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Auchinleck, Old Parish Church And Graveyard

Burial Ground (17th Century), Church (17th Century), War Memorial (17th Century)

Site Name Auchinleck, Old Parish Church And Graveyard

Classification Burial Ground (17th Century), Church (17th Century), War Memorial (17th Century)

Alternative Name(s) Auchinleck Boswell Mausoleum; Boswell Vault: War Memorial

Canmore ID 43576

Site Number NS52SE 1

NGR NS 55136 21531

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/43576

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
Canmore Disclaimer. © Bluesky International Limited 2025. Public Sector Viewing Terms

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Digital Images

Administrative Areas

  • Council East Ayrshire
  • Parish Auchinleck
  • Former Region Strathclyde
  • Former District Cumnock And Doon Valley
  • Former County Ayrshire

Archaeology Notes

NS52SE 1 55136 21531

(NS 5514 2152) Church (NR) (remains of)

OS 6" map (1967).

The roofless remains of this church consist of its walls, intact, with crow-stepped gables; the E gable is surmounted by a belfry. The side walls stand some 15ft high, while the ends are about 20ft high. Doors and windows, which are rectilinear, are filled in with stone and the interior is inaccessible. Over the W doorway is a lintel dated 1683. The church is in a fair state of preservation, with the Auchinleck burial vault adjoining on its N side.

Visited by OS (JLD) 18 June 1954

This church, now roofless and overgrown, was built in 1683; its latest renovation was in 1754, when Lord Auchinleck added an aisle to it and it was thoroughly repaired. It possibly occupies the site of the original parish church, first mentioned in 1238. It was superseded in 1843 by the present church (at NS 5517 2153). It is a small, rectangular building; at one side can be seen the stone in which the jougs were riveted. When the church became disused, the aisle which Lord Auchinleck had added became the family burial place.

H J Steven 1898; G Hay 1957

This former church, now roofed and extensively renovated, was opened as the Auchinleck Boswell Museum in August 1978. Otherwise, it is externally as described.

Revised at 1:2500.

Visited by OS (JRL) 23 October 1981

Architecture Notes

RCAHMS REFERENCE

ARCHITECT: Mr Ingram. 4 August 1831 produced plan of church - not executed

Mr Kay 24 November 1835 plan adopted by heritors with the exception of all steeples, towers,

turrets & other ornamental work. - not executed

James Jamieson, wright Catrine. 14 Dec. 1835 produced plan of church of 800 sittings to cost #750 without a steeple. Building finished 1838.

EXTERNAL REFERENCE

Scottish Record Office. Heritors Records. 365/1

Activities

Project (February 2014 - July 2014)

A data upgrade project to record war memorials.

Archaeological Evaluation (26 September 2019 - 31 October 2019)

NS 55136 21531 Exploring Old Auchinleck formed part of Archaeology Scotland’s Attainment through Archaeology Programme. Working with pupils from Auchinleck Academy, the project provided a flexible work placement for pupils currently not attending mainstream classes. A baseline condition survey of targeted gravestones was completed, as was a basic building survey of the Old Church (a Category B Listed structure) within Old Auchinleck Cemetery (Canmore ID: 43576). This was accompanied by a plane table survey and a photographic survey. The work took place from 26 September to 31 October 2019.

It was hoped by learning new skills through completing heritage activities, participants could then go on to a more formal work placement relevant to their career aspirations. At the end of the programme the relevant level of Heritage Hero Awards were presented out to those who had fulfilled the requirement.

Archive: NHRE (intended)

Funder: Robertson Trust, Auchinleck Academy, Archaeology Scotland

Cara Jones – Archaeology Scotland

(Source: DES Vol 20)

References

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