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Summary

Description

Rubbled walled burial ground. Various 18th, 19th and 20th

century tombs and memorials, including memorials to William

Gray (1749) and to the Mackay family. William Gray; dated

1749, tomb stone small flanking fluted pilasters and

symbols of mortality, coffin, crossed bones and bell, all

mounted in later rubble plinth, possibly section of former

church wall. Mackay Memorial, erected circa 1803. square

panelled ashlar plinth with inscriptions in English and Gaelic.

Moulded cope, stepped apex with urn finial. Low stepped base

supporting cast-iron spearhead railing. Matheson Memorial.

Erected 1880. Imposing blue/grey marble classical loggia,

supported by polished granite plinth to 6 Corinthian columns

with poppy seed heads decorating capitals. Round-arched centre

bays east and west with decorated spandrels; centre ribbed leaded

dome; moulded entablature surmounted by 8 urn finials with

stylised flames; similarly detailed apex finial to dome.

Outer bays linked by low retaining wall decorated with

swags. Square white marble pedestal (signed A. Viegl,

Menton) stands under dome with inset medallion relief

depicting Sir James Matheson of Achany, 1796-1878; pedestal

surmounted by white marble cross with dove and floral

wreath.

Statement of Special Interest

Site of former parish church. For Matheson Memorial see

separate entry. Rev John Mackay and son Thomas, Ministers

of Lairg from 1914 to 1803.

Also latter's sons Hugh (killed at Assaye 1803) and

William, author of NARRATIVE OF THE SHIP WRECK OF THE JUNE

(1795), largely embodied in Byron's DON JUAN.

Sir James Matheson was born at West Shinness, by Lairg.

He was one of the founder members of the firm of Jardine

Matheson, and worked in Calcutta Canton and Macao.

He bought Achany in 1840, also estates in Lewis

(Hebrides), and was MP for Ashburton, Devon, from 1842.

The poppy seed head detailing on the memorial alludes to

the Far Eastern opium trade, on which the Jardine

Matheson success was fonded.

References

Bibliography

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