Aberdeenshire HER - NJ94NE0154 - DEER PARISH CHURCH, OLD DEER

Main Details

Primary ReferenceNJ94NE0154
NameDEER PARISH CHURCH, OLD DEER
NMRS Card No.NJ94NE3
NMRS Numlink20558
Site Form Standing Structure
Site Condition Complete 2
Details Church, still in ecclesiastical use, built in 1788-89 with a tower added and the interior reoriented by R. Raeburn, Edinburgh, in 1880-81, with the tower built to a design by Sir George Reid. Enclosed by associated graveyard. There were further interior alterations to the church in 1898 by A. Marshall Mackenzie. It is a rectangular-plan church building constructed of squared granite with cherry cocking. There are four round-arched windows to the south front and Venetian windows to the east and west, all with dropped keystones. The slim tower has a slated pyramidal spire and porch. The interior originally had the pulpit at the centre of the south wall with a horseshoe gallery, but was re-arranged to face east with a west gallery in 1880-81. The church also has an 1830 Mears bell. Within the churchyard are the remains of the old church of Deer (NJ94NE0002). It also contains the Commonwealth war grave of Lance Serjeant G. Johnston, Gordon Highlanders, who died 25 August 1916. Trail trenching was carried out in the churchyard in September 2016 as part of the Book of Deer Project, to investigate areas where there are gaps in the lair plan. The quantity of human bone indicted that the trenches in the east and north of the churchyard were probably within the medieval graveyard whilst those in the south and west were outwith the medieval graveyard. Trench 6, was within the area of the west end of the medieval church (demolished in the 1780s when the new church was built) and investigate here uncovered the wall foundation of the south wall of the earlier church, with undisturbed burials on its north side. A post 1780 burial lair had been dug through this wall foundation. Trench 7, at the southwest corned of the churchyard recorded only 19th-20th century domestic finds including pottery and building materials. Trench 10 at the southeast corner of the churchyard produced large amounts of building materials including slates, plaster, mortar, sewer pipe and nails, as well as numerous fragments of human bone, indicating that this area was within the medieval graveyard. Trench 12, east of the medieval church was also within the medieval graveyard but finds indicated that the area had also been used to discard 19th century rubbish. In the northeast part of the churchyard, trenches 15 and 16 contained 19th century finds, and several fragments of human bone. An early 17th century coin was also recovered.
Last Update26/03/2024

National Grid Reference: NJ 9790 4767


Easting: 371470, Northing: 841670

CompilerNCA
Date of Compilation01/02/2017

Event Details

Event DateEvent Type
1905 Evaluation

Excavations and Surveys

Date MDate YTypeDurationDirector / OrganisationAuspicesFundExtent
92016 Excavation  CABoD  

Artefact and Ecofact


Ecofact

Samples 
Palynology 
Ecofact Notes 

Monument Types

Monument Type 1Monument Type 2Monument Type 3OrderProbability
CHURCHES  A100
CHURCHYARDS  B100
GRAVEYARDS  C100
BONESHUMAN D100
POTTERY  E100
SLATES  F100
NAILS  G100
BURIALS  H100
COINS  I100
GRAVESWARCOMMONWEALTHJ100
GRAVESWORLD WAR I K100

Google Map for NJ94NE0154


National Status

National Status
Listed Building, Category B

Regional Status

Regional Status
Local Government Guardianship

Photo Details

SourceReferencePhoto TypeFilm TypeDate
AASAAS-GR-15-08-492 - 496 Ground Digital 13/08/2015
AASAAS-GR-08-03-006, g007 Ground Digital 18/03/2008

Bibliographic Detail

Bib Ref NoTitleAuthorDateOthersEditorPublishedDetailsDate MDate Y
19968BOOK OF DEER 16, OLD DEER, ABERDEENSHIRE: DATA STRUCTURE REPORT 2016  CA271-2016  2016
19969OLD DEER VILLAGE, ABERDEENSHIRE: WRITTEN SCHEME OF INVESTIGATION TEST PITS, 2016 2016     2016
19970OLD DEER VILLAGE, ABERDEENSHIRE: WRITTEN SCHEME OF INVESTIGATION FOR SCHEDULED MONUMENT CONSENT FOR UP TO FIVE TRENCHES 2016 2016     2016

Location

Historic Administrative Area Name Old Deer
Positional Accuracy Centred at
Buffer Zone 1-5m
Buffer Type Bespoke
Capture Scale 1:1 - 1:500
Spatial Feature Type Polygon: Known Site Extent

Environment

Constraints Privately owned, access by arrangement - easy access.
Altitude45
Geology 
Topography Gentle slope
Aspect 1SW
Aspect 2 Closed
Current Land Use Ecclesiastic
Vegetation
Soil Type 
Hydrology 

Measurements

Plan 
Shape 1
Shape 2
Diameter 
Length 
Width 
Thickness 
Depth 
Area 
Height 

Historic Land Use


Period Details

PeriodOrderProbabilityRadiocarbon DatesDate BuiltDate of DestructionDate of Loss
Post-Medieval (from 1560 AD) A100    
19th Century C100    
18th Century B100 1904  
Medieval (1100 - 1560 AD) D1900    
17th Century E100    
Modern (1900 - 2050) F100    
20th Century G100    

Period Notes

Period Notes Listed 15/02/1982. Built in 1788-79 with additions and alterations in 1880-81 and further alterations in 1898. There is also an 1830 Mears bell.

Architect Details

Architect Details Additions and alterations in 1880-81 by R.Raeburn, including a tower designed by Sir George Reid. Alterations in 1898 by A.Marshall Mackenzie.

Maritime Archaeology

Nationality 
Craft Type
Departure Place 
Destination 
Manner of Loss
Registration Place 
Associated Goods 
Construction Material
Tonnage 
Tonnage Unit
Depth 
Additional Info