Dura Kirk
Church (18th Century), House (19th Century)
Site Name Dura Kirk
Classification Church (18th Century), House (19th Century)
Canmore ID 85894
Site Number NS85NE 17
NGR NS 86202 56189
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/85894
- Council North Lanarkshire
- Parish Cambusnethan
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Motherwell
- Former County Lanarkshire
The church is noted as a 'Meeting House' on John Thomson's 1822 map of Lanarkshire (National Library of Scotland Map Library).
Information from I Fraser, 18 January 1999.
The E gable and upper openings of the S wall have collapsed. The 1780 lintel is no longer visible, although that of 1740 remains in situ.
Information from RCAHMS (IFr, 1999).
In 1740 a previous church known as the Moor Kirk of Cambusnethan was built on this site, but this heather roofed structure (also known as "The Heather Kirk") was replaced by the present building in 1780. However, this church fell into disuse when the congregation moved to Bonkle, a few miles to the north, in 1843. (North Lanarkshire Council)
Field Visit (12 January 1995)
NS85NE 17 8619 5619.
Dura [NAT]
OS 1:10,000 map, 1985.
For possible manse (NS 8683 5519) see NS85NE 4.00.
Only the ruinous shell survives of this Associate Synod church; the E and W gables stand complete to their wall-heads, and the N and S walls are ruinous.
During the conversion to domestic use, the S wall was reconstructed, the large windows blocked and new openings inserted, incorporating two inscribed lintels mounted high in the wall. They bear dates of 1740 and 1780 and probably date the original and the present buildings respectively.
To the the SW of the building there stands an L-plan range which was roofed at the date of the 2nd edition map.
The church is recorded as occupying the site of a predecessor. The OS Name Book describes the building as 'a dwelling house having outhouses and a small farm of land attached. The property of the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh. The house was until recently a meeting house in connection with the United Presbyterian Church'. It is depicted as roofed on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Lanarkshire, 1869, sheet xiii); by the date of the 2nd edition (1899, sheet xiii.SW), however, it was unroofed except for an outshot abutting the W gable.
(CSW 3353)
Visited by RCAHMS (JRS, IF) 12 January 1995.
OS Name Book; NMRS MS/731/11.
