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Culross, Low Causeway, St Mungo's Chapel
Chapel (15th Century)
Site Name Culross, Low Causeway, St Mungo's Chapel
Classification Chapel (15th Century)
Alternative Name(s) St Kentigern's Chapel
Canmore ID 48020
Site Number NS98NE 11
NGR NS 9921 8606
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/48020
- Council Fife
- Parish Culross
- Former Region Fife
- Former District Dunfermline
- Former County Fife
NS98NE 11 9921 8606.
(NS 9921 8606) St Mungo's Chapel (NR) (remains of)
OS 6"map, (1967)
This chapel, dedicated to St Mungo, was founded in 1503 by Robert Blackadder, Archbishop of Glasgow. It probably took the place of an earlier foundation, the site being where it is traditionally said St Thenew gave birth to St Mungo (H Scott {Fasti Eccles Scot 1925} 1915-61) Excavations in 1926 exposed its plan as two-chambered, measuring 55' E-W by 20' within walls 2'8" thick. The S side of the building has been removed to make way for a boundary wall. Within the chancel is a stone bowl which could be either a font or a knocking stone.
RCAHMS 1933; H Scott (Fasti Eccles Scot) 1915-61.
The scant remains of this chapel are much overgrown; the maximum height of the walls is 2.3m. The E end is apsidal with a renovated altar in the centre. The remains of a window are in the NE angle of the apse, while the entrance is in the W end.
Visited by OS (M H) 7 July 1953.
Field Visit (19 March 1928)
St. Mungo's Chapel.
The main road from CuIross to Low Valleyfield passes through the remains of this chapel, which is situated below sharply rising ground a quarter of a mile east of Culross. The southern side of the building has in fact been removed to make way for a high boundary wall. Until 1926 little was visible, for the site was silted up, but in the latter part of that year excavation exposed the ground plan shown in [RCAHMS 1933] Fig. 177. The building has been two-chambered, while the semi-octagonal apse of the sanctuary and such architectural detail as is left are typical of the close of the 15th century, the approximate time of erection (1). The internal dimensions have been 20 feet from north to south by 55 feet 10inches from east to west, within walls 2 feet 8 inches in thickness. At the east end is the base of the altar which is raised two steps above the general level of the floor paving. Both steps have a quirked edge-roll. Traces of other altars, set against the screen-wall separating nave and chancel, were found in excavation but, through a fall of debris, they are not at present visible. The entrance, chamfered and rebated at the arris, is centred in the west gable. The north wall of the nave bears the under part of a stone bench. The external masonry is of ashlar, and the basement course has been a simple splay; the internal masonry is of coursed rubble.
STONE BOWL. Within the chancel lies a bowl of stone, roughly circular on plan, measuring 16 ½ inches in diameter by 12 ½ inches in height. The basin is 10 ½ by 11 inches deep. The workmanship is crude. It cannot definitely be said to be a font, the alternative explanation being that it is a "knockin' stane" or mortar for husking grain.
RCAHMS 1933, visited 19 March 1928.
(1) Reg. Mag. Sig., s.a., 1503, No. 2723: In 1503, Robert Blackadder, the first archbishop of Glasgow, founded a chapel in "the church of St. Kentigern" (St. Mungo), which he himself had built near the monastery of Culross. Blackadder occupied the diocese 1484-1508.
