Geograph - photograph every grid square

Graveyard watch tower. Banchory.

In the early 1800s human bodies were in demand for dissection by anatomy schools. Body snatchers, or resurrection men as they were called, supplied the demand by stealing newly buried corpses. In order to prevent this, communities built watch towers in the graveyards where men could keep watch over new burials until they were too corrupt to be of interest to the anatomists. This 2 storey tower is in St Ternan's graveyard in Banchory, within easy reach of the anatomy schools in Aberdeen. It has a fireplace and chimney to keep the watchers comfortable, a bell for attracting attention and a round gun loop through which a firearm might be discharged to repel intruders.