Building record MAB12246 - ST ANDREWS CHAPEL, ALFORD WEST PARISH CHURCH, ALFORD
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Summary
Former Alford West Parish Church, site of an earlier chapel, and an associated historic graveyard.
Protected Status/Designation
- Listed Building (B) 3287: West (Old) Parish Church, Alford
- Listed Building (C) 3288: ST ANDREWS CHAPEL, ALFORD WEST PARISH CHURCH, ALFORD
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NJ 5539 1611 (66m by 67m) Centred at - Polygon: Known Site Extent |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NJ51NE |
| Authority | Aberdeenshire |
| Civil Parish | Alford |
Type and Period (8)
- CHAPEL (17th Century - 1603 AD to 1603 AD)
- WALL MONUMENT (17th Century - 1678 AD to 1678 AD)
- PARISH CHURCH (Built 1804 AD, 19th Century - 1804 AD to 1826 AD)
- GATE (17th Century - 1694 AD? to 1694 AD?)
- CHURCHYARD (17th Century - 1600 AD to 1699 AD)
- COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVE (World War 1 - 1914 AD to 1918 AD)
- WALL MONUMENT (18th Century - 1746 AD to 1746 AD)
- WALL MONUMENT (18th Century - 1725 AD to 1725 AD)
Full Description
Former Alford West Parish Church, site of an earlier chapel, and an associated historic graveyard. An earlier chapel, dating to 1603, existed here but there is now no trace. The church, no longer in ecclesiastical use, dates to the early-19th Century, dated 1804 and 1826. It was originally a round-arched version of the Kildrummy design, with a bow-staircase at rear. It was lengthened in 1826, and a third south window was added. The exterior is harled with margins. There is a bellcote on west gable. The interior contains a gallery on doric columns.
There are a number of good exterior wall monuments and tablets dating from 1678-1746, including Geo. Melvil (1678), Mary Forbes (Balfluig Monument) (1725), and Wm. Badenach (1746). The Forbes monument is of carved red sandstone, the central panel framed in heavy mouldings and flanked by figures with labels with a winged putto on top and a relief cadaver below. The surrounding churchyard walls are embanked internally, with the gates, flanked by open books in relief, possibly dating to 1694. Within the graveyard is the Commonwealth War Grave of Private Robert Lobban (Gordon Highlanders) who died in May 1915.
GR/02/CT275, 279, GR/02/CT275, 279 (Ground Photograph). SAB36980.
JERVISE, A, 1879, EPITAPHS & INSCRIPTIONS,VOL 2, 116 (Bibliographic reference). SAB889.
SCOTT, H, 1950, FASTI ECCLES SCOT, No6,117 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1806.
HAY, G., 1957, THE ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTTISH POST-REF CHURCHES, 242 (Bibliographic reference). SAB720.
EELES, FC, 1957, THE CHURCH AND OTHER BELLS OF ABERDEENSHIRE PSAS 90 (1956-7) 130-60, p.134 (Bibliographic reference). SAB490.
HISTORIC SCOTLAND, 2001, MARY FORBES TOMB, WEST KIRK, BY ALFORD: CONSERVATION REPORT, HS rep (Bibliographic reference). SAB4401.
Aug 19 2005 , AAS-GR-05-08-001 - 004, AAS-GR-05-08-001 - 004 (Ground Photograph). SAB35869.
Aug 29 2021 , AAS-GR-21-08-012 -026, AAS-GR-21-08-012 -026 (Ground Photograph). SAB35192.
May 28 1997 , AAS/97/05/CT22-4, AAS/97/05/CT22-4 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16738.
SDD, n.d., BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST, ALFORD No1 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1827.
Sep 18 2005 , AAS-GR-05-09-025 - 028, AAS-GR-05-09-025 - 028 (Ground Photograph). SAB35868.
Other Statuses/References
- Authority: ASH;
- HAMP Asset: HA0383;
- Local Government Guardianship;
- NMR Card Number: NJ51NE 10.00;
- NRHE Numlink: 17520;
- Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NJ51NE0009;
External Links (3)
- https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB3287 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)
- https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB3288 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)
- https://www.trove.scot/place/17520 (Mansefield, Alford Parish West Church - trove.scot link)
Sources/Archives (11)
- --- SAB16738 Air-oblique Photograph: May 28 1997 . AAS/97/05/CT22-4. Colour Transparency. AAS/97/05/CT22-4.
- --- SAB1806 Bibliographic reference: SCOTT, H. 1950. FASTI ECCLES SCOT. Y. No6,117.
- --- SAB1827 Bibliographic reference: SDD. n.d.. BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST. ALFORD No1.
- --- SAB35192 Ground Photograph: Aug 29 2021 . AAS-GR-21-08-012 -026. Digital. AAS-GR-21-08-012 -026.
- --- SAB35868 Ground Photograph: Sep 18 2005 . AAS-GR-05-09-025 - 028. Digital. AAS-GR-05-09-025 - 028.
- --- SAB35869 Ground Photograph: Aug 19 2005 . AAS-GR-05-08-001 - 004. Digital. AAS-GR-05-08-001 - 004.
- --- SAB36980 Ground Photograph: GR/02/CT275, 279. Colour Transparency. GR/02/CT275, 279.
- --- SAB4401 Bibliographic reference: HISTORIC SCOTLAND. 2001. MARY FORBES TOMB, WEST KIRK, BY ALFORD: CONSERVATION REPORT. HS rep.
- --- SAB490 Bibliographic reference: EELES, FC. 1957. THE CHURCH AND OTHER BELLS OF ABERDEENSHIRE PSAS 90 (1956-7) 130-60. Y. p.134.
- --- SAB720 Bibliographic reference: HAY, G.. 1957. THE ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTTISH POST-REF CHURCHES. N. N. 242.
- --- SAB889 Bibliographic reference: JERVISE, A. 1879. EPITAPHS & INSCRIPTIONS,VOL 2. N. 116.
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (0)
Record last edited
Oct 3 2026 8:43PM
