Angus HER - NO45SE0018 - FORFAR PARISH CHURCH

Main Details

Primary ReferenceNO45SE0018
NameFORFAR PARISH CHURCH
NMRS Card No.NO45SE18
NMRS Numlink33762
Site Form Standing Structure
Site Condition Complete 2
Details Church and graveyard, still ecclesiastical in use, built in 1790-1 by Samuel Bell, architect, on the site of its predecessor. It is also known as 'Forfar East and Old Parish Church'. The Church or Chapel of Forfar was founded in 1241 on this site, and dedicated to St James the Great. Reid (1902) surmised that the cruciform structure at that time may be identical with the medieval erection. The church retains the Gerhart Meyer Bell from 1656, and the graveyard contains monuments from the 18th century onwards. The spire was added to the church in 1813-14 by Patrick Brown to Samuel Bell's design, there were additions and alterations in 1836 by James Brewster and again in 1881 by John Carver. It is shown on the 1st edition OS map as a rectangular building with projections on the east and west ends. There is a rectangular structure shown within the graveyard to the south of the church. On the 2nd edition OS map the church has been extended to the north, and the projection on the east end has been extended to the south. The rectangular structure to the south is shown as unroofed. The church was originally a plain gothic rectangular building constructed from coursed rubble, with a four-window south flank. On the west end is the classic ashlar spire. It is 150 feet (46 metres) high, with a Roman-Doric doorpiece and gothic openings at the upper levels. The tower is inscribed 'founded 1813 finished 1814 Patrick Brown, architect'. Nineteen masons marks, of seven different masons, have recorded by the Masons' Marks Project.
Last Update13/08/2021

National Grid Reference: NO 4571 5059


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
MASONRYRUBBLECOURSEDE100
SPIRESASHLAR F100
CHURCHES GOTHICG100
DOORPIECES ROMAN-DORICH100
OPENINGS GOTHICI100
TOWERS INSCRIBEDJ100
CHURCHESPARISH B100
CHURCHYARDS  C100
GRAVEYARDS  D100
CHURCHES SITE OFA100
MASON-MARKS  K100

Google Map for NO45SE0018


National Status

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

Regional Status


Photo Details


Bibliographic Detail

Bib Ref NoTitleAuthorDateOthersEditorPublishedDetailsDate MDate Y
2678 A Reid1902  Paisley128-37  

Location

Historic Administrative Area Name Forfar
Positional Accuracy Centred at
Buffer Zone 1-5m
Buffer Type Bespoke
Capture Scale 1:501 - 1:1250
Spatial Feature Type Polygon: Known Site Extent

Environment

Constraints Privately owned, access by arrangement - easy access.
Altitude70
Geology 
Topography Basin
Aspect 1360
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
Medieval (1100 - 1560 AD) A100    
Post-Medieval (from 1560 AD) B100    
13th Century C100 1903  
17th Century D100    
18th Century E100 1904  
19th Century F100    

Period Notes

Period Notes The original church on the site was founded in 1241. The current church was built in 1790-1, although it still contains a bell from 1656. The graveyard contains monuments from the 18th century onward. The spire was added in 1813-4, and there were additions and alterations in 1836 and again in 1881. The church and graveyard were listed on 11/06/1971.

Architect Details

Architect Details Samuel Bell, church - 1790-1. Patrick Brown (to a design by Samuel Bell), spire - 1813-4. James Brewster - 1836. John Carver - 1881.

Maritime Archaeology

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