Field Visit
Date September 2017
Event ID 1031909
Category Recording
Type Field Visit
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1031909
This record describes the burials arranged on the summit area of Eilean Fhianain but excludes both the NE and SW burial enclosures, for which see Canmore ID 355511 and 356229 respectively. Other individual records describe the early and late medieval gravestones (e.g. 355419), the burial aisle (355619) and the cross to Charles Macdonald (355513). The most recent burials date to 2017.
On the NW part of the upper area there is a marked concentration of about 100 grave markers set into a burial mound that measures about 30m from E to W by 15m transversely and at least 1m in height, and apparently forms the earliest visible part of the cemetery. The summit of this mound is marked by seven recumbent gravestones, two of which have large cruciform headstones which, with another two standing nearby, have been tentatively attributed to the 18th century (Fisher 2001; MacDonald 2011 edn. 104; Muir 1885, 77). One recumbent stone has an Early Medieval stone bearing an incised cross at its W end, almost certainly in re-use (ID 319525), while a late medieval graveslab with a female effigy is situated at the S edge of the mound (ID 355419). Other memorials include headstones of 19th and 20th date, and the grave of Private Mary Macdonald (W 156179) who died 26 April 1944. The E end of this burial mound has been mutilated by the insertion of a platform (NM 7521 6833) that measures about 8m in diameter into which are set at least 10 modern burials. To the E and S of this mound there are a series of simple grave markers, small cairns and headstones.
A second burial mound, perhaps occupying a natural knoll, lies about 20m to the SW and measures about 18m in diameter. It is surmounted by a small railed burial enclosure containing two 19th monuments, one a cross decorated with an angel, dedicated to John C Matheson d.1904. Among the cairns and simple grave markers there is a headstone about 1m SE of this enclosure which reads:
D. Grant l Deck Hand, RNR 4060 / H.M.S. Vernon / 23rd May 1916 Age 26
A further 3m to the SW is a table tomb which records the burial place of the notable tacksman of the area Archibald MacDonald of Rhu and Dalilea (Macdonald 2011 edn. 215-8). It is inscribed:
Sacred / To The Memory Of / Archibald Macdonald Eqr Of Dalili / Who Died At Rhue 1[0] Of May 1829 / This Stone Was Placed Here By His Widow Ann MacGregor
At the foot of the second burial mound, on its E side, there are a group of four headstone set on a small terrace, commemorating members of the Cameron family. The largest monument is inscribed:
Erected by / Captain Dugald Cameron / In Loving Memory Of / His Father / Donald Cameron / Free Church Elder / Kentra, Acharacle / Died 4th June 1898, Aged 70 / And / His Mother / Isabella Cameron / Died 1st Jan 1915, Aged 76 / Also the said / Captain Cameron / Died 5th June 1926, Aged 65
The remaining burials N of the church are concentrated in a well-ordered group to its NW. These are mostly simple grave markers arranged in rows but they include a fine slate headstone to Anne Chisholm d.1887.
The grave markers to the S of the church are found in two concentrations, the first to the S of the church and within about 20m, the second further to the SE. The first group is dominated by the cross and aisle of the MacDonalds of Kinlochmoidart (see ID 355619) but also includes a prominent cross to a Macpherson d.1866, and two slate headstones, for Duncan McMaster d.1879 and Christina Cameron d. c1892
The SE group stands to the E of the well-known Clach an Aoig group (see ID 355510) and to the west of the Protestant burial enclosure (see ID 356229). Arranged in ordered rows on modified terraces, this group includes small cairns and more than 20 uninscribed stones but is dominated by the headstone erected by Duncan Cameron in 1878 to his son Duncan, died 1 July 1871 aged 3.
Visited by HES Survey and Recording (GG, ATW) September 2017
