Building record MAB35025 - RESTENNETH PRIORY

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Summary

Remains of a priory.

Protected Status/Designation

  • Scheduled Monument 90246

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Location

Grid reference Centred NO 4821 5159 (118m by 165m) Centred at - Polygon: Known Site Extent
Map sheet NO45SE
Civil Parish Forfar
Authority Angus

Type and Period (3)

Full Description

Remains of a priory. Restenneth Priory possibly occupies the site of a Celtic foundation. The remains of Restenneth Priory stand on a knoll (which has been suggested to be the site of a crannog). The walls of the choir are circa 5m high and contain fine lancet windows. The foundations of the nave and part of the chapter house vary from 0.3m to 1.2m in height. The plain cloister walls are circa 4m high. The tower is entire, square in plan, and dates to the 11th - 12th Century, the lower 3m may incorporate older elements and may originally have been a porch. It is similar to St Rule's Tower at St Andrews. The octagonal spire is probably 15th Century. Some scholars argue that this could be the remains of the church built for Nechtan, king of the Picts, who sent to Monkwearmouth, Jarrow, for masons to build a stone church in around 710 AD. Restenneth is recorded as an Augustinian Priory in the 12th Century after Malcolm IV granted it to the canons of Jedburgh in 1161-2. Malcolm's charter confirmed extensive land holdings and privileges. Prince John, the son of Robert the Bruce, was buried here around 1327, King David II later generously supported Restenneth as the last resting place of his brother. By 1500 only two canons remained resident in the priory. After the Reformation the priory had several owners and the remains of the choir were used as a burial aisle for the Dempsters of Dunnichen. In 1919 the remains passed into the custody of the state. Prior House, to the northwest (NO45SE0388) at the north end of the site, dates to the 18th Century but was restored in 1953. A geophysical survey (resistance and GPR) was carried out by RGC in June 2019 as part of a wider research project. This recorded anomalies within the cloister area which may be associated with the original cloister, although this is not clear as it is known that the existing 'cloister' walls are a later construction. Anomalies consistent with the Sacristy and chapter house/east range were also noted.


AN/4617, AN/4617 (Photograph). SAB26983.

AN/4618, AN/4618 (Photograph). SAB26258.

AN/4619, AN/4619 (Photograph). SAB26984.

AN/4620/CN, AN/4620/CN (Photograph). SAB26876.

AN/4621/CN, AN/4621/CN (Photograph). SAB26259.

AN/4622/CN, AN/4622/CN (Photograph). SAB26877.

AN/5617, AN/5617 (Photograph). SAB26260.

AN/5618, AN/5618 (Photograph). SAB26261.

AN/5619, AN/5619 (Photograph). SAB26262.

AN/5620, AN/5620 (Photograph). SAB26985.

AN/5919/CS, AN/5919/CS (Photograph). SAB26263.

AN/5920/CS, AN/5920/CS (Photograph). SAB26264.

AN/5921/CS, AN/5921/CS (Photograph). SAB26265.

AN/5970/CS, AN/5970/CS (Photograph). SAB26266.

AN/5971/CS, AN/5971/CS (Photograph). SAB26267.

AN/5972/CS, AN/5972/CS (Photograph). SAB26268.

AN/5973/CS, AN/5973/CS (Photograph). SAB26878.

B/16638, B/16638 (Photograph). SAB26269.

B/16639, B/16639 (Photograph). SAB26270.

B/16640, B/16640 (Photograph). SAB26271.

B/16641, B/16641 (Photograph). SAB26986.

B/81522/CS, B/81522/CS (Photograph). SAB26272.

B/93501/CS, B/93501/CS (Photograph). SAB26879.

B/93502/CS, B/93502/CS (Photograph). SAB26273.

B/93503/CS, B/93503/CS (Photograph). SAB26880.

B/93504/CS, B/93504/CS (Photograph). SAB26881.

B/93505/CS, B/93505/CS (Photograph). SAB26274.

B/93506/CS, B/93506/CS (Photograph). SAB26275.

B/93507/CS, B/93507/CS (Photograph). SAB26276.

B/93508/CS, B/93508/CS (Photograph). SAB26277.

C/30612, C/30612 (Photograph). SAB26278.

C/30613, C/30613 (Photograph). SAB26279.

C/30614, C/30614 (Photograph). SAB26280.

C/30615, C/30615 (Photograph). SAB26281.

C/30616, C/30616 (Photograph). SAB26282.

C/30617, C/30617 (Photograph). SAB26283.

C/30618, C/30618 (Photograph). SAB26284.

C/30619, C/30619 (Photograph). SAB26285.

C/30620, C/30620 (Photograph). SAB26286.

C/30621, C/30621 (Photograph). SAB26287.

MS/329, MS/329 (Photograph). SAB26987.

PSAS, 1878, Proc Soc Antiq Scot 12, 90 (Bibliographic reference). SAB10349.

Stuart, J, 1880, Archaeol Scot 5 2, 285-316 (Bibliographic reference). SAB9896.

Simpson, W D, 1952, [Untitled] (Bibliographic reference). SAB10903.

EASSON, D, 1957, MEDIEVAL RELIGIOUS HOUSES: SCOTLAND, 81 (Bibliographic reference). SAB440.

Adams, D G, 1984, [Untitled], 11, 33-4 (Bibliographic reference). SAB11985.

FERNIE, E, 1986, EARLY CHURCH ARCHITECTURE IN SCOTLAND. IN PSAS 116, 393-411 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4208.

