Aberdeenshire HER - NJ50SW0001 - ABOYNE PARISH CHURCH

Main Details

Primary ReferenceNJ50SW0001
NameABOYNE PARISH CHURCH
NMRS Card No.NJ50SW1
NMRS Numlink17506
Site Form Standing Structure
Site Condition Incomplete
Details The ruined church of St Adamnan is located at the eastern edge of a large golf course on the outskirts of Aboyne, close to the Loch of Aboyne. There is a later field system to the north of the church and the land today is suitable only for rough grazing. St Adamnan's was the original church in Aboyne. It was granted to the Knights Templar and confirmed by Alexander II in 1242. There is little remaining of the church today. Turf-covered mounds in the graveyard show where the church foundations lie, and some courses of granite rubble stone can be seen through the turf. Attached at the eastern end of the church is a later burial enclosure or vault, likely 19th century in date. It has granite rubble walls standing up to 1.75m in height and capped with broader granite slabs. There is a doorway in the south face and inside is a single carved grave slab of uncertain date. The surrounding graveyard is well-maintained and has a few 18th century burials, but most are 19th century in date, with some later 20th century ones. Mature trees surround the boundary and there are smaller trees growing amongst the gravestones. A coped rubble wall marks the boundary of the graveyard and there is an unusual metal style (with metal ladder rungs and handrails) in the north-west corner. The Formaston Stone (NO59NW0015), a Pictish cross-slab with ogham inscription, was found under doorway of the church. It stood for some time in the graveyard of St. Adamnan's Church, and was later erected in the grounds of Aboyne Castle before being relocated to Inverurie Museum. The stone has since been moved once more, in 2002, to the Victory Hall in Aboyne (NO59NW0053). The old bird cage belfry wit the bell was removed and re-erected on the north side of the tower of the home farm buildings (NO59NW0071).
Last Update16/02/2024

National Grid Reference: NJ 5412 0015


Easting: 395800, Northing: 813900

Compiler 
Date of Compilation 

Event Details


Excavations and Surveys

Date MDate YTypeDurationDirector / OrganisationAuspicesFundExtent
11991 1J HAMILTONCFAHS100

Artefact and Ecofact

Date MDate YArtefact TypeFinderRecovery MethodConditionStorage LocationAccess No.
00CROSS-SLAB  Stray Find Personal Possession  

Ecofact

Samples 
Palynology 
Ecofact Notes 

Monument Types

Monument Type 1Monument Type 2Monument Type 3OrderProbability
CHURCHYARDS  D100
CHURCHES REMAINS OFA100
CROSS-SLABS SITE OFB100
GRAVEYARDS  C100

Google Map for NJ50SW0001


National Status

Regional Status

Regional Status
Site of Regional Significance

Photo Details


Bibliographic Detail

Bib Ref NoTitleAuthorDateOthersEditorPublishedDetailsDate MDate Y
00562THE CHURCH AND OTHER BELLS OF ABERDEENSHIRE PSAS 90 (1956-7) 130-60FC EELES1957Y  p.132 1957
06048DES : DESS ESTATE SURVEY 1991  CSA. EDINBURGH35 1991
01656Ordnance Name Book    EDINBURGHNo4(1865) 33  
02243FASTI ECCLES SCOTH SCOTT1950 Y No6,77 1950
00003THE EARLY CHRISTIAN MONUMENTS OF SCOTLAND: 3JR ALLEN1903Y EDINBURGH188-9 1903
01404THE ROYAL DEEAL McCONNACHIE1898  ABERDEEN116 1898
00501MEDIEVAL RELIGIOUS HOUSES OF SCOTLANDDE EASSON1957   132 1957
00897REPORT ON SURVEY, DESS ESTATEJ HAMILTON1991  EDINBURGH14 1991
03248THE PICTISH SYMBOL STONES OF SCOTLANDI FRASER2008   22-23 2008
05949EARLY CASTLES OF ABERDEENSHIREN BOGDAN2008     2008

Location

Historic Administrative Area Name Aboyne and Glentanar
Positional Accuracy Centred at
Buffer Zone 5-10m
Buffer Type Bespoke
Capture Scale Unknown
Spatial Feature Type Polygon: Known Site Extent

Environment

Constraints Privately owned, regularly visited by public, easy access.
Altitude145
Geology 
Topography Gentle slope
Aspect 1S
Aspect 2 Open
Current Land Use Ecclesiastic
Vegetation
Soil Type 
Hydrology 

Measurements

PlanY
Shape 1 Rectangular
Shape 2 Solid
Diameter 
Length25
Width9
Thickness 
Depth 
Area 
Height 

Historic Land Use


Period Details

PeriodOrderProbabilityRadiocarbon DatesDate BuiltDate of DestructionDate of Loss
Medieval (1100 - 1560 AD) A100    
Post-Medieval (from 1560 AD) B100    

Period Notes

Period Notes

Architect Details

Architect Details

Maritime Archaeology

empty