This statue at the cross depicts David Boyle, a local man who became the Lord Justice General for Scotland. He is perhaps best remembered for sentencing Burke, of Burke and Hare the notorious Edinburgh body-snatchers, to death. The statue is referred to locally as ‘The Black Man’ due to the discolouring of the statue; the statue was re-located and is now sited at the bottom of Castle Street.
Sculpted by John Steelle in 1867, the statue of David Boyle was first erected outside his birthplace in Parterre and was unveiled by Rev William B Robertson of Trinity Church. David Boyle became a distinguished lawyer and was appointed Lord Justice General for Scotland. He is perhaps best remembered for sentencing Burke, of Burke and Hare the notorious Edinburgh body-snatchers, to death.
The statue was relocated to its present position in Castle Street and is referred to locally as ‘The Black Man’ due to the discolouring of the statue. The statue was cleaned when it was moved to it’s current location on Castle Street so no longer appears black in colour.