from deadsafe at Corstorphine Churchyard, Edinburgh

Padlock & key

This late 18th century padlock and key are from the deadsafe at Corstorphine Churchyard in Edinburgh. Deadsafes were used to protect the coffin underground for the first six weeks after burial.

Relatives were desperate to protect their dead from the resurrectionists or bodysnatchers, who dug up fresh corpses for dissection. The demand for corpses was created by advances in the study of anatomy.

Many were afraid that a dissected body would not rise to life at the last judgement. Panic reached its height immediately after the 1828-9 trials of Burke and Hare, whose supply of corpses for sale came not from grave robbing but from murder.

Record details

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Online ID:	000-100-001-315-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0098: National Museums Scotland Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland H.MJ 172
Date:	Late 18th century Late 18th century
Material:
Dimensions:	125 mm L x 65 mm W 225 mm H x 145 mm W
What:	Key, deadsafe Padlock, deadsafe
Subject:	Locks, keys, etc. (NMAS Classification) Locks, keys, etc. (NMAS Classification)
Who:
Where:	Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh, Corstorphine Churchyard Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh, Corstorphine Churchyard
Event:
Description:	Large padlock from the dead-safe of Corstorphine Churchyard Key of the dead-safe of Corstorphine Churchyard
References:
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