Aberdeenshire HER - NJ61SE0012 - OLD CLUNY CHURCHYARD, CLUNY

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Main Details

Primary ReferenceNJ61SE0012
NameOLD CLUNY CHURCHYARD, CLUNY
NRHE Card No.NJ61SE5
NRHE Numlink 18067
HES SM No. NULL
HES LB No. 2948
Site Form Standing Structure
Site Condition Complete 2
Details Graveyard and the site of the medieval church of St Machar's. The first kirk belonged to the Cathedral of Aberdeen and is first mentioned in the taxation documents of 1225 AD. In circa 1732 AD it was described as a 'cross church' with two aisles, but it had become ruinous by about 1789 before being demolished shortly afterwards. The replacement kirk built in 1789 sits on the top of a small hill to the south. The churchyard itself has a small entrance gate in the south corner and it is roughly rectangular in shape. It contains approximately 32 recumbent gravestones, five of which are significantly decorated. There are many more gravestones but these have become fully turfed over. There are four wrought-iron mort safes with granite slab tops, located to the front of the Fraser Mausoleum. The notable Elyza Fraser Mausoleum, dated 1808 and designed by James Byers of Tonley, is of circular Roman Neo-classical design form executed in fine ashlar granite and bears an inscription to 'ELIZABETH FRASER OF CASTLE FRASER MDCCC VIII'. The mausoleum has a fine moulded base with the entire building resting on a square plinth. The doorway, with a fine carved coat of arms above, has an outer wrought-iron grille. To the right hand side of the doorway there is a signature of Wllm Cottie, possibly the stonemason who built the structure. Inside is a glazed internal door. Also in the churchyard is an unusual terracotta Early Italian renaissance monument to James Reid MA and his wife Marie Claudine Nardin, circa 1897 AD. Within the churchyard extension is the Commonwealth war grave of Flight Sergeant Alexander McAllan, RAF.
Last Update28/09/2023
Updated Bycpalmer
Compiler 
Date of Compilation04/07/1985

Google Map for NJ61SE0012

National Grid Reference: NJ 6846 1255



Event Details


Excavations and Surveys


Artefact and Ecofact

Ecofact

Samples
Palynology
Ecofact Notes

Monument Types

Monument Type 1Monument Type 2Monument Type 3OrderProbability
GRAVESWARCOMMONWEALTHL100
GRAVESWORLD WAR II M100
GRAVEYARDS  L100
CHURCHES SITE OFA100
CHURCHYARDS  B100
MORT-SAFES  C100
STONESGRAVE D100
MAUSOLEUMSCIRCULARNEO-CLASSICALE100
MONUMENTSTERRACOTTARENAISSANCEF100
GRILLESWROUGHT-IRON G100
DOORPIECES ARCHITRAVEDH100
COAT-OF-ARMSSWAGGED I100
DOMES  J100
OCCULII  K100