The Howff — Attraction in Scotland

The Howff is an ancient cemetery in Dundee, Scotland, with a deep and rich history. It was granted to the people of Dundee by Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1564 and was initially used as a meeting place for the guilds. The term "Howff" means "a meeting place" in Scots.Over time, it became a burial ground, and many prominent figures from Dundee's history are interred there. The headstones, some of which date back to the 16th century, offer insight into the lives, trades, and social status of the people in the area during that period.The Howff is also notable for its historical significance in the study of gravestone art, as it features various intricate designs and symbols that reflect the beliefs and cultural practices of past centuries. It is a place where history, culture, and art come together, preserving the memory of...

Probably my absolute favourite cemetery of all times, small overall but very beautiful, calm zone in the middle of the city. For a person that likes burial grounds and cemeteries as places of relaxation, the Howff could not be a more perfect place than this for me. Lovely installations of flowers and different plants give a certain sense of contrast between the dark grey and green tombstones and structures, and the colourful vegetation. The presence of a few trees give it an even more pleasant atmosphere, but depending on how you want to imagine it, they can also give it a very ghastly, nightmare-ish feel as well, especially during winter when the trees have no leaves, feels almost as if it's coming from a horror/halloween movie. The place is...

This was such an interesting place to visit. I realise it would not appeal to everyone however, cemeteries are fantastic places for learning about the local history. The Howff had particularly fine examples of elaborate lettering on the headstones. Here I also noticed that on many headstones the inscriptions began with the name of the person who had had it erected; also many had addendums on the reverse. There were mainly headstones with just a few monuments. The Howff really offers a snapshot of Dundee life in the past showing many different professions. Many people died at a young age with many infant deaths, some unnamed and in one case 2 in the same family and given the same name. I knew that this happened but this was the first time I had seen...