Why Do Some Graves Have Cages Over Them? Avoiding BODYSNATCHERS!

During the 18th and 19th centuries in the United Kingdom, there was a rather morbid but profitable industry that came around in many major towns and cities. There was a greater need for bodies and corpses to be used in medical dissections and in furthering medical knowledge, however there was a shortage of these available bodies. Because of this, medical professional paid handsomely for bodies so they could perform public dissections and so students could learn.

There were famous accounts of bodysnatching which became an industry when people would under the cover of darkness would raid graveyards, and disturb the bodies of recently dead people. Famously Burke and Hare capitalised in this industry selling 16 murdered people to famous anatomist Robert Knox. However in cities such as Edinburgh, grave-robbing was rife and there were even allegedly fights in graveyards between groups of men intent on digging up bodies and selling them to medical colleges.

There was a great degree of paranoia with families who had recently lost friends of family members. Because of this extreme measures were made to prevent body-snatching. One of these was to create the mortsafe, a huge and heavy iron frame or cage that went over the grave to prevent people from getting a spade in to break into the grave. The mortsafe can still be seen today in some graveyards, and these were one way that people went to stop bodysnatching.

So join us today as we look at, 'Avoiding The BODYSNATCHERS! - Mortsafes.'

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Disclaimer: All opinions and comment stated below in the Comments section do not represent the opinion of TheUntoldPast. All opinions and comments and dialogue should discuss the video above in a historical manner.

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[JamesVaughan]

I am reminded of the story of Greyfriars Bobby…the little Skye terrier who guarded his master's grave for 14 whole years at Greyfriars kirk during the mid-nineteenth century. The faithful little dog's statue and grave at Greyfriars are a tourist attraction in Edinburgh to this day.

[terriatca]

My Grandfather went to Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, in the 1920's to study medicine. They were given cadavers to disect to learn anatomy. He was given a young black mans body and his neck was bent, he asked his professor why. He was a young lad who had been hanged then sent to the school. It was something he never forgot.

[lyntnugent]

There's quite a few graves covered with metal bars here in the Black Country, not sure if they're mort safes or just preventative measures. Mainly from the 18th to 19th century's. Love the channel.

[busterboy]

I have heard of burk and hare, but have never heard of the mortsafes, very interesting video, well done 👍.

[stevefox]

Fascinating, hadn't heard of the mortsafe. Thank you for the continued education, keep up the good work 👍🏻👍🏻

[joemacinnis]

Its amazing how much we don't know about history! Keep up the great work

[PVBJR]

Interesting story - thanks for sharing.

[Dad]

Well you learn something new never knew about mortsafes thanks for your time and dedication uploading video

[Smudge-]

07:45 "Such an underground need!" I see what you did there! 😂
❤️ From a supporter

[molly-b]

Fascinating.... Thank you for your always interesting content. Much appreciated. 😊

[kaushiksheshnagraj]

Such a nice video. Usually I don't on any one video but your video is superb.

[lapensulo]

I read the story of Burk and Hare, fascinating!!

[AndriaBieberDesigns]

Cool
Video! Never heard of these graves

[SKF]

Interesting topic. I suggest a graphic diagram showing how they worked as the oral description is hard to follow and video of the cages from above doesn't explain how they worked.

[peterperigoe]

Gave this a thumbs up, even though I felt queasy watching it.

[yakamarezlife]

I have a cemetery gun it was on my great grandfathers grave in the 1800s

[ZAV]

Intresting thought, the idea of the Mortsafe and the Safety Coffin could be combined. A coffin with a spring loaded lid and ventilation port would be placed in a cage big enough for a person to sit upright and with a bell attached to the cage. If the person was not dead and woke up they could then open the coffin and ring the bell on the mortsafe to summon a night watchman to come by an let them out.

[gonefishing]

Wow, I had heard of body snatchers before and the lengths they’d go to get them. But I don’t think I’d heard of the mortsafe. Sad you’d have to go, to those lengths to protect your loved one. I guess the poorer people couldn’t afford that. How scary and worrying for them. Thank you 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺

[mortified]

I was about to ask how you could make this without at least mentioning grave guns or coffin torpedos, but are they getting their own video? I think a coffin with a built-in claymore that goes off when you open the lid deserves it!

[susiefairfield]

After You Die by Tom Waits
Like a tin can feeding
Like a skinned hand bleeding
Like a tramp choir crying
Like a camp fire dying
Like a big dog breeding
Like a pig hog feeding
Like a top hat tipping
Like a dropped rat skipping
Like a tin horn glowing
Like a gin storm blowing
Like a neck tie flapping
Like a rich guy clapping
Like a big fool crawling
Like a rig tool falling
Like a back door squeaking
Like a crack whore tweaking
What is it like?
What is it like after we die?
Like a string that's broken
Like a thing that's smoking
Like a blue flame burning
Like a new brain learning
Like more cold coffee
Like a poor old softie
Like a declining graveyard
Like a shining brave star
Like a child that's fainting
Like a wild ass painting
What is it like?
What is it like after we die?