Aberdeenshire HER - NK04NW0004 - LONGSIDE PARISH CHURCH

Main Details

Primary ReferenceNK04NW0004
NameLONGSIDE PARISH CHURCH
NMRS Card No.NK04NW4
NMRS Numlink21024
Site Form Standing Structure
Site Condition Incomplete
Details Church, remains of church and associated graveyard. The remains of the early 17th Century parish church are now roofless (it was reportedly roofless before the end of the 19th century). It is a rectangular, fairly long and narrow rubble-built church with irregular fenestration. The S wall has various windows and doorways, some blocked, which indicate the insertion and/or removal of galleries inside the church as the layout was altered during its history. It has a double arched panel monument on its exterior. The west gable has a bird-cage bellcote with cornice and gabled roof running east-west and a round-arched doorway with red voussoirs, probably the original. Mounted on the gable wall is a memorial to a member of the local Bruce family who was killed in World War I. The east gable also shows signs of alteration, with a rectangular doorway in the centre which may be later than that in the west end. The north elevation is relatively plain, with a central (now blocked) round-arched doorway. The interior space of the church has been used for later burials. The lych-gate, with 1705 date stone, still remains. The new church was built slightly to the north in 1835-6 by the Aberdeen architect John Smith. It is large, rectangular and functional, constructed of pinned squared rubble, with four windows on each flank. The central bay of the west gable is slightly advanced. Above a round arched doorway are with three narrow round arched windows with latticed glass with step hood-mould. Flanking the central bay are large round-arched windows also with latticed glass. There is a large painted stone clock face with stepped hood mould at the top and a plain birdcage bellcote. The bell is a 1914 recasting of an 1817 bell. The north and south elevations have four equally spaced windows, large round-arched with latticed panes. The rear (east) gable also has an advanced central bay within which are two tall and narrow pointed arched windows and on the apex a slender stone urn finial. Attached to the gable is a single storey vestry and session house structure. A more recent extension to this building has been added on the south side, which is harled and has similar rectangular windows and door. The interior of the church is spacious with a horse-shoe gallery on three sides and a wide nave. The walls and ceiling are plastered and painted. The wooden pews of the nave have been replaced by chairs, and the floor has been renewed. Both church and graveyard still in use. Amongst the 18th century gravestones in the churchyard are those on the grave of the Episcopalian minister John Skinner, and an obelisk marking the grave of Jamie Fleeman (the 'laird of Udny's fool'). Beside the old church is the Longside Parish War Memorial (NK04NW0043). The churchyard contains nine First and Second World War Commonwealth war graves.
Last Update01/05/2024

National Grid Reference: NK 0374 4724


Easting: 362928, Northing: 862656

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
GRAVESWARCOMMONWEALTHO100
CHURCHES REMAINS OFA100
BELLCOTESBIRD-CAGE B100
GATEWAYS ROUND-ARCHEDC100
LYNCH-GATES  D100
STONES DATEDE100
SUNDIALS  F100
FINIALS DATEDG100
CHURCHESPARISH H100
HOOD-MOULDS  I100
CLOCKS  J100
BELLS  K100
CHURCHYARDS  L100
GRAVEYARDS  M100
MEMORIALSWORLD WAR I N100
MEMORIALSWAR M100

Google Map for NK04NW0004


National Status

National Status
Listed Building, Category A
Listed Building, Category B
Listed Building, Category C

Regional Status

Regional Status
Site of Regional Significance
Local Government Guardianship

Photo Details

SourceReferencePhoto TypeFilm TypeDate
AASP071-72; P090-108 Ground Digital 11/04/2011
GRAET 2-6 Ground Black & White 08/07/1985

Bibliographic Detail

Bib Ref NoTitleAuthorDateOthersEditorPublishedDetailsDate MDate Y
09298ABERDEEN AND NORTH-EAST SCOTLAND (2ND ED)I SHEPHERD1996  Edinburgh/HMSOp. 114 1996
01557New Statistical Account    EDINBURGHNo12(1845) 859,867  
01411ECCLES ARCHIT OF SCOT 1T MACGIBBON1896Y EDINBURGHVOL V, 181-3  

Location

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

Environment

Constraints A public monument, open all hours (free).
Altitude30
Geology 
Topography Gentle slope
Aspect 1NE
Aspect 2 Open
Current Land Use Ecclesiastic
Vegetation
Soil Type3s
Hydrology 

Measurements

Plan 
Shape 1
Shape 2
Diameter 
Length22.2
Width6.8
Thickness0.9
Depth 
Area 
Height 

Historic Land Use


Period Details

PeriodOrderProbabilityRadiocarbon DatesDate BuiltDate of DestructionDate of Loss
Post-Medieval (from 1560 AD) A100    
19th Century D100    
17th Century B100    
18th Century C100    
Modern (1900 - 2050) E100    
20th Century F100    

Period Notes

Period Notes Built AD 1619-20; superseded 1825. Gateway 1705.

Architect Details

Architect Details Gateway master mason Alexander Stevenson 1705; present church John Smith 1835-6.

Maritime Archaeology

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