#mortsafes

[flebur]

"Mortsafe"

The Victorian era, a period of significant cultural transformation and scientific progress, was also marked by a pervasive fear of the supernatural, including zombies and vampires. This fear has often been associated with the peculiar structures known as “mortsafes” found in old graveyards around the U.K.

Mortsafes were contraptions placed over the graves of newly deceased individuals during the 19th century. These structures, typically made from iron or stone, have been the subject of a common myth: they were built to trap the undead in their graves in case the corpse reanimated.

However, this belief is not accurate. Mortsafes were not designed to keep the “undead” in; they were meant to keep the living out. The primary purpose of these sturdy cages was to protect burial sites from disturbance.

Grave robbing was a serious problem in the early 1800s. The burgeoning field of anatomical study, particularly in Edinburgh, a major hub of such research, faced a shortage of medical cadavers due to antiquated laws. This shortage led to a thriving illegal trade popularly known as "body snatching".

Respect for the dead made the idea of this violation of the grave horrifying to the survivors, and various means were devised to ensure that the bodies of the beloved dead remained undisturbed. The iron coffin, instead of the usual wooden one, was one such method. The heavy iron cage, called a “mortsafe,” was another.

- VisionaryVoid

[criminalwisdom]

THE MORTSAFE: AN 18TH CENTURY INVENTION, DESIGNED TO PROTECT GRAVES FROM BODY SNATCHERS

In 18th century Scotland, there was a high demand for human cadavers for medical students to use in their studies. Fresh bodies were of great value to the

Via Language Hat.

[myhauntedsalem]

Mortsafes

During the early 18th century, with Schools of Anatomy and a thirst to learn more about the workings of the human body on the rise, there was a high demand for fresh human corpses. With most schools obtaining their corpses from executed criminals or the few people who donated their remains, there was always a need for more.

In the dead of night the snatchers would wander the resting places of the dead, in order to locate fresh graves. Upon finding one, they would spend a large portion of the night digging it up, removing the body, then carting it off to a place where they could exchange it for money. The Anatomy Schools were more than happy to pay good sums of money to the snatchers, and of course, were always on the look out for more.

The authorities caught onto this trade quite early, but turned a blind eye. It was a necessity for the understanding of our bodies and the training of future medical practitioners. The authorities went as far as to cover up many of the incidences of grave snatching, in order to prevent the public coming to outrage.

Mortsafes were iron cages that would be partially sunk in the ground. They formed a lattice of metal, allowing the grave to be viewed but making it impossible for it to be interfered with, without employing heavy tools.

At times the coffin would be affixed in the cage and buried . Not everyone could afford these measures to protect their loved ones remains, and soon grave watch groups were created. Members of the community would, in groups, volunteer their time to patrol the resting places of the dead, to catch out the snatchers. Some communities even constructed watch towers in the cemeteries, so a 360 degree view of the cemetery could be monitored from up high.

Some communities pooled their money to buy several safes and iron coffins, to hire out to those who could not afford one outright – the schools were only after fresh corpses, so using a safe to prevent the snatchers coming near for a month or so was sufficient to keep their loved ones remains safe, the decomposition during that time would mean the body was no longer sought after.

With the idea of temporary protection in mind, Mort Houses came to be. These were stone buildings that would hold bodies for a time until they were deemed no longer fresh. The bodies would then be given their final burial.

Although today these measures are no longer needed in most parts of the world, these body securing devices can still be found, relics of that age. However, not all cemeteries will keep a body safe, as although fresh corpses are generally obtained through legal measures, it is bones that are sometimes sought in places around the world.

[lonelinessfollowsme]

Forget the rational explanation and let your imagination run wild ...

[mysteriesofthemacabre]

Mortsafes seen in Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh, Scotland. Grave robbing was a big issue in the early 18 hundreds the most famous thieves being Burke and Hare, who sold the corpses to knox’s medical school for dissection. Fun fact: they only received abut 7 or 8 pounds per body! Funner fact: Burke, as a part of his punishment, was dissected himself at a medical school after his execution!! 

