Building record MAB8697 - CHURCH OF DIPPLE
Please read our guidance about the use of Aberdeenshire Historic Environment Record data.
Summary
Graveyard and site of Church of Dipple, which was dedicated to the Holy Ghost.
Protected Status/Designation
- Listed Building (C) 15639
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NJ 3283 5790 (48m by 50m) Centred at - Polygon: Known Site Extent |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NJ35NW |
| Authority | Moray |
| Civil Parish | Speymouth |
Type and Period (6)
- GRAVE (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- CHURCH (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- CHURCHYARD (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- Graveyard (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- HOUSE (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- GATE (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
Full Description
Graveyard and site of Church of Dipple, which was dedicated to the Holy Ghost. The church was first mentioned in the Charters of Bishop Bricius between 1208 and 1215. The kirks and lands of Eskyll (Essil) and Duppill were confirmed to the Bishop of Moray by the king in 1452. It was allowed to decay after it was united with Essil and part of Urquhart in 1731 to form the parish of Speymouth. Only the East, or the Gordon's Aisle, remained, and was used as a burial place for the Gordon family. The aisle survives today, but does not appear to contain any fabric from the original church. There are mural memorials dated 1794 and 1818 incoroprated in fragments of the walling of the church. The graveyard is still in use. It is roughly circular in shape, situated on a slight mound. There is an entrance to the East, flanked by simple stone steps built into the walling. The walls were rebuilt in 1782, as recorded by an inscription next the entrance gate, and a plaque in the wall records reconstruction by subscription in 1811 and 1869. Silver coins of Robert II were found beneath the churchyard wall during repairs in 1868. On the OS map of 1846, mention is also made here of the site of a house called 'Holy Ghost House'. A pew back from 1634 now hangs on the West wall of the Speymouth parish church (NJ36SW0019), which was built in 1732-3 to be the replacement parish church. The graveyard contains the Commonwealth war grave of Private A. S. M. Roy who died in 1915. Recording of tombstones within the graveyard was carried out by the Moray Burial Ground Research Group in 2002.
Period Notes
Church mentioned in the Bishop Bricius charter of 1208-15. It is also mentioned in 1275 and 1350. Coins found in 1868 date to 1371-90. It was confirmed to the Bishop of Moray in 1452. It fell out of use in 1731 and was allowed to decay. The graveyard walls have been rebuilt and repaired in 1782, 1811 and 1868-9. There are mural memorials dating to 1794 and 1818, and the graveyard is still in use. Listed designation given on 24/03/1988.
SHAW, L, 1798, HIST OF PROV OF MORAY (Bibliographic reference). SAB1625.
JERVISE, A, 1879, EPITAPHS & INSCRIPTIONS,VOL 2, 258-61 (Bibliographic reference). SAB889.
GEDDIE, J, 1934, PSAS 68(1933-4) 367-71, 367-71 (Bibliographic reference). SAB626.
PEW-BACK
DI FALCO, J, 1967, PSAS 90(1966-7) 211-54, 211-54 (Bibliographic reference). SAB352.
MORAY BURIAL GROUND RESEARCH GROUP, 2003, NEWSLETTER, No. 1 (Bibliographic reference). SAB5098.
MORAY BURIAL GROUND RESEARCH GROUP, 2003, THE FORGOTTEN TOMBSTONES OF MORAY: VOLUME I DIPPLE, ESSIL AND KIRKHILL (Bibliographic reference). SAB7661.
HISTORIC SCOTLAND, 2005, RESEARCHING YOUR GRAVEYARD, p 13-14 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4345.
Aug 10 1978 , AAS/78/3/CT38, AAS/78/3/CT38 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB31962.
Feb 17 2000 , AAS/00/05/CT51, AAS/00/05/CT51 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB31530.
Jan 1 1991 , AAS/GR/91/CT59,63-64, AAS/GR/91/CT59,63-64 (Ground Photograph). SAB32846.
Author unknown, n.d., THE NORTHERN SCOT, 23/01/15 p.8 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1270.
Sep 4 1991 , LD 7-9, LD 7-9 (Ground Photograph). SAB33878.
Other Statuses/References
- Authority: MOR;
- HES Listed Building Number: 15639;
- Local Government Guardianship;
- NMR Card Number: NJ35NW7;
- NRHE Numlink: 16909;
- Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NJ35NW0007;
External Links (2)
- https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB15639 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)
- https://www.trove.scot/place/16909 (trove.scot link)
Sources/Archives (12)
- --- SAB1270 Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. n.d.. THE NORTHERN SCOT. 23/01/15 p.8.
- --- SAB1625 Bibliographic reference: SHAW, L. 1798. HIST OF PROV OF MORAY.
- --- SAB31530 Air-oblique Photograph: Feb 17 2000 . AAS/00/05/CT51. Colour Transparency. AAS/00/05/CT51.
- --- SAB31962 Air-oblique Photograph: Aug 10 1978 . AAS/78/3/CT38. Colour Transparency. AAS/78/3/CT38.
- --- SAB32846 Ground Photograph: Jan 1 1991 . AAS/GR/91/CT59,63-64. Colour Transparency. AAS/GR/91/CT59,63-64.
- --- SAB33878 Ground Photograph: Sep 4 1991 . LD 7-9. Black & White. LD 7-9.
- --- SAB352 Bibliographic reference: DI FALCO, J. 1967. PSAS 90(1966-7) 211-54. 211-54.
- --- SAB4345 Bibliographic reference: HISTORIC SCOTLAND. 2005. RESEARCHING YOUR GRAVEYARD. p 13-14.
- --- SAB5098 Bibliographic reference: MORAY BURIAL GROUND RESEARCH GROUP. 2003. NEWSLETTER. No. 1.
- --- SAB626 Bibliographic reference: GEDDIE, J. 1934. PSAS 68(1933-4) 367-71. 367-71.
- --- SAB7661 Bibliographic reference: MORAY BURIAL GROUND RESEARCH GROUP. 2003. THE FORGOTTEN TOMBSTONES OF MORAY: VOLUME I DIPPLE, ESSIL AND KIRKHILL.
- --- SAB889 Bibliographic reference: JERVISE, A. 1879. EPITAPHS & INSCRIPTIONS,VOL 2. N. 258-61.
Finds (4)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (1)
Record last edited
Sep 4 2025 2:50PM
