Burkers and Bodysnatchers

Toggle location map

Marischal College
Broad Street
Aberdeen
AB10 1YS

This event has now passed. Visit our what's on calendar to view our current events.

Hear gruesome tales of stolen corpses and the dirty doings of surgeons, students and resurrectionists. The tour features the story of a half-anatomised man, graverobber and nightwatchman Satan Sangster and the great riot of Hospital Row, when Dr Andrew Moir’s anatomy theatre was torn to the ground by angry citizens.

Learn of the murky medical doings of the surgeons, students and professional resurrectionists in the city from the 1800s to the passing of the Anatomy Act in 1832 which put an end to the theft of bodies from cemeteries and legalised the supply of corpses to medical research. Featuring the great riot of Hospital Row, when Dr Andrew Moir’s anatomy theatre was torn to the ground by angry citizens; the tale of the half-anatomised man who didn’t quite live to tell his side of the story; meet Satan Sangster, the graverobber of Spital Kirkyard who doubled as a nightwatchman at the Gallowgate Port -- find out why he had such a nasty nickname! This and other gruesome goings-on inspired by the deeds of the “burkers” of Aberdeen.

Start Time: 8pm
Start Point: Marischal College by Bruce’s Statue
End Point: Littlejohn Street nr. Brewdog
Duration: 2hrs approx