Aberdeenshire HER - NJ41NE0003 - ST BRIDE'S CHAPEL, KILDRUMMY

Main Details

Primary ReferenceNJ41NE0003
NameST BRIDE'S CHAPEL, KILDRUMMY
NMRS Card No.NJ41NE3
NMRS Numlink17101
Site Form Standing Structure
Site Condition Incomplete
Details Remains of chapel, built on the site of an earlier chapel, and associated graveyard. The earliest chapel on this site was dedicated to St. Bennet, and was first established in the 6th Century by King Brude. It probably stood where St Bride's Chapel now stands. The present ruin is believed to be 14th Century or earlier and dedicated to St Bride. It appears to have been established as a parish church before 1300. The south porch forms the Elphinstone aisle dating to 17th Century and still remains entire. It is a rectangular crow-stepped structure 'restored' in 1862, though it still exhibits a skewputt initialled with 'I L'. The aisle, which measures 5.79 m by 5.18 m, is lit by a small window above the entrance door. The majority of the chapel was demolished in 1805 to make way for the present church. The original chapel was 22.86 m by 7.62 m. The North wall contains a Gothic arched recess, the remains of an Easter Sepulchre which is very rare in Scotland. Inside is a very fine relief effigy slab to the 3rd Laird of Brux and his wife. There are well over 100 recumbent tombstones in the kirkyard, and over 100 upright tombstones dating to the late 19th Century. The mound that the church stands on may have been the site of a motte and bailey castle. A World War I Commonwealth war grave stands against the western side of the ruin. It is in memory of Private C. Lumsden, Gordon Highlanders, who died 31 March 1921.
Last Update29/04/2024

National Grid Reference: NJ 4724 1755


Easting: 0, Northing: 0

Compiler 
Date of Compilation 

Event Details


Excavations and Surveys


Artefact and Ecofact


Ecofact

Samples 
Palynology 
Ecofact Notes 

Monument Types

Monument Type 1Monument Type 2Monument Type 3OrderProbability
GRAVESWARCOMMONWEALTHM100
GRAVEYARDS  M100
MOTTES SITE OFA90
CHAPELS REMAINS OFB100
FONTS  C100
SEPULCHRES EASTERD100
AISLESMEMORIAL E100
SLABSGRAVE F100
CHURCHES  G100
PORCHESSEMI-CIRCULAR H100
CHURCHYARDS  I100
BELLCOTES  J100
BELLS DATEDK100
GRAVESWORLD WAR I L100

Google Map for NJ41NE0003


National Status

National Status
Scheduled (under AM + Arch Area Act 1979)

Regional Status

Regional Status
Local Government Guardianship

Photo Details

SourceReferencePhoto TypeFilm TypeDate
AASAAS/87/01/S1/17-8 Air-oblique Black & White 13/08/1987
GRAEW 1-5 Ground Black & White 08/08/1985
GRAFX 10-15 Ground Black & White 23/05/1986
GRAFY 1-8 Ground Black & White 23/08/1986
AASAAS/97/02/G3/26-28 Air-oblique Black & White 28/01/1997
AASAAS/97/02/CT21, 28-9 Air-oblique Colour Transparency 28/01/1997
AASGR/03/CT345-357 Ground Colour Transparency 26/08/2003
RCMD 49214 Ground Black & White 18/03/1997
RCMD 36312 CN Air-oblique Colour Negative 26/10/1998
AASAAS-GR-22-05-013 - 074 Ground Digital 25/05/2022
AASAAS/03/03/G1/9-10 Air-oblique Black & White 12/08/2003

Bibliographic Detail

Bib Ref NoTitleAuthorDateOthersEditorPublishedDetailsDate MDate Y
02087PROVINCE OF MARWD SIMPSON1943  ABERDEEN144  
02243FASTI ECCLES SCOTH SCOTT1950 Y 132  
01303DONEAN TOURISTA LAING1828  ABERDEEN473  
02493T SCOT ECC SOC(1935-6)163-72JF WHYTE1936   163-72  
02053      259-63  
02093EARLDOM OF MARWD SIMPSON1949  ABERDEEN47-8  
05949EARLY CASTLES OF ABERDEENSHIREN BOGDAN2008     2008

Location

Historic Administrative Area Name Kildrummy
Positional Accuracy Centred at
Buffer Zone 15-20m
Buffer Type Bespoke
Capture Scale Unknown
Spatial Feature Type Polygon: Unknown Extent

Environment

Constraints Privately owned, regularly visited by public, easy access.
Altitude190
Geology 
Topography Knoll
Aspect 1360
Aspect 2 Open
Current Land Use Ecclesiastic
Vegetation
Soil Type 
Hydrology 

Measurements

Plan 
Shape 1
Shape 2
Diameter 
Length16.5
Width 
Thickness0.8
Depth 
Area 
Height 

Historic Land Use


Period Details

PeriodOrderProbabilityRadiocarbon DatesDate BuiltDate of DestructionDate of Loss
Early Medieval (400 - 900 AD) A100    
Medieval (1100 - 1560 AD) B100    
Post-Medieval (from 1560 AD) C100    
Modern (1900 - 2050) D100    
Modern (1900 - 2050) E100    
20th Century F100    

Period Notes

Period Notes Chapel first established 581 AD. Present ruins believe to date to 1335 AD; aisle 1605; majority of building removed in 1805; bell dated 1724.

Architect Details

Architect Details

Maritime Archaeology

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