Archaeology Notes

Event ID 659404

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/659404

NG92SW 3.00 94631 21047

NG92SW 3.01 94697 21077 Clachan Duich Burial Ground (Churchyard; Kilduich)

See Also:

NG92SW 20 94572 21089 Macrae War Memorial

(NG 9463 2103) Church (NR) (In Ruins)

OS 6" map, Ross-shire, 2nd ed., 1905.

The former parish church of Kintail, dedicated to St. Duthae (D MacDonald, A Polson and J Brown 1931) or Dubhthach (W J Watson 1926), who is thought to have died about 1065. Nothing is otherwise known of the origins of the church.

It was used in 1719 as a hospital for the Jacobite wounded in the Battle of Glenshiel (NG91SE 1) and, in consequence, was burnt by the Government forces, but was later repaired and was certainly still in use in 1836 (NSA [Rev J Morrison] 1845); and probably remained so until the present church (NG 9296 2122) was built in 1856 (Name Book 1874).

The four walls still stand, and the burial ground surrounding it was still in use in 1948 (B G Macrow 1948).

NSA 1845; Name Book 1874; W J Watson 1926; D Macdonald, A Polson and J Brown 1931; B G Macrow 1948; I C Talyor 1965.

As described above, the four walls of this church still stand to roof height. They are 1.0m thick and show indications of recent repair work. The area inside the church walls is the burial ground of the chiefs of the clan Macrae.

The graveyard is still in use, and has been extended to the W.

A plaque, just inside the gates to the graveyard states, 'Kilduich or Clachan Duich'. Ancient Church and Burial Ground of Kintail. Dedicated to St. Dubhthach c.1050, though probably in use three centuries earlier". Date of erection of church not known.

Visited by OS (R L) 26 September 1966.