Archaeology Notes

Event ID 665631

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/665631

NJ24NE 9 27427 49172.

For cemetery see NJ24NE 195

(NJ 274 491) Traces of the post-Reformation church are to be seen in the graveyard. The tombstone of Mr James Leslie, parson of Rothes in 1576, is built into one of the enclosed tombs. It is said to have come from the earlier church site at Chapel Hill (NJ24NE 5).

This church remained in use until the present parish church was built.

H B Mackintosh 1924.

There is no trace of a church in the graveyard, which is still used, but a memorial slab, beside the 1576 tombstone, in the burial enclosure of the Leslies at NJ 2742 4928 states that the enclosure is built at the E end of the 'first church of Rothes'. This is confirmed by the gravedigger who has discovered thick walling beneath this vault, and extending about 15 feet to the W.

The church may in fact be pre-Reformation, because of its proximity to the castle (NJ24NE 4) and Minister's Well, which according to

Mackintosh was called St Laurence's Well, and was probably associated with a pre-Reformation chapel, dedicated to that Saint (See NJ24NE 5 and NJ24NE 10 ). It seems more likely that the heavy 1576 grave-slab was found at this spot, rather than transported to it.

Visited by OS (N K B) 27 January 1969.

INVENTORY OF GRAVEYARD AND CEMETERY SITES IN SCOTLAND REFERENCE:

N.B. This reference applies to NJ24NE 9 and NJ24NW 195

Address: Rothes Old Parish Church, Burial Ground and Cemetery, Burnside Street, Rothes, Moray

Postcode: AB38 7AA

Status: In current use for burials

Size: Burial ground: 0.43 hectares, 1.07 acres

Size: Cemetery: 1.02 hectares, 2.53 acres

Polygon: Yes

TOIDs: Burial ground: 1000000172843663, 10000000172843664, 1000000172844414, 1000002063645901

TOIDs: Cemetery: 1000000172843665, 1000000172843666, 1000000172843667, 1000000172843668, 1000000172843669, 1000000172843670, 1000000172843671, 1000000172843672, 1000000172843673, 1000000172843674, 1000000172843675, 1000000172843685, 1000000172843686, 1000000172843687, 1000000172843688, 1000000172843689, 1000000172843690, 1000000172843692, 1000000172843750, 1000000172843752, 1000000172843753, 1000000172843918

Number of gravestones: Not known

Earliest gravestone: Not known

Most recent gravestone: Not known

Description: Burial ground associated with a church (demolished) and public cemetery

Data Sources: Bereavement Services Portal checked 23 June 2005; OS MasterMap checked 23 June 2005