Aberdeenshire HER - NJ50SW0004 - COULL CHURCH

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Main Details

Primary ReferenceNJ50SW0004
NameCOULL CHURCH
NRHE Card No.NJ50SW4
NRHE Numlink 17513
HES SM No. NULL
HES LB No. 2966
Site Form Standing Structure
Site Condition Complete 2
Details Church, built on or near the site of an earlier church, associated graveyard and mort house. The earlier Coull church was one of three churches (also Tullich (NO39NE0002) and Bethelnie (NJ73SE0006)) dedicated to St Nathalan after he returned from Rome in 7th century. The Kirk of Coull with lands and tithes was bestowed upon Abbey of Arbroath in 1188-99. Site not known but may be same as present church. The present Church was built in 1796 incorporating 17th century gable end and birdcage belfry, restored in 1876. Plain Neo-Classical-style Rectangular-plan church with four bays. Squared and tooled granite. Semicircular-arched windows. The Church Yard is a large rectangular area of ground which also containing church, standing on slightly raised ground above river floodplain. Tombstones bear name of local farms: Reekitlane, Titaboutie, Lochmanse, Boghead and Wester Coull. To the northeast corner of the churchyard stands square monument with marble plaques dedicated to Rev James Paterson, who died 1789. The grave slab of James Middleton, 1751, south of the church, is boldly carved with death motifs including an hourglass, winged angels, crossed bones and skull. Similar carving at Lumphanan and Tarland churchyards suggest work of the same mason. There is also a single storey, rectangular plan, gabled mort house of 19th century date. It is constructed of roughly tooled, squared granite with a turfed roof. A hollowed granite boulder with a hole at the bottom is within the east wall of the church boiler shed. The churchyard contains two Second World War Commonwealth war graves.
Last Update30/04/2024
Updated Bycherbert
Compiler 
Date of Compilation 

Google Map for NJ50SW0004

National Grid Reference: NJ 5120 0245



Event Details


Excavations and Surveys


Artefact and Ecofact

Ecofact

Samples
Palynology
Ecofact Notes

Monument Types

Monument Type 1Monument Type 2Monument Type 3OrderProbability
GRAVESWARCOMMONWEALTHI100
BELFRIESBIRD-CAGE E100
ARCHESSEMI-CIRCULAR F100
MONUMENTS  G100
CHURCHYARDS  H100
CHURCHES SITE OFA90
CHURCHES  B100
VAULTSBURIAL C100
GRAVEYARDS  D100