Pluscarden Abbey, Storehouse

NJ15NW 60.06 1456 5783

(NJ 1456 5783) At Netherbyre (NJ 152 579) a short distance east of the east gate of the Priory of Pluscarden was the 'store and market place' of the monks. After the Reformation it was used as a Court of Regality and subsequently,down to about 1821, as church, then being known as the "Old Ha'" It was similar in appearance to the Free Church at Rafford; its pulpit occupied the centre of its south wall flanked by two doors, one on either side. The outlines and ruins remain 54ft E-W by 18ft N-S. At a comparatively recent period the causeway around the building was complete and the form of the market cross could be seen in the causeway blocks.

S R MacPhail 1881.

The only structure shown on the OS 6" 1906, with measurements corresponding approximately to those stated above ie 19.0m NE to SW by 6.6m NW to SE is at NJ 1462 5774. The addition of stone clearance in its centre has obscured the widith of the NW and NE walls. The SE and SW sides remain as grass-covered banks c 0.6m high, in which traces of stonework can be seen. No further information was obtained concerning this site, and no trace was found of the causeway or the market cross mentioned by MacPhail.

Visited by OS (N K B) 6 August 1965.