Document record MAB59165 - ST OLAVE'S CHURCH, CRUDEN BAY

Site of a church.

Site of a church. The former church of Cruden Parish was abandoned because of sand encroachment. There is no record or tradition of its removal to the present site (NK03NE0054) but Eeles suggests it took place in the mid 13th Century. According to the OS Name Book (1865-71) it was built on the supposed site of the battle between the Danes, under Canute, and the Scots under Malcolm II: it was erected by Malcolm and it was surrounded by a graveyard, wherein were buried the Slain of both Armies’. OS recorded that a portion of the east wall and foundations of other walls survived around until about 1837 when they are said to have been quarried for road metalling. Excavation of the church by Maj-General Moore in 1857 confirmed that it had been overwhelmed by sand, and also exposed many graves. An extremely rough font was also found, thought to be pre-13th Century, used by the episcopal congregation but later sunk into the garden of St James’ Rectory . A few stones are said to have marked the site of a grave where traditionally a Danish chieftain was buried after the battle of Cruden (NK03NE0053). OS recorded that ‘a large blue marble slab that formerly marked this grave, was removed to the parish churchyard circa 1748’ (see NK03NE0110). OS (1972) found no trace of the church or the grave, and no knowledge of the font at the house. Remains of a church are depicted on the OS 1st and 2nd edition maps (named St Olav's Chapel) but today there is no trace. Excavation was undertaken in 1983 ahead of new houses and access road on the western side. Stain burials were recorded in a trench north of the present reservoir. Also an enclosure wall in the slope down to the Fairview carpark and a possible track up to the chapel site from the northwest.

Period Notes
GU-1876 human bone from a grave (CB/83/SK22) cut in sand, near to a church 610 BP (50); 1290-1420 cal AD: GU-1877 human bone from a grave (CB/83/SK26) cut in sand, near to a church 680 BP (Err: 55); 1240-1410 cal AD: GU-1878 Human bone from a grave (CB/83/SK10) cut in sand, near to a church 390 BP (Err: 65); 1420-1650 AD.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 12/08/83 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

PRATT, JB, 1858, NOTE ON RECENT EXCAVATION OF CAIRN AND OTHER ANTIQUITIESIN THE PARISH OF CRUDEN PSAS 3(1857-8) 145, 145 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1414.

ORDNANCE SURVEY, 1871, Ordnance Name Book, No22(1868) 131, 139 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1360.

EELES, FC, 1913, ECCLESIASTICAL REMAINS AT CRUDEN AND ST FERGUS, ABERDEENSHIRE IN PSAS 47(1912-2) 470-83, 470-83 (Bibliographic reference). SAB460.

Aug 9 1983 , AAS/83/16/58/21-3, AAS/83/16/58/21-3 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB14946.

Aug 17 1983 , POLAROID, POLAROID (Ground Photograph). SAB14947.

Author unknown, n.d., BUCHAN OBSERVER, 26/07/83 (Bibliographic reference). SAB113.

Record last edited

Aug 26 2024 11:55AM