Moray HER - NJ26SW0006 - BLACKFRIARS MONASTERY, ELGIN

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Main Details

Primary ReferenceNJ26SW0006
NameBLACKFRIARS MONASTERY, ELGIN
NRHE Card No.NJ26SW6
NRHE Numlink 16673
HES SM No. NULL
HES LB No. NULL
Site Form Documentary Record Only
Site Condition Destroyed
Details Supposed site of monastery, dedicated to St James. Said to have been established by Alexander II in 1233/34, and terminated before 1570. Its exact site is not known, but it is said to have lain to the north of castle. It appears to have been a substantial property, with 17th century references describing 'a manor place, houses, biggings, yards, orchards, etc.'. The buildings and burial ground are said to have been levelled in the 18th century, with the ground being made over for arable use, although a later report, from 1838, has a local resident recollecting having seen the ruins of the friary buildings at the west end of the Borough Briggs, south of a stank (pond) formed by flooding of the River Lossie. On both the 1st and 2nd edition OS, this site is labelled as 'Supposed site of Blackfriars Monastery'. There are no visible remains. At circa NJ 212 629, excavations in 1971 uncovered 50 skeletons circa 0.4 m below the modern ground level. The skeletons lay at random and there was reportedly no sign of any coffin nails. It was later suggested that this may be the remains of a cemetery of plague victims dating to the 17th century, rather than having a direct connection to the Blackfriars monastery.
Last Update05/09/2022
Updated Byjnicholson
CompilerCP
Date of Compilation27/08/2013

Google Map for NJ26SW0006

National Grid Reference: NJ 2112 6294



Event Details

Event DateEvent TypeOASIS ID
1971 Excavation

Excavations and Surveys


Artefact and Ecofact

Ecofact

Samples
Palynology
Ecofact Notes

Monument Types

Monument Type 1Monument Type 2Monument Type 3OrderProbability
SKELETONS  E100
MONASTERIES BLACKFRIARSA100
FRIARIES SITE OFB100
PONDS SITE OFC100
BURIAL-GROUNDS SITE OFD100