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Orwell, Old Parish Church And Churchyard
Burial Ground (Medieval), Church (Medieval)
Site Name Orwell, Old Parish Church And Churchyard
Classification Burial Ground (Medieval), Church (Medieval)
Alternative Name(s) Bell's Brae; Old Orwell Kirk And Kirkyard
Canmore ID 27911
Site Number NO10SW 7
NGR NO 14678 03859
NGR Description Centred on NO 14678 03859
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/27911
- Council Perth And Kinross
- Parish Orwell
- Former Region Tayside
- Former District Perth And Kinross
- Former County Kinross-shire
NO10SW 7.00 14678 03859.
NO10SW 7.01 1461 0385 Manse
(NO 1468 0386) Church (NR) (Site of)
OS 6" map (1919)
Church; Bell's Brae. The site of the former parish church of Orwell lies in a burial ground on the shore of Loch Leven. No part of the building remains but a mound marks the foundations in places. A modern mausoleum encroaches on the site on the E. Several 17th century tombstones are in the churchyard, one of 1685 being re-used in 1705.
RCAHMS 1933
The chapel of "Urwell" was granted to the Abbey of Dunfermline by a charter of Robert I, dated at Cambuskenneth, 14th November, 1315.
Reg Dunfermline 1842
The foundations of this church can still be seen in the form of stony, turf-covered mounds c.0.5m high, in places mere scarps. On the south side there is a short stretch of wall. A mausoleum of 1865 overlies the east end of the site. There are a number of 17th century tombstones in the grave-yard.
Revised at 25".
Visited by OS (WDJ) 19 December 1963
A watching brief was carried out during repair work on the W wall of Orwell graveyard resulting from buckling due to weight of soil being retained. The wall therefore had to be completely dismantled and rebuilt. In order for the work to be completed, the soil behind the retaining wall had to be removed before the stonework could be reinstated. The presence of four upstanding gravestones in close proximity to the wall suggested a high probability of burial disturbance during soil removal.
Four discrete burials containing articulated human skeletal material were partially exposed in addition to dispersed remains. All disturbed remains were retained and reburied after the completion of the maintenance work. No other deposits of archaeological significance were encountered during excavation.
Sponsor: Perth and Kinross Council
Information from CFA 2002 (MS/1081/28)
NO 1450 0382 (centred on) An archaeological watching brief was undertaken, on the 5th February 2007, on the site of the formation of a new walking/cycling trail, section 5, by the north shore of Loch Leven.
The watching brief was requested due to this section of the trail passing close to Orwell Church and some cropmarks of a possible rectilinear enclosure. It is thought that the cropmarks may be of prehistoric origin. However, no archaeological artefacts or features were discovered during the watching brief on this section of footpath.
K Haines 2007
Field Visit (1 August 1927)
Church, Bell's Brae.
The site of this old church formerly the parish church of Orwell, lies in a secluded burial-ground on the shore of Loch Leven. All traces of building have disappeared, but in places a considerable mound marks the foundations. A modern mausoleum which encroaches on the church site has been erected at the eastern extremity. The churchyard is so thickly covered with nettles and undergrowth that no useful measurements could be obtained. Within it are several 17th century tombstones. One of these, a recumbent stone of 1685, re-used in 1705, bears on each side of the upper face a late version of a vine scroll pattern and, in the centre, a crudely carved double-headed eagle displayed.
RCAHMS 1933, visited 1 August 1927.
