Kirkland Of Longcastle, Church And Burial-ground

NX34NE 4 3763 4740.

(NX 3763 4740) Longcastle Kirk (NR) (Site of)

OS 6" map (1957)

The parish church of Longcastle was described as ruinous by Symson (W Macfarlane 1907). Its remains were no doubt used in the early 19th century for building the adjacent farm buildings and its site was pointed out by the owner in 1848 (Name Book 1848). The old burial ground has been obliterated, but several inscribed headstones, turned up from time to time, were given to Sir Herbert Maxwell. None dated earlier than the 16th century. However, in the winter 1920-1, the shaft of a late 10th - early 11th century cross (W G Collingwood 1925) sculptured with interlacing was unearthed. It had been made to serve as the cover of a built grave, and measures 5'1" x 1'8" (H E Maxwell 1921). It was subsequently placed in Whithorn Museum. The tall shaft suggests that it was originally designed as a cemetery cross, Collingwood adding that it may originally have come from Kirkmaiden (NX33NE 1).

C A R Radford and G Donaldson 1953

Visiting the site in 1959, Truckell notes an apparent area of flooring composed of shell-mortar projecting behind the byre of Kirkland Farm, also a 12th century cross-shaft leaning against the dyke at the back of the byre. He removed this to Dumfries Museum. In 1960, Truckell mentions traces of a possible site at NX 380 470, in the fields SE of Kirklands.

Longcastle parish united with Kirkinner in 1650.

A E Truckell 1960; H Scott 1917

Apart from a short stony terrace at the published site, there is no trace of the church burial ground though during the construction of a sheepfold within the farmyard in c.1968 human bones were found.

Truckell was searching for a possible deserted medieval village (DMV) at NX 380 470 but nothing is visible now.

Visited by OS (DWR) 31 January 1973.