Burghead, Grant Street, Old Burial Ground And St Aethan's Chapel
Burial Ground (Period Unassigned), Chapel (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Burghead, Grant Street, Old Burial Ground And St Aethan's Chapel
Classification Burial Ground (Period Unassigned), Chapel (Period Unassigned)
Alternative Name(s) Burghead, Promontory Fort
Canmore ID 16201
Site Number NJ16NW 6
NGR NJ 11012 69094
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/16201
- Council Moray
- Parish Duffus
- Former Region Grampian
- Former District Moray
- Former County Morayshire
NJ16NW 6 11012 69094
(NJ 1100 6909) Site of St Aethan's Chapel (NR)
OS 25" map, (1905).
See also NJ16NW 1 (fort).
'One place in the fort is marked as a burying ground, by many moss-grown gravestones; if there has ever been any sculpture on them, it is mostly worn away; on one there is a cross undefaced, and in good relief; on the others there seemed to be some vestiges of figures and animals; but their truth too suspicious, to admit of any representation'.
C Cordiners 1780; W J Watson 1904.
The site of an old chapel the foundations of which were found AD 1840 when digging graves. Nothing appears to be known about it and even its dedication is in doubt; Bishop Ethernan, temp. late 6th century; Aedan, circa 563 AD, Columba's disciple; and his successor 'Aeta Eata' in the same see, being suggested. Local tradition says the stones from the chapel were used to build a mill about a mile west of the village at the mouth of the Millie Burn.
OS Name Book 1870.
Field Visit (16 September 1963)
No trace of the chapel remains. The stone slab showing a hunting scene (J R Allen and J Anderson 1903) is in the museum at the harbourmaster's office, Burghead and a fragment which may be the fragment with Staffordshire knotwork is also in the museum, (No acc. number). Nothing was seen of the stones mentioned by C Cordiner.
Visited by OS (W D J), 16 September 1963.
External Reference (September 2003)
No.7 Fragment of panel bearing a hunting scene (Moray Museums Service MORMS 1896-6c).
No.11 Possible shrine corner post (Moray Museums Service MORMS 1896-6q).
See also NJ16NW 5.
Information from I G Scott, September 2003.
External Reference (6 September 2004)
INVENTORY OF GRAVEYARD AND CEMETERY SITES IN SCOTLAND REFERENCE:
Address: Old Burial Ground, Grant Street, Burghead, Moray
Postcode: IV30 5TZ
Status: Closed for burials but maintained
Size: 0.11 hectares, 0.27 acres
Polygon: Yes
TOIDs: 1000000172325179
Number of gravestones: 99
Earliest gravestone: 1668
Most recent gravestone: 1898
Description: Graveyard associated with a church (church demolished). Only a section of graveyard remains when compared with 1808 plan. A few table stones and recumbents, otherwise mainly 19th Century upright stones. One wall tablet dated 1668. Notable stone in NE wall witha work circular cavity.
Data Sources: Graveyard Recording Form, 6 September 2004; OS MasterMap checked 10 June 2005.
