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Summary

Description

18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Graveyard to S, E and W of Parish Church with coped rubble and harl enclosure walls also forming boundary with garden of former manse. Many stones pre-date 1853 church, and include variety of moulded apex and obelisk stones, mural monuments and Egyptian style mausolea.

FURTHER DESCRIPTION: some early stones depicting relief-carved death emblems including stone to NW with primitive grim reaper. Rectangular-plan ashlar mausoleum to W wall with gentle batter to pilastered angles and raised centre bay crowned with pediment and angle acroteria, good latticework iron gate, 'Burial Place of George Forbes, D D of Blelack and Inverernan 1778-1834'. Early mural monuments set into S elevation of church include eroded stone with winged head over incised memorial to Donald McSween, minister of Strathdon, and re-cut stone memorial of 1790s, to Farquharson family. Semicircular Candacraig Memorial Garden to E with mural and free standing stones.

GATEPIERS AND GATES: large square-section ashlar gatepiers flanking decorative ironwork gates to W; 2 pairs of squat pyramidally-coped ashlar gatepiers flanking arcaded timber gates at E.

Statement of Special Interest

The tranquil setting of Strathdon Parish Church and its graveyard, set slightly apart from the village of Bellabeg to the opposite side of the River Don, remains the centre of spiritual life in the glen. Together with the separately listed church, former manse and the Mitchell-Forbes Mausoleum, the many well preserved gravestones provide an eloquent reminder of the families of the glen.

References

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