Building record MAB32357 - STRATHMARTINE OLD PARISH CHURCH AND GRAVEYARD

Site of a parish church, existing graveyard and the findspot of several sculptured stones.

Site of a parish church, existing graveyard and the findspot of several sculptured stones. The parish church of Strathmartine, dedicated in 1249 to St. Martin, was rebuilt in 1779 but was then demolished, probably in the same year, when the parish was united with Mains. The burial place of the Strathmartine family occupied part of the site in 1859. It is shown on the OS maps from the 1st edition onwards as an irregular graveyard containing two unroofed rectangular structures, one central and the other against the western wall. The graveyard contains 17th, 18th and 19th Century tombstones, and is enclosed by a coursed rubble wall with rubble coping and pyramidal-capped gatepiers. At least 14 Early Christian monuments have been found around Strathmartine, at least some of them coming from the churchyard. The sculptured slab (Strathmartine No.2) was removed to Dundee Museum in 1966. It is a recumbent slab of old red sandstone 1.3m x 0.53m x 0.17m (4ft 3in x 1ft 9in x 7in), sculptured in relief on one face. Its decoration comprises a much defaced border design of scrolling and interlaced work enclosing a pair of biting serpents. Strathmartine No.3: the remaining part of an upright cross-slab of old red sandstone, 0.4m x 0.5m (1ft 4in x 1ft 8in), sculptured with both relief and incised lines. The front bears the upper portion of an interlaced cross surrounded by biting beasts. On the back are a rectangular step symbol and the upper half of an 'elephant'. Strathmartine No.4: the fragment of a cross-slab, of old red sandstone, measuring 0.38m x 0.17m x 0.06m (1ft 3in x 7in x 2in), sculptured in relief and with incised lines. The front bears the vestiges of an interlaced panel and an irregular scrolled panel. On the back are the incised remains of a beast or elephant symbol. Strathmartine No.5: the intermediate site of this and Strathmartine Nos.6, 8 and 8A was Baldovan House, but all are now lost. It was a cross-slab fragment of old red sandstone, 0.38m x 0.38m x 0.05m (1ft 3in x 1ft 3in x 2in), sculptured on two faces. On the front were the remains of three panels showing key and interlaced work with an animal and a biting beast. On the back is a fraction of two double-discs with Z-rods. Strathmartine No.6: was a cross-slab fragment of old red sandstone, 0.33m x 0.26m (1ft 1in x 10in). On one face was the fragment of a cross with a key patterned quadrant linking the arms, on the other, part of the elephant symbol. Strathmartine No.7: was a fragment of old red sandstone, of nearly rectangular shape, sculptured in relief on the front with a beast-headed man carrying a cross of the Russian kind with double horizontal arms over his right shoulder. Strathmartine No.8: was the end of the arm of a free-standing cross of old red sandstone, 0.27m x 0.31m x 0.11m (10.5 in x 1ft x 4.5in), bordered by a rope moulding and sculptured in relief on three faces. On the front was triangular interlaced-work, double-beaded. On the end, a man, undraped, with his right hand on the inside of his thigh, his left on his chin, and below his feet interlaced-work. On the under-side was also interlaced-work. Strathmartine No.8A: was a fragment of the head of a cross (apparently part of the same stone as No.8) of old red sandstone, measuring 0.48m x 0.25m x 0.11m (1ft 6in x 10in x 4.5in). It was sculptured in relief on two faces. On the front was part of the Crucifixion, consisting of the right arm of the crucified Saviour, one of the soldiers below with the spear, and the remains of the figure of an angel on the right. On the back were traces of spirals and interlaced-work.

Period Notes
Several Class II sculptured stones were found on the site (circa 7th - 8th century). The church itself was dedicated in 1249, rebuilt in 1779 then probably demolished in the same year. The burial place of the Stratharmtine family still occupied part of the site in 1859. There are 17th, 18th and 19th century gravestones in the graveyard. The graveyard was listed on 10/12/1991.

AND/810/1/P, AND/810/1/P (Ground Photograph). SAB29047.

B/28851/PO, B/28851/PO (Ground Photograph). SAB29049.

B/28852/PO, B/28852/PO (Ground Photograph). SAB29050.

B/61423, B/61423 (Ground Photograph). SAB28206.

B/98467/S, B/98467/S (Ground Photograph). SAB27393.

B/98470/S, B/98470/S (Ground Photograph). SAB27394.

D/08576, D/08576 (Ground Photograph). SAB29048.

D/08630, D/08630 (Ground Photograph). SAB29052.

D/08636, D/08636 (Ground Photograph). SAB29051.

Stuart, J, 1856, 1, 24 (Bibliographic reference). SAB9241.

Stuart, J, 1856, 1, 24, 41, 43 (Bibliographic reference). SAB9240.

Stuart, J, 1856, 1, 41 (Bibliographic reference). SAB9243.

Stuart, J, 1856, 1, 43 (Bibliographic reference). SAB9242.

Stuart, J, 1867, 2 (Bibliographic reference). SAB9876.

Stuart, J, 1867, 2, 58 (Bibliographic reference). SAB9874.

Stuart, J, 1867, 2, 58 (Bibliographic reference). SAB9875.

Warden, A J, 1880-5, [Untitled], Vol. 4, 272-4 (Bibliographic reference). SAB10035.

Allen and Anderson, J R and, 1903, [Untitled], pt. 3, 230-4, 266-7 (Bibliographic reference). SAB11930.

Allen and Anderson, J R and, 1903, [Untitled], PT. 3, 266 (Bibliographic reference). SAB11941.

Allen and Anderson, J R and, 1903, [Untitled], PT. 3, 266-7 (Bibliographic reference). SAB11952.

Allen and Anderson, J R and, 1903, [Untitled], PT. 3, 268 (Bibliographic reference). SAB11963.

Cowan, I B, 1967, Scot Rec Soc 93, 191 (Bibliographic reference). SAB11642.

Coutts, H, 1971, [Untitled], 84 (Bibliographic reference). SAB11242.

Jackson, A, 1984, [Untitled] (Bibliographic reference). SAB11895.

Ritchie, J N G, 1985, [Untitled], 16 (Bibliographic reference). SAB9289.

Mack, A, 1997, [Untitled], 38 (Bibliographic reference). SAB11535.

FRASER, I, 2008, THE PICTISH SYMBOL STONES OF SCOTLAND, 60 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2523.

Record last edited

Jul 7 2022 4:01PM