The Bolton Hearse
 
Some assorted comments and descriptions.

From Mr.Norman Cartwright, in 1974.

Details of The Bolton Hearse.

Bolton Kirk Session records of April 1783 register a resolution that the heritors should purchase "a new fashionable hearse out of the funds belonging to the poor." This hearse was purchased by November 1783 and in that same year it is said to have brought the body of the 10th Lord Blantyre from Bath, in Somerset. Robert Burns' mother, his brother Gilbert and sister Annabella, were all conveyed to their last resting place in Bolton Kirkyard in this hearse. It was in use in the parish of Bolton until 1844 but remained in the Hearse House until it was donated to the Royal Scottish Museum in 1932.

The coachwork of the hearse is a composite structure, the hearse body being fitted on to an under-carriage which is probably that of a family coach of the middle 17th century (or earlier?) Originally the under-carriage had a post at each corner from which the coach body was slung by leather straps. The maker or fitter of the hearse body cut away the two front posts and substituted curved wooden ones, carved so as to resemble laminated iron springs, but springing was still achieved as in the original by leather straps.

The style of the roof was probably influenced by the contemporary ChineseChippendale taste in furnishings. The sides are decorated to include "Memento Mori" a skull - remember that you must die - and "Hora Fugit" an hour glass - the hour flies. The workmanship of the hearse body is distinctly inferior to that of the earlier under-carriage with its straked iron tyres (i.e. made in pieces) but it is believed to be the oldest surviving road vehicle in Scotland.

From the Haddingtonshire Courier, sometime in the mid-20th century.

"Sayings and Doings of 50 years ago."

"An interesting account of the Bolton hearse is given in the 'Courier' of fifty years ago:
The oldest vehicle in Scotland, the Bolton hearse, is now on exhibition in the royal Scottish Museum in Edinburgh. At a meeting, held in April 1783; the heritors of Bolton parish decided to purchase a new hearse at a cost of £39 13s 2d. This 'new' hearse was in use for nearly a century, and until recently stood - an object of historical and antiquarian interest - in the hearse house of Bolton kirkyard. Last year, it was discovered that the dreaded wood boring beetle had begun its deadly work, and local enthusiasts recognised that something had to be done, and that quickly, if the ancient vehicle were to be saved.

Eventually, it was decided to entrust the hearse to the Royal Scottish Museum, and now, after months of preservative treatment and careful cleaning, it has been placed on exhibition in the machinery hall.

Structurally the vehicle is of great interest, and presents many curious problems. It appears to be a composite structure, the under-carriage being most probably that of a family coach of the mid seventeenth century. Originally, this under-carriage had a post at each corner from which the body of the coach was slung by heavy leather straps. But the contractor who supplied the hearse - one can hardly call him the maker - must have heard that laminated springs were fashionable so he cut away the two posts at the front and substituted two "springs" but he made them of wood. The workmanship of the under-carriage is extraordinarily good, and forms an excellent example of the work of a seventeenth century wheelwright.

The workmanship of the body is distinctly inferior to that of the under-carriage, and, as it had to fit the second under-carriage the design is somewhat curious. The charge for the use of the hearse was eight shillings a mile, and, as in 1790, only £2 18s 3d was received for its hire, we may conclude that its use was not greatly favoured."