A History of Scotland’s Wicker Coffins

For generations in Scotland, wicker has been used as a part of the funeral process. It was most commonly present inside rural communities that chose the flexible willow-based material to handcraft baskets called “currachs”, and later funeral caskets that were specifically designed to biodegrade into the ground.

Since then wicker coffins have seen a popular resurgence in Scottish towns as modern funerals continue to factor environmental considerations into their planning. While this popularisation of the material is a recent happening, we will explain in this blog post how its use dates considerably further back.

First Origins

Following Queen Victoria’s extended and public mourning of Prince Albert, much of the British public became more open in their approach towards death and with it came more diverse styles of funeral. Suddenly, not one method of mourning was the norm.

An official royal recognition of the wicker casket came afterwards when the Duke of Sutherland promoted ‘Earth to Earth’ wicker coffins in 1875. This was one of the first cases of Scottish noblemen consciously choosing to use more biodegradable materials in a funeral ceremony.

Movement to Scotland

This style of casket then began to be mass-produced by local funeral directors, such as the Duke’s Necropolis Company, throughout the late 19th Century. Inside the casket would often also be placed ferns, moss and herbs to accompany the body. It was also buried higher in the ground to better promote natural decomposition.

As the wicker coffin became more ubiquitous in Scotland people began to uncover further the deeper historical roots that preceded its royal endorsement. One Scottish archaeological research network cites that it originally began as early as the 8th to 9th century. This suggests it may not have only been the Duke’s popularisation of the coffin that led to its embrace in the present day.

Folkloric Heritage

It’s since been recognised it’s more likely that Scottish communities have been using wicker caskets since far before Victorian times or the 18th Century itself, back as far as the 1st Century AD, thanks to archaeological findings and academic work.

The ancient quality of this style of coffin only adds to their deep-seated connection to mourners across time in favouring a style of funeral that honours the earth and local community traditions, especially inside the beloved coffin-makers of Kirkcaldy, Leslie and Dunfermline.

Wicker Coffins: Beauty Beyond Time

The essence of wicker coffin’s beauty is that they’re timeless; having seen use across millennia, they serve as a uniting and trans-historical method of honouring the deceased. While a method of natural decomposition is not universally favoured, this option is nonetheless becoming more popular as further historical research is conducted.

Whether your wicker coffin is from Kirckaldy, Leslie and Dunfermilne, Callum Roberston will be able to service your needs. Get in touch today to discuss your funeral plans.