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Archaeology Notes
Event ID 692247
Category Descriptive Accounts
Type Archaeology Notes
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/692247
NO59NE 18.00 55446 97291
NO59NE 18.01 55483 97306 Manse with Walled Garden (Birseside)
NO59NE 18.02 c.555 973 Pictish Symbol Stone
Not to be confused with Forest of Birse Church (NO 5329 9054), for which see NO59SW 12.
(NO 5544 9729). The church at Birse, built in 1779 and renovated in 1855 and 1932, is presumably on or near the site of the medieval parish church, mentioned in 1157 and dedicated to St Michael. It was a prebendal church of the Chancellor of the Chapter of Aberdeen Cathedral.
No remains survive, but a 14-15th century (Jervise 1875-9) sculptured slab from the foundation is built into the outside of the south wall of the churchyard, practically in the manse garden. The stone is 5'4" long by 1'6" wide at the top contracting to 8" wide at the base. The decoration, partly incised and partly in relief, represents a sword and two small crosses, one of them inverted.
(See also NO59NE 22: St Michael's Well).
F C Eeles 1912; G Hay 1957; A Jervise 1879.
No further information regarding the site of the earlier church. The modern church is still in use. The sculptured slab, 5ft 9ins long, otherwise as described and illustrated, is now built inside the church, into the N wall.
Visited by OS (R L) 8 June 1972.
