Geddes, St Mary's Chapel
Chapel (Medieval)
Site Name Geddes, St Mary's Chapel
Classification Chapel (Medieval)
Alternative Name(s) Chapel Of St Mary Of Geddes; Rait Castle Policies
Canmore ID 15162
Site Number NH85SE 1
NGR NH 88828 52867
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/15162
- Council Highland
- Parish Nairn
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Nairn
- Former County Nairn
NH85SE 1.00 88828 52867
(NH 8882 5287) St Mary's Chapel (NR) (In Ruins)
OS 6" map, Nairnshire, 2nd ed., (1906)
NH85SE 1.01 NH 88829 52859 Burial Ground
The Chapel of St Mary of Geddes is said to have been built in 1220, but its first mention in a charter is in 1473.
Until modern times the churchyard was the site of an annual fair held on or about 5th of April.
G Bain 1893.
The building published as 'St Mary's Chapel' is not an antiquity. It was built as a private burial place for the Roses of Geddes and Kilravock and probably occupies the site of the original chapel. Possible traces of this chapel were found whilst digging a grave against the north wall of the burial-place (Information from Mr Caldow, Raitloan Farm, Cawdor, Nairnshire).
Revised at 1/2500.
Visited by OS (N K B) 19 November 1965.
Continuing the work carried out previously (Farrell 1997), a photographic survey to enhance a number of sites which had previously been partly recorded was conducted, including:
NH 8882 5287 St Mary's, Geddes.
A full report is lodged with Highland SMR and the NMRS.
Sponsor: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.
S Farrell 1998
A survey was made of the following graveyards as part of the wider study of graveyards in the Highland area (see also DES 2000, 43-4)
NH 8882 5287 Geddes 137 stones recorded.
Sponsor: Marc Fitch Fund
S Farrell 2002.
Field Visit (May 1978)
St Mary's Chapel, Geddes NH 888 528 NH85SE 1
The chapel of St Mary of Geddes, said to have been built in 1220, stood within a circular graveyard, but no identifiable traces of the building are now visible. The earliest legible tombstones are of early 18th-century date.
RCAHMS 1978, visited May 1978
Bain 1893, 127-9
