'Polkalk'
Chapel (Medieval)
Site Name 'Polkalk'
Classification Chapel (Medieval)
Alternative Name(s) Balcalk; Bilchalk; Polcalk; 'balkake'; Port Allen
Canmore ID 30526
Site Number NO22SW 47
NGR NO 247 213
NGR Description NO c. 247 213
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/30526
- Council Perth And Kinross
- Parish Errol
- Former Region Tayside
- Former District Perth And Kinross
- Former County Perthshire
NO22SW 47 c247 213.
See also NO22SW 46.
A chapel dedicated to St Nicholas, at Polcalk, or what was more
recently known as Balcalk farm above Port Allen, is referred to in a charter of 1581.
L Melville 1935
Field Visit (November 1989)
Melville cites an Instrument of Sasine of 1513 and a charter of 1581 referring to a chapel at Polkalk, although its site is not known. There were formerly two Polkalks in SE Perth, both depicted on Adair's map (1685). One lay about 2km SW of Alyth where a settlement of that name still remains (NO 2321 4687), whilst a second lay to the SSW of Errol, but has not survived. It is probably to be identified with 'Balkake' depicted on Stobies map (1783) and 'Bilchalk' on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (1866, Perthshire, sheet 99; NO 247 213). While the chapel was probably near Errol, Melville appears to have conflicted the two places; he suggests that because Coupar Angus Abbey (NO23NW 13) held lands at Polkalk the chapel was attached to the Abbey, but it is more probable that the Polkalk held by Coupar Angus is that near Alyth.
Visited by RCAHMS (PC) November 1989. L Melville 1935; J Adair 1685; J Stobie 1783.
