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Dryfe, Old Parish Church And Churchyard
Burial Ground (Post Medieval), Church (Post Medieval), Gravestone(S) (18th Century), Gravestone(S) (17th Century)
Site Name Dryfe, Old Parish Church And Churchyard
Classification Burial Ground (Post Medieval), Church (Post Medieval), Gravestone(S) (18th Century), Gravestone(S) (17th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Kirkhill, Old Church; Dryfe Bridge
Canmore ID 66823
Site Number NY18SW 18
NGR NY 12896 83837
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/66823
- Council Dumfries And Galloway
- Parish Dryfesdale
- Former Region Dumfries And Galloway
- Former District Annandale And Eskdale
- Former County Dumfries-shire
NY18SW 18 12896 83837.
(NY 1289 8383) Church (NR) (Site of)
OS 6" map (1957)
For predecessor parish church at Sandbed (NY c. 12 84), see NY18SW 110. For present Dryfesdale Parish Church (in Lockerbie, at NY 1356 8185), see NY18SW 73. For stone basin or font, possibly from this church and now at Kirkton (NY 1318 8379), see NY18SW 47.01.
Church built in 1671 and churchyard, threatened by the waters of the River Dryfe, was replaced by another church at Lockerbie in 1757. This is the second of two churches on Kirkhill. The first, dedicated to St Cuthbert and mentioned in 1116, is said to have been swept away by the river in 1670.
NSA 1845 (D B Douie); Name Book 1856; T Henderson 1930; OSA 1793
No trace of a church remains at the published site. Several 17th c. and crude, unmarked gravestones can be seen in the old graveyard.
Visited by OS (RD) 23 May 1966
Grave Yard [NAT]
OS 1:10,000 map, 1990.
Field Visit (30 September 1993)
NY18SW 18 1289 8383
Nothing is visible of this church, which stood within its burial-ground (now traversed by the embankment of the A74) on an elevated terrace overlooking the River Dryfe. Within the overgrown portion of the burial-ground, a rectangular plinth (4.7m by 5.6m) may be all that remains visible of a N aisle, but this is uncorroborated.
Surviving gravestones and table tombs include one of 17th-century date. Of the later stones there are well-preserved examples of 18th-century date. Notable among these is one commemorating Margaret Beatis (died 1700), wife of Thomas Smith, which bears the inscription: 'Since old and young/ and all must die/ friends fit you for eternity'. The front of the stone has a crown, a smith's hammer, crossed bones, an hour glass and 'memento mori'.
Visited by RCAHMS (IMS, PC), 30 September 1993.
Listed as Dryfe, church and burial-ground.
RCAHMS 1997.
