Angus HER - NO33NE0007 - STRATHMARTINE OLD PARISH CHURCH AND GRAVEYARD

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Main Details

Primary ReferenceNO33NE0007
NameSTRATHMARTINE OLD PARISH CHURCH AND GRAVEYARD
NRHE Card No.NO33NE7
NRHE Numlink 31878
HES SM No. NULL
HES LB No. 19042
Site Form Standing Structure
Site Condition Incomplete
Details 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.
Last Update07/07/2022
Updated Bycpalmer
CompilerNCA
Date of Compilation19/01/2017

Google Map for NO33NE0007

National Grid Reference: NO 3783 3526



Event Details


Excavations and Surveys


Artefact and Ecofact

Date MDate YArtefact TypeFinderRecovery MethodConditionStorage LocationAccess No.
   SYMBOL STONE  
   CROSS-SLAB  
   CROSS-SLAB National Museum of Scotland IB47
 1856 SCULPTURED STONE Lost  
 1903 SCULPTURED STONE Unknown  
 1867 SCULPTURED CROSS Unknown  

Ecofact

Samples
Palynology
Ecofact Notes

Monument Types

Monument Type 1Monument Type 2Monument Type 3OrderProbability
SYMBOLSDOUBLE-DISC O100
CHURCHES SITE OFB100
CROSS-SLABS REMAINS OFC100
CROSSES SCULPTUREDD100
SYMBOLS SERPENTE100
SYMBOLS INTERLACEDF100
STONESGRAVE G100
SYMBOLS BEASTH100
SYMBOLSHUMANBEAST-HEADEDI100
SYMBOLSRECTANGULAR J100
CROSSES INTERLACEDK100
SYMBOLS Z-RODL100
SPIRALS  M100
CARVINGSCRUCIFIXION N100
GRAVEYARDS  P100
WALLSRUBBLECOPEDQ100
GATEPIERS CAPPEDR100
CAPSPYRAMIDAL S100
STONES PICTISH IIA100