
Scott Riggs Nesquik Racing team issued Pit Crew Shirt 2XL $139.99 |
|
|
Scott Riggs Nesquik Racing Pit Crew Shirt XL $99.99 |
|
|
Nascar Valvoline #10 Door Panel Signed by Scott Riggs $80.50 |
|
|
Scott Riggs Autograph 1/24 Die Cast Valvoline Nascar $79.00 |
|
|
SIGNED SCOTT RIGGS #10 NESQUIK 1:24 NASCAR DIECAST CAR 2002 ROOKIE ROY $75.00 |
|
|
2004 Team Caliber Owners Series Scott Riggs Valvoline $70.00 |
|
|
SCOTT RIGGS SIGNED DIECAST CAR AUTOGRAPHED PSA DNA COA $60.00 |
|
|
VINTAGE AUTOGRAPHED BY SCOTT RIGGS VALVOLINE RACING JACKET BY RACING CHAMP. MED $59.99 |
|
|
Scott Riggs Signed NASCAR 10 Diecast Car PSA COA AUTO $50.00 |
|
|
Scott Riggs autographed M/A 2006 CHARGER SPECIAL #d/852 $49.99 |
|
|
WINNER’S CIRCLE #10 SCOTT RIGGS AUTOGRAPHED CHEVROLET CAMARO 1:24 SCALE CAR $49.95 |
|
|
#10 SCOTT RIGGS 2006 AUTO VALUE BUMPER TO BUMPER 1/852 $49.95 |
|
|
SCOTT RIGGS #10 STANLEY TOOLS 07 DODGE CHARGER $46.95 |
|
|
2006 SCOTT RIGGS #10 VALVOLINE 1/24 DIECAST $44.99 |
|
|
#10 SCOTT RIGGS 2006 STANLEY TOOLS 1 OF 2220 $44.00 |
|
|
2006 SCOTT RIGGS signed DISNEY CARS 1/24 DIECAST CAR wC $39.99 |
|
|
2004 Action #10 Scott Riggs Ford Monte Carlo Valvoline 1:24 Scale NASCAR Race Ca $39.99 |
|
|
Scott Riggs Valvoline Cotton Twill 2XL Jacket By Chase! $38.00 |
|
|
Scott Riggs Valvoline Cotton Twill LARGE Jacket By Chase! $38.00 |
|
|
Scott Riggs Valvoline Cotton Twill X-LARGE Jacket By Chase! $38.00 |
|
|
#10 SCOTT RIGGS AUTOGRAPH 8 X 10 PHOTOGRAPH W/ FRAME $37.99 |
|
|
Scott Riggs #10 Auto Value 2006 Dodge Charger 1:24 $35.00 |
|
|
Scott Riggs Autographed Nascar 8×10 CAR Photo w/Coa $34.99 |
|
|
2006 Scott Riggs 10 VALVOLINE 1/24 Action Platinum NASCAR diecast $34.97 |
|
|
2007 Scott Riggs 10 VALVOLINE 1/24 Action NASCAR diecast $34.97 |
|
|
Autographed 2005 Scott Riggs 10 VALVOLINE 1/24 TC Preferred NASCAR diecast $34.97 |
|
|
2004 1:24 SCOTT RIGGS #10 WIZARD OF OZ DIECAST CAR NEW $34.95 |
|
|
Scott Riggs # 10 Valvoline $34.95 |
|
|
2004 Scott Riggs 10 VALVOLINE (Rookie) 1/24 Team Caliber Owners NASCAR diecast $32.87 |
|
|
2004 Scott Riggs 10 VALVOLINE (Rookie) 1/24 Action Platinum NASCAR diecast $30.07 |
|
|
ACTION 1/24 SCALE #10 2004 MONTE CARLO SCOTT RIGGS $29.99 |
|
|
SCOTT RIGGS 2004 WHEELS HEAD TO TOE USED HAT SHOE AUTO 69/100 $29.99 |
|
|
SCOTT RIGGS 2004 VALVOLINE 1/24 ACTION DIECAST CAR 1/2,532 $29.99 |
|
|
2007 Scott Riggs #10 Valvoline 1:24 Scale Diecast Car by Action C107821VASR $29.99 |
|
|
Scott Riggs Valvoline Race Used NASCAR Pit Crew Shirt Size Size L $29.99 |
|
|
Scott Riggs Florida St Seminoles Die Cast Chevy NASCAR $28.99 |
|
|
2004 Scott Riggs 10 VALVOLINE (Rookie) 1/24 Action Platinum Bank NASCAR diecast $27.97 |
|
|
2006 Scott Riggs 10 BUMPER TO BUMPER 1/24 Action Platinum NASCAR diecast $27.97 |