(source: Edinburgh Surgeons Hall Museum) 

[torracat]

i ALSO can't believe @dyatlov and @mortsafes found this gem at a local thrift store. extremely cursed

[myhauntedsalem]

Mortsafes

During the early 18th century, with Schools of Anatomy and a thirst to learn more about the workings of the human body on the rise, there was a high demand for fresh human corpses. With most schools obtaining their corpses from executed criminals or the few people who donated their remains, there was always a need for more. In the dead of night the snatchers would wander the resting places of the dead, in order to locate fresh graves. Upon finding one, they would spend a large portion of the night digging it up, removing the body, then carting it off to a place where they could exchange it for money. The Anatomy Schools were more than happy to pay good sums of money to the snatchers, and of course, were always on the look out for more. The authorities caught onto this trade quite early, but turned a blind eye. It was a necessity for the understanding of our bodies and the training of future medical practitioners. The authorities went as far as to cover up many of the incidences of grave snatching, in order to prevent the public coming to outrage. Mortsafes were iron cages that would be partially sunk in the ground. They formed a lattice of metal, allowing the grave to be viewed but making it impossible for it to be interfered with, without employing heavy tools. At times the coffin would be affixed in the cage and buried. Not everyone could afford these measures to protect their loved ones remains, and soon grave watch groups were created. Members of the community would, in groups, volunteer their time to patrol the resting places of the dead, to catch out the snatchers. Some communities even constructed watch towers in the cemeteries, so a 360 degree view of the cemetery could be monitored from up high. Some communities pooled their money to buy several safes and iron coffins, to hire out to those who could not afford one outright – the schools were only after fresh corpses, so using a safe to prevent the snatchers coming near for a month or so was sufficient to keep their loved ones remains safe, the decomposition during that time would mean the body was no longer sought after. With the idea of temporary protection in mind, Mort Houses came to be. These were stone buildings that would hold bodies for a time until they were deemed no longer fresh. The bodies would then be given their final burial. Although today these measures are no longer needed in most parts of the world, these body securing devices can still be found, relics of that age. However, not all cemeteries will keep a body safe, as although fresh corpses are generally obtained through legal measures, it is bones that are sometimes sought in places around the world.

[myhauntedsalem]

Mortsafes

During the early 18th century, with Schools of Anatomy and a thirst to learn more about the workings of the human body on the rise, there was a high demand for fresh human corpses. With most schools obtaining their corpses from executed criminals or the few people who donated their remains, there was always a need for more.

In the dead of night the snatchers would wander the resting places of the dead, in order to locate fresh graves. Upon finding one, they would spend a large portion of the night digging it up, removing the body, then carting it off to a place where they could exchange it for money. The Anatomy Schools were more than happy to pay good sums of money to the snatchers, and of course, were always on the look out for more.

The authorities caught onto this trade quite early, but turned a blind eye. It was a necessity for the understanding of our bodies and the training of future medical practitioners. The authorities went as far as to cover up many of the incidences of grave snatching, in order to prevent the public coming to outrage.

Mortsafes were iron cages that would be partially sunk in the ground. They formed a lattice of metal, allowing the grave to be viewed but making it impossible for it to be interfered with, without employing heavy tools.

At times the coffin would be affixed in the cage and buried

.Not everyone could afford these measures to protect their loved ones remains, and soon grave watch groups were created. Members of the community would, in groups, volunteer their time to patrol the resting places of the dead, to catch out the snatchers. Some communities even constructed watch towers in the cemeteries, so a 360 degree view of the cemetery could be monitored from up high.

Some communities pooled their money to buy several safes and iron coffins, to hire out to those who could not afford one outright – the schools were only after fresh corpses, so using a safe to prevent the snatchers coming near for a month or so was sufficient to keep their loved ones remains safe, the decomposition during that time would mean the body was no longer sought after.

With the idea of temporary protection in mind, Mort Houses came to be. These were stone buildings that would hold bodies for a time until they were deemed no longer fresh. The bodies would then be given their final burial.

Although today these measures are no longer needed in most parts of the world, these body securing devices can still be found, relics of that age. However, not all cemeteries will keep a body safe, as although fresh corpses are generally obtained through legal measures, it is bones that are sometimes sought in places around the world.