Kirkton Of Premnay, Old Parish Church And Burial-ground
Burial Ground (Period Unassigned), Church (Period Unassigned), Holy Well (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Kirkton Of Premnay, Old Parish Church And Burial-ground
Classification Burial Ground (Period Unassigned), Church (Period Unassigned), Holy Well (Period Unassigned)
Alternative Name(s) St Caran's Church
Canmore ID 18170
Site Number NJ62NW 9
NGR NJ 6432 2515
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/18170
- Council Aberdeenshire
- Parish Premnay
- Former Region Grampian
- Former District Gordon
- Former County Aberdeenshire
NJ62NW 9 6432 2515
For (present) parish church (NJ 6421 2516), see NJ62NW 62.
(NJ 6432 2515) Church (NR) (site of)
OS 6" map, (1959)
Dedicated to St Caran, (Scott 1915-61) the church of Premnay was given to the Abbey of Lindores c.1196, and is mentioned in 1257, and 1567. Traditionally the church was erected near a spot called St Caran's Well; 'Caran's butts', where archery was formerly practised, were near the church, and St Caran's Fair was held in the churchyard.
Foundations of the old church can still be traced on the highest point in the churchyard. The present church dated 1792 stands 100yds to the NW (Jervise 1875-9). A fragment of the top of an old belfry is in the churchyard wall to the W of the gate (Eeles and Clouston 1960).
A Jervise 1875-9; H Scott et al 1915-61; W D Simpson 1949; F C Eeles and R W M Clouston 1960.
No trace of the old church remains, and there is no local knowledge regarding St Caran's Well or 'Caran's butts'.
The fragment of the old belfry still remains in the churchyard wall.
Visited by OS (RL) 5 March 1969.
