Morton House, Burial-ground
Burial Enclosure (17th Century)
Site Name Morton House, Burial-ground
Classification Burial Enclosure (17th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Hay Family Burial Ground
Canmore ID 33110
Site Number NO42NE 8
NGR NO 46577 25991
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/33110
- Council Fife
- Parish Forgan
- Former Region Fife
- Former District North East Fife
- Former County Fife
NO42NE 8 46577 25991
(NO 4657 2599) Burial Ground (NR) (Hay Family)
OS 6" map (1919)
This enclosure was originally a family burial ground "The entrance is surmounted by a triangular pediment bearing in the upper part the initials H H and the date 1648...Within the enclosure lies the 17th century tombstone of 'Andro Hay' bearing his initials and coat of arms."
RCAHMS 1933
The burial ground has been cleared and is now used as a chicken run. The pediment has fallan and lies upon the ground outside the entrance on the south, and the tombstone of Andro Hay has been broken in two the parts resting against the north wall. Another stone, bearing the initials 'D.F.E.H.' lies against the west wall.
Visited by OS (DS) 22 October 1956
This burial ground enclosed by a dilapidated stone wall, breached on the East side, is as described by OS (DS) except that the interior is now overgrown with waist high nettles and grass.
Visited by OS (WDJ) 2 June 1964
Field Visit (26 May 1927)
Morton.
At the eastern extremity of the parish, on the fringe of Tents Moor and 1 ¾ miles south of Tayport, stands a small oblong house of two storeys with rubble walls, harled and whitewashed. The south-west skew-put bears the initials P.H. and E.R. with two roses. The door lintel is inscribed I.H. 1750, the date being spaced out with a device shaped like a yoke. Above the entrance is a 17th-century panel, containing a shield parted per pale: dexter, three escutcheons, for Hay; sinister, an eagle displayed, for Ramsay. These coats correspond with the initials borne on the skewput, and the dated entrance is therefore an insertion. At the top of the panel is a label inscribed, FEARE . GOD . AND . DOVT * . SHAME.
PEDIMENT. Within 150 yards of the house is an enclosure, originally a family burial-ground. The entrance is surmounted by a triangular pediment bearing in the upper part the initials H.H. and the date 1648. The lower part is bordered by funeral emblems, and in the middle part are two shields. The dexter shield bears the Hay arms and is flanked by the initials H.H. The sinister shield, flanked by the initials E.P., bears: Three pelicans vulned, on a chief three roses, probably for a Paterson family. Within the enclosure lies the 17th century tombstone of "Andro Hay," bearing his initials and coat of arms.
RCAHMS 1933, visited 26 May 1927.
*Put out or extinguish (=do-out).
