Archaeology Notes

Event ID 870447

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/870447

NT95NE 6.00 c. 9510 5588

(Name: NT 9525 5591) Mordington Old Church (NR). (Site of)

(No symbol shown).

OS 6" map, (1957).

NT95NE 6.01 NT 95118 55887 Burial-ground with Burial Vault

For successor parish church (NT 9444 5536), see NT95NW 8.

See also NT95NE 9.

For former (associated) village (location entered as NT c. 951 558), see NT95NE 10.

Nothing now remains of this church, but the burial vault of the Mordington family, probably originally built in the late 15th or early 16th century, but reconstructed recently, which stood against the E gable, is still in situ (at NT 9511 5588). This measures 19' 2" by 12' internally, and bears a carved panel (probably 15/16th century). (see RCAHMS 1915, fig.145)

The church was burned down in 1756 or 1758, and replaced by that at NT 9444 5536, for which see NT95NW 8. A mention of 'the place of the cross of St Mary of Mordington in 1478-9', may indicate a dedication to the Virgin Mary. (Fasti Eccles Scot, H Scot et al ed, 1950).

About a dozen tombstones were scattered about the wood in 1856, the oldest being dated 1609, and latest 1752.

Name Book 1856; J Ferguson 1892; RCAHMS 1915, visited 1912.

There is no trace of this church, though a probable site is at NT 9510 5588, to the W of the burial vault. The graveyard is enclosed by a 'ha-ha'. The relatively modern burial vault stands partly on the site. A few 17th century gravestones are within the graveyard.

Visited by OS (WDJ) 12 August 1970.

Scheduled (with NT95NE 10) as 'Mordington, medieval village and church 210m S of Mordington House... the remains of Mordington village, an abandoned later medieval settlement, and the site of Mordington parish church and its associated burial ground.'

Information from Historic Scotland, scheduling document dated 18 January 2010.