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

  SM5643_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600011541)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of the remains of the old parish church of Forgan (formerly Forgrund) which appear to date from the 16th century, although containing elements possibly dating to the 12th century. The roofless T-plan church is situated in its old graveyard. It is aligned E-W and measures 22.5m E-W by 7.8m N-S over walls 0.6m thick. The N aisle projects 5.4m and is 6.3m wide. The building is constructed in random-rubble masonry with long and short quoins, many of which have been robbed.

The walls survive to wallhead level (c.5m) except for the W portion of the S wall which has fallen to under 2m. The aisle is entered through a semi-circular archway (span 5m) with imposts. All the gables are intact (8m high). The church has three square-headed entrances, two in the S wall and one in the W wall of the N aisle. Most of the windows are square-headed and date from the later building phases of the church, although in the E gable is a semi-circular headed window possibly dating from the late 12th century. Joist holes in the N and E gables indicate that these parts of the church were once galleried.

Attached to the SW is a 19th- century burial enclosure. Behind the W gable are wall footings extending for 5m indicating the presence of an underlying structure. In the E end is a tombstone bearing the date 1578. In the N aisle is another stone incised with a spade and scythe crossed.

The area to be scheduled is rectangular, measuring a maximum of 40m E-W by 50m N-S, to include the church and burial ground, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a fine example of a well documented medieval parish church, which was granted to the priory of St Andrews by David I circa 1150 and confirmed by Pope Adrian IV in 1156. As such it provides architectural evidence dating from the 12th to the 18th century and has the potential to provide further evidence, through excavation, which may explain the construction phases, chronology and burial history of the church.

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.