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Field Visit
Date 9 August 2016 - 11 August 2016
Event ID 1020491
Category Recording
Type Field Visit
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1020491
As part of a graffiti art pilot project undertaken by HES in 2016, a range of graffiti was recorded within the fabric of Croick Parish church. The aim of the project was to record and transcribe the known graffiti that is etched on to the outside of the windows of the church and to record any further instances that were discovered, either on the fabric of the building itself or on any of the furnishings and fittings. The graffiti at Croick provides specific evidence of the eviction of people from their homes in Glencalvie during 1845, and other historic events.
The majority of the graffiti is etched on to the exterior of the east window. Other examples of writing can also be found etched on to the exterior of the south window; on the bible rests, on the backs of the pews and on the precentor’s box. Some of the writing etched on to the east window has been transcribed previously and the following description make use both of those transcriptions and recent photographs (taken as part of this project) to create a full and up-to-date record.
The east window comprises two main parts, each of which contain small diamond-shaped panes of glass. The transcriptions of the individual panes refer to the left-hand frame (from top left to bottom right) and then the right-hand frame, as seen from the outside of the building (see DP248368, which has been reversed). The transcriptions below are cross-referenced with the Canmore photograph reference number.
1. ‘BABS...’ –DP246522
2. ‘John Ross Shepherd Croick May 15 1869’ –DP246519
3. ‘Glencalvie people the wicked generation Glencalvie’ –DP246516
4. ‘Glencalvie tenants residing here’ –DP246514
5. ‘Glencalvie Greenyard murder was in the year 1854 March 31’ –DP246521
6. ‘Ros...James Borthwick...’ –DP246518
7. The Glencalvie tenants reside in the kirkyard here May 24 1845’ –DP246515
8. ‘The Gencalvie amat’ –DP246523
9. ‘John Ross shepherd Croick the Glencalvie people here May 24th 184[5]’ –DP246520
10. ‘John Ross shepherd Croick Ardgay Ross May 1864’ –DP246513
11. ‘This house is needing repair’ –DP246506
12. ‘July 5th 1870’ –DP246504
13. ‘July 1871’ –DP246500
14. ‘... ... Ann Swalesl[??]’ church officer of this place –DP246507
15. ‘Glencalvie is a wilders... Below sheep... that... to the... Croick’ –DP246502
16. ‘Glencal people(e) was in the churchyard here May 24 1845’ –DP246510
17. ‘Croick’ –DP246505
18. ‘May 24 1845’ -DP246501
19. ‘The Glen... peoples were here 1845 the Glencalvie Ross’ –DP246512
20. ‘John Ross 1854... Glen... 24’ –DP246508
21. ‘The Glencalvie tenants resided here May 24 1845’ –DP246503
22. ‘....’ –DP246499
The writing on the pews ranges from names and initials (see DP24630, DP24631). The writing inside the precentor’s box comprises pencil-written names with dates and additional, partially obscured, notes (DP246528). There is also an unfinished hexafoil inscribed into the inside of the precentor’s box (DP246529). Hexafoils are common apotropaic markings, sometimes found in churches and often associated with the north wall or door of the church. In the case of the Croick hexafoil, it is positioned on the north-face of the preceptor’s box where it would have been visible to whoever was sitting in the box, but not to the general congregation.
Visited by HES, Survey and Recording (AGCH, ZB) 9-11 August 2016.
