Documents

Where documents include maps, the use of this data is subject to terms and conditions (https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/termsandconditions).

The legal document available for download below constitutes the formal designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The additional details provided on this page are provided for information purposes only and do not form part of the designation. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within this additional information.

• Type

  Legal Documents

  Title

  SM161_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600003104)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the remains of the medieval parish church of Ethie, a small stone church and associated burial ground that probably originated between AD 600 and 1214, in the early historic or medieval period. The E gable of the church stands almost to its original height of 4m, while the remaining church walls are represented by low banks. The graveyard lies to the S of the church and is defined by turf-covered banks with intermittent traces of a stone wall. The site lies above the N bank of a small burn some 100m inland from the coast and stands about 35m above sea level.

The church measures about 19m E-W by 7m transversely, with the E gable standing around 4m high. There are several small apertures in the E gable, most of which can be seen to be secondary insertions. The burial ground to the S of the church measures about 43m E-W by 18m transversely. Traces of the churchyard wall to the W, S and E show that the boundary was curved on plan; it is unclear whether the churchyard originally extended to the N of the church as well. There is documentary evidence that the church was granted to Arbroath Abbey during the reign of William I in the late 12th or early 13th century, and it fell out of use around 1611. The dedication to St Murdoch suggests there is also potential for remains of an earlier chapel .

The area to be scheduled is irregular on plan, to include the remains described above and an area around them within which evidence relating to the monument's construction, use and abandonment may survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map. The scheduling specifically excludes the above-ground elements of a post-and-wire fence on the slope S of the burial ground. The monument was first scheduled in 1936, but the documentation did not meet modern standards: the present amendment rectifies this.

Statement of National Importance

This monument is of national importance because of its inherent potential to make a significant addition to our understanding of early church sites in Scotland. Although ruinous, the monument retains sufficient structural elements that its overall form can still be understood. The early abandonment of the church (around 1611) means we can expect well-preserved archaeology that can make a significant contribution to our knowledge of medieval church architecture and burial. The monument's significance is enhanced by the capacity to compare it with other early church sites in Angus and to relate the church to the medieval settlement pattern. The loss of the monument would significantly diminish our future ability to appreciate and understand early churches in E Scotland and the role they had in medieval society and in the organisation of Christianity.

References

Bibliography

About Scheduled Monuments

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Scheduling is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for monuments and archaeological sites of national importance as set out in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

We schedule sites and monuments that are found to be of national importance using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Scheduled monument records provide an indication of the national importance of the scheduled monument which has been identified by the description and map. The description and map (see ‘legal documents’ above) showing the scheduled area is the designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The statement of national importance and additional information provided are supplementary and provided for general information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within the statement of national importance or additional information. These records are not definitive historical or archaeological accounts or a complete description of the monument(s).

The format of scheduled monument records has changed over time. Earlier records will usually be brief. Some information will not have been recorded and the map will not be to current standards. Even if what is described and what is mapped has changed, the monument is still scheduled.

Scheduled monument consent is required to carry out certain work, including repairs, to scheduled monuments. Applications for scheduled monument consent are made to us. We are happy to discuss your proposals with you before you apply and we do not charge for advice or consent. More information about consent and how to apply for it can be found on our website at www.historicenvironment.scot.

Find out more about scheduling and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.