Building record MAB16192 - KIRKTON OF CULSALMOND OLD KIRK
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Summary
The remains of a church, associated graveyard and mort-house, built on the site of a stone circle and an earlier medieval church.
Protected Status/Designation
- Listed Building (A) 2960
- Listed Building (C) 2960
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NJ 6502 3293 (75m by 57m) Centred at - Polygon: Unknown Extent |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NJ63SE |
| Authority | Aberdeenshire |
| Civil Parish | Culsalmond |
Type and Period (8)
- STONE CIRCLE (Early Bronze Age to 19th Century - 2200 BC to 1899 AD)
- CHURCH (Early Bronze Age to 19th Century - 2200 BC to 1899 AD)
- CHURCH (Early Bronze Age to 19th Century - 2200 BC to 1899 AD)
- Belfry (Early Bronze Age to 19th Century - 2200 BC to 1899 AD)
- CHURCHYARD (Early Bronze Age to 19th Century - 2200 BC to 1899 AD)
- HOUSE (Early Bronze Age to 19th Century - 2200 BC to 1899 AD)
- Graveyard (Early Bronze Age to 19th Century - 2200 BC to 1899 AD)
- BANK (EARTHWORK) (Early Bronze Age to 19th Century - 2200 BC to 1899 AD)
Full Description
The remains of a church, associated graveyard and mort-house, built on the site of a stone circle and an earlier medieval church. A circle of twelve stones was overturned prior to the building of the first church and graveyard. The circle was in the centre of the churchyard. One stone was uncovered during demolition of a building in 1821 and was placed within the churchyard and seen circa 1840, but subsequently removed. The other stones were presumed to be still buried. The church is first mentioned in 1178, as dedicated to St. Serf and its lands bestowed on Lindores Abbey. This church and another structure attached to it were removed in 1821 and two skeletons, side by side and at right angles to the building were revealed. The position of the church is shown on G Brown's 1770 plan of the lands of Williamston, approximately 12m south of the current, ruinous, church. This was built in 1789, but has a bird cage belfry dated 1680. This church was dedicated to St Andrew and was in turn abandoned in 1938 in favour of South Church and is now roofless. It has round-headed windows and doors and the walling contains several reused stones. The derelict mort-house in the kirkyard is early 19th century. A one-storey structure on a subterranean basement with pyramidal slated roof and a large window for surveying the kirkyard.
Period Notes
Church first mentioned 1178 AD; church built 1789-91; belfry dated 1680.
DG21-9, 33-4, 36-7, DG21-9, 33-4, 36-7 (Ground Photograph). SAB20020.
DG40-2, DG40-2 (Ground Photograph). SAB20021.
GR/01/CT351-359, GR/01/CT351-359 (Ground Photograph). SAB36886.
BROWN, G, 1770, PLAN OF LANDS OF WILLIAMSTON (Bibliographic reference). SAB151.
COLES, FR, 1902, REPORT ON STONE CIRCLES IN ABERDEENSHIRE IN PSAS 36(1901-2) 488-581, 577 (Bibliographic reference). SAB232.
SIMPSON, WD, 1943, PROVINCE OF MAR, 51 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1676.
HAY, G., 1957, THE ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTTISH POST-REF CHURCHES (Bibliographic reference). SAB720.
EELES, F. C., 1958, THE CHURCH AND OTHER BELLS OF ABERDEENSHIRE, PSAS 91(1957-8) 84-111, 101-2 (Bibliographic reference). SAB443.
MURRAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES, 2007, Culsalmond Mort House: excavation & building surve, report (Bibliographic reference). SAB4587.
Excavation, survey
ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2008, DISCOVERY & EXCAVATION SCOTLAND, p.15 (HK Murray) (Bibliographic reference). SAB4029.
Jan 1 1980 , AAS/GR/80/CT64-69, AAS/GR/80/CT64-69 (Ground Photograph). SAB32566.
SDD, n.d., BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST, CULSALMOND 1,2 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1827.
LAING, A, n.d., LINDORES ABBEY & ITS BURGH, 53 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1082.
Author unknown, n.d., NSA, No12(1845) 732 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1269.
Other Statuses/References
- Authority: ASH;
- HAMP Asset: HA0144;
- HAMP Asset: HA0145;
- HES Listed Building Number: 2960;
- Local Government Guardianship;
- NMR Card Number: NJ63SE1;
- NRHE Numlink: 18243;
- Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NJ63SE0001;
External Links (3)
- https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB2960 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)
- https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB2960 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)
- https://www.trove.scot/place/18243 (trove.scot link)
Sources/Archives (14)
- --- SAB1082 Bibliographic reference: LAING, A. n.d.. LINDORES ABBEY & ITS BURGH. 53.
- --- SAB1269 Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. n.d.. NSA. No12(1845) 732.
- --- SAB151 Bibliographic reference: BROWN, G. 1770. PLAN OF LANDS OF WILLIAMSTON.
- --- SAB1676 Bibliographic reference: SIMPSON, WD. 1943. PROVINCE OF MAR. 51.
- --- SAB1827 Bibliographic reference: SDD. n.d.. BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST. CULSALMOND 1,2.
- --- SAB20020 Ground Photograph: DG21-9, 33-4, 36-7. Digital. DG21-9, 33-4, 36-7.
- --- SAB20021 Ground Photograph: DG40-2. Digital. DG40-2.
- --- SAB232 Bibliographic reference: COLES, FR. 1902. REPORT ON STONE CIRCLES IN ABERDEENSHIRE IN PSAS 36(1901-2) 488-581. 577.
- --- SAB32566 Ground Photograph: Jan 1 1980 . AAS/GR/80/CT64-69. Colour Transparency. AAS/GR/80/CT64-69.
- --- SAB36886 Ground Photograph: GR/01/CT351-359. Colour Transparency. GR/01/CT351-359.
- --- SAB4029 Bibliographic reference: ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND. 2008. DISCOVERY & EXCAVATION SCOTLAND. Y. p.15 (HK Murray).
- --- SAB443 Bibliographic reference: EELES, F. C.. 1958. THE CHURCH AND OTHER BELLS OF ABERDEENSHIRE, PSAS 91(1957-8) 84-111. Y. 101-2.
- --- SAB4587 Bibliographic reference: MURRAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES. 2007. Culsalmond Mort House: excavation & building surve. report.
- --- SAB720 Bibliographic reference: HAY, G.. 1957. THE ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTTISH POST-REF CHURCHES. N. N.
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (0)
Record last edited
Feb 20 2025 2:54PM
