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Pluscarden Abbey, Precinct Wall
Wall (Medieval)
Site Name Pluscarden Abbey, Precinct Wall
Classification Wall (Medieval)
Alternative Name(s) Pluscarden Priory; Vallisculian Priory
Canmore ID 16095
Site Number NJ15NW 6.01
NGR NJ 14281 57584
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/16095
- Council Moray
- Parish Elgin
- Former Region Grampian
- Former District Moray
- Former County Morayshire
NJ15NW 6.01 14281 57584
(Centred NJ 1417 5765) Abbey Wall (NR)
OS 6"map, (1959)
The precinct wall of St Andrew's Priory still stands on the west, north and east. The east and west walls formerly extended to the Black Burn, where they met the south wall, very little of which remains.
The walls are of great thickness, and have two entrances, one on the north and the other on the east.
An 18th century drawing depicts a massive gatehouse at the SE corner of the walls. The remains of this were demolished in 1821, when the present gateway was built.
P F Anson 1959.
The precinct walls of Pluscarden Priory, c.1.3m thick and varying in height from 1.2m to c.6.0m previously enclosed an area of 10 acres approximately (Friends of Pluscarden nd.). The north, east and west walls are extant for almost the whole of their length. The south wall is visible only from the Prior's Lodgings at NJ 1422 5757 to the modern entrance drive at NJ 1432 5761 where the "massive gatehouse in the SE" mentioned by Anson was situated (TAES 1893). No trace remains of the south wall from the Prior's Lodgings to the west wall.
Visited by OS (N K B) 6 August 1965; Friends of Pluscaren nd.; Trans Aberdeen Eccles Soc 1893.
