THE project to renovate Tullibody Auld Kirkyard is now complete, with the gravestones fully restored for both the community and visitors to the area.

Over the years, the site – which dates back to at least the 15th century – had fallen into disrepair and many of the markers had toppled over, or become damaged.

This led Tullibody History Group, which also runs a heritage centre in the town, to bring it back to its best and the final stage is now finished.

Chair of the organisation, Chris Calder, said: "We applied for funding from the Sharing Heritage Lottery Fund and also from CSET, that's Clackmannanshire and Stirling Environment Trust, to reerect the fallen stones on the south side of the kirk in Tullibody.

"We did the north side in 2011 and that improved things enormously but the south side was really just about flattened – there was hardly a stone standing. So we were successful and the work has just been completed. 

"It's looking very, very smart I have to say and I'm just so delighted to improve the whole aspect of the area there because if visitors come, or even if people are doing their family history, and the stones are all flat on their faces there's no way they can find them or read them."

With the church on the site dating back to 1147, it is thought the kirkyard could have been used as a burial ground from that time.

The oldest grave on the north side is from around 15th century, while on the south side there is one from 1699, and it was used until 1902.

The son of Sir James Young Simpson – an Edinburgh doctor known for his discovery of using chloroform as an anaesthetic – was buried in the south side after dying at the age of 32.

Meanwhile, there is a connection to Haig whisky with a grave on the north side for George Haig, who was a farmer at Newbiggin near Cambus.

For the last phase of the project £9600 was received from the lottery fund and £9000 from CSET, with a little extra put in from the group.

The drive behind the conservation project was improving the look of the area, giving people pride in the town and helping other research their family history.

Pupils in primaries three and five at Abercromby Primary School helped to measure and record the stones, while help was also received from Tullibody Youth Club and volunteers.

Chris said: "People go to St Serf's Church every week, different days of the week, and quite often they wander round or through the graveyard and if you just see stones all fallen down, and derelict and unkempt, then it doesn't give a good impression does it – of peoples' village or how people look after the environment, so that's, for me, a very important thing.

"Also, I'm trying to instil youth to be interested and you know they were so enthusiastic, they were fantastic."

The area is also popular with people looking into their background and Chris cites her interest in genealogy as a factor.

She added: "I've done a lot of family history research so I know how important and how exciting it is if you find your ancestor's grave and you've got, not only maybe their information, but often their wives or their children and the dates – it's putting the flesh on the bones.

"And people paid for their stones to be seen – they're not there to be flat on their faces that you can't read them, or they're broken or whatever."

The restoration is just one of a number of activities the history group has been involved in and a six-week family class Chris led has just come to an end.

She also joined Susan Mills, of Clackmannanshire Council's Museum and Heritage Service, and they led a tour around some of the historic kirkyards in Clackmannanshire earlier this month.

They covered Alloa, Tillicoultry High Cemetery, Dollar, Logie and Tullibody and people found out about stone conservation, why they are important, and the economics of the times.

In addition, the group has been busy uncovering the history of the poor house in Tullibody which was run by a board of trustees.

The poor records have now been transcribed thanks to the survival of one book and these show details from 1702 to 1892.

There is an itemised list of everybody that was buried, how much they paid and whether they had a velvet mortcloth or cotton one.

Visitors can pop into Tullibody Auld Kirkyard anytime and visit Tullibody Heritage Centre on Saturdays from 2-4pm, April to October, or by arrangement.