Fernie, E, 1987, Proc Soc Antiq Scot 116, 397, 399 (Bibliographic reference). SAB11767.

Cameron, N [M], 1994, Proc Soc Antiq Scot 124, 375 (Bibliographic reference). SAB11478.

STRATIGOS, M J, 2013, THE CRANNOGS OF NORTHEAST SCOTLAND: QUANTIFYING THE RESOURCE. UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON MA DISSERTATION, 44-5, 77 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1743.

ROSE GEOPHYSICAL CONSULTANTS, 2019, GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY REPORT RESTENNETH PRIORY (Bibliographic reference). SAB3147.

Jul 7 2004 , GR/04/CT641-655, GR/04/CT641-655 (Ground Photograph). SAB37054.

Jun 7 1997 , AAS/97/07/CT43-6, 48,52, AAS/97/07/CT43-6, 48,52 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB28979.

Other Statuses/References

  • Authority: ANG;
  • Guardianship Monument (National): 2817;
  • HES Scheduled Monument Number: 90246;
  • NMR Card Number: NO45SE10;
  • NRHE Numlink: 33745;
  • Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NO45SE0010;

External Links (2)

Sources/Archives (53)

  • --- Bibliographic reference: PSAS. 1878. Proc Soc Antiq Scot 12. 90.
  • --- Bibliographic reference: Simpson, W D. 1952. [Untitled].
  • --- Bibliographic reference: Cameron, N [M]. 1994. Proc Soc Antiq Scot 124. 375.
  • --- Bibliographic reference: Fernie, E. 1987. Proc Soc Antiq Scot 116. 397, 399.
  • --- Bibliographic reference: Adams, D G. 1984. [Untitled]. 11, 33-4.
  • --- Bibliographic reference: STRATIGOS, M J. 2013. THE CRANNOGS OF NORTHEAST SCOTLAND: QUANTIFYING THE RESOURCE. UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON MA DISSERTATION. 44-5, 77.
  • --- Photograph: AN/4618. . AN/4618.
  • --- Photograph: AN/4621/CN. Colour Negative. AN/4621/CN.
  • --- Photograph: AN/5617. . AN/5617.
  • --- Photograph: AN/5618. . AN/5618.
  • --- Photograph: AN/5619. . AN/5619.
  • --- Photograph: AN/5919/CS. CS. AN/5919/CS.
  • --- Photograph: AN/5920/CS. CS. AN/5920/CS.
  • --- Photograph: AN/5921/CS. CS. AN/5921/CS.
  • --- Photograph: AN/5970/CS. CS. AN/5970/CS.
  • --- Photograph: AN/5971/CS. CS. AN/5971/CS.
  • --- Photograph: AN/5972/CS. CS. AN/5972/CS.
  • --- Photograph: B/16638. . B/16638.
  • --- Photograph: B/16639. . B/16639.
  • --- Photograph: B/16640. . B/16640.
  • --- Photograph: B/81522/CS. CS. B/81522/CS.
  • --- Photograph: B/93502/CS. CS. B/93502/CS.
  • --- Photograph: B/93505/CS. CS. B/93505/CS.
  • --- Photograph: B/93506/CS. CS. B/93506/CS.
  • --- Photograph: B/93507/CS. CS. B/93507/CS.
  • --- Photograph: B/93508/CS. CS. B/93508/CS.
  • --- Photograph: C/30612. . C/30612.
  • --- Photograph: C/30613. . C/30613.
  • --- Photograph: C/30614. . C/30614.
  • --- Photograph: C/30615. . C/30615.
  • --- Photograph: C/30616. . C/30616.
  • --- Photograph: C/30617. . C/30617.
  • --- Photograph: C/30618. . C/30618.
  • --- Photograph: C/30619. . C/30619.
  • --- Photograph: C/30620. . C/30620.
  • --- Photograph: C/30621. . C/30621.
  • --- Photograph: AN/4620/CN. Colour Negative. AN/4620/CN.
  • --- Photograph: AN/4622/CN. Colour Negative. AN/4622/CN.
  • --- Photograph: AN/5973/CS. CS. AN/5973/CS.
  • --- Photograph: B/93501/CS. CS. B/93501/CS.
  • --- Photograph: B/93503/CS. CS. B/93503/CS.
  • --- Photograph: B/93504/CS. CS. B/93504/CS.
  • --- Photograph: AN/4617. . AN/4617.
  • --- Photograph: AN/4619. . AN/4619.
  • --- Photograph: AN/5620. . AN/5620.
  • --- Photograph: B/16641. . B/16641.
  • --- Photograph: MS/329. . MS/329.
  • --- Air-oblique Photograph: Jun 7 1997 . AAS/97/07/CT43-6, 48,52. Colour Transparency. AAS/97/07/CT43-6, 48,52.
  • --- Bibliographic reference: ROSE GEOPHYSICAL CONSULTANTS. 2019. GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY REPORT RESTENNETH PRIORY.
  • --- Ground Photograph: Jul 7 2004 . GR/04/CT641-655. Colour Transparency. GR/04/CT641-655.
  • --- Bibliographic reference: FERNIE, E. 1986. EARLY CHURCH ARCHITECTURE IN SCOTLAND. IN PSAS 116, 393-411.
  • --- Bibliographic reference: EASSON, D. 1957. MEDIEVAL RELIGIOUS HOUSES: SCOTLAND. 81.
  • --- Bibliographic reference: Stuart, J. 1880. Archaeol Scot 5 2. 285-316.

Finds (3)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (3)

Record last edited

Mar 24 2025 2:56PM

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