|
|
SCOTT RIGGS STREET SIGN- PRO GRADE ALUMINUM $27.95 |
|
|
MAYTAG SKYBOX (ROOKIE) SCOTT RIGGS VALVOLINE RACING # 10 CAR NASCAR SIGN $27.00 |
|
|
Winners Circle #10 SCOTT RIGGS 1:64 Trailer/Rig MIB $25.95 |
|
|
2005 Scott Riggs 10 CHECKER’S 1/24 Action Platinum NASCAR diecast $25.87 |
|
|
2005 Scott Riggs 10 RALLY’S 1/24 Action Platinum NASCAR diecast $25.87 |
|
|
2004 Scott Riggs 10 VALVOLINE (Rookie) 1/24 TC Preferred NASCAR diecast $25.87 |
|
|
Scott Riggs Special 1:24 Scale Stock Car and Standard $25.00 |
|
|
13- SCOTT RIGGS NASCAR INSERT CARD LOT $25.00 |
|
|
2005 Scott Riggs RALLY’S Monte Carlo – 1/24 $24.99 |
|
|
Signed Scott Riggs Harlem Globetrotters 1:24 PSA DNA Autograph Certifed TC $24.99 |
|
|
Signed Scott Riggs Valvoline Team Caliber 1:24 PSA DNA Autograph Certified $24.99 |
|
|
Valvoline #10 Scott Riggs 1:24 Scale Die Cast $24.99 |
|
|
SCOTT RIGGS AUTOGRAPHED 8 X 10 PHOTOGRAPH PLAQUE $24.99 |
|
|
Nascar 2004 Ultra Series Scott Riggs Diecast Racing CAR, Unopened $24.99 |
|
|
2002 PRESS PASS SCOTT RIGGS #10 NESQUIK AUTOGRAPH+2008 EBAY PREVIEW #5/5 $23.19 |
|
|
2006 MA Action Scott Riggs #10 1:24 Auto Value Bumper to Bumper only 852 Made $21.99 |
|
|
2006 Action Scott Riggs #10 Stanley Tools Special Paint Scheme 1/24 Charger $21.99 |
|
|
The Modern Guitar Rig (Mixed media product) $16.33 Modern Guitar Rigs shows players how to take their sound beyond traditional tones and into the future. In this book Scott Kahn (editor in chief of Musicplayers.com) explores topics of interest to guitarists looking to build pro-level rigs whether they`… |
|
|
Pathfinder (Hardcover) $11.56 Time-travel, outer space, dark political conspiracies, and magic whirl together to create a fast-paced, philosophically challenging young adult fantasy. Thirteen-year-old Rigg lived a quiet life in the woods tracking animals with his father, understand… |
|
|
Ruins (Hardcover) $12.78 From the internationally bestselling author who brought us Enders Game, a brand-new series that instantly draws readers into the dystopian world of Rigg, a teenager who possesses a secret talent that allows him to see the paths of people&… |
|
|
Pathfinder (Paperback) $8.7 Time-travel, outer space, dark political conspiracies, and magic whirl together to create a fast-paced, philosophically challenging young adult fantasy. Thirteen-year-old Rigg lived a quiet life in the woods tracking animals with his father, understand… |
|
|
Pathfinder (Compact Disc) $15.43 Time-travel, outer space, dark political conspiracies, and magic whirl together to create a fast-paced, philosophically challenging young adult fantasy. Thirteen-year-old Rigg lived a quiet life in the woods tracking animals with his father, understand… |