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

  SM5661_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600011559)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of the remains of St Peter's church, the original parish church of Peterhead, which is thought to date from the 12th century. The church is on record from 1218 when it was transferred to the Abbey of Deer from Dunkeld Cathedral. The church is located in an old cemetry overlooking Peterhead Bay. What survives is a portion of the chancel including the side walls and the chancel arch which date from the 12th century.

The NW gable is probably late medieval and incorporates a square, pyramidal- roofed, bell-tower of mid 18th-century date. The intervening walls have for the most part been removed, the remaining portions being overlain by later burial enclosures. The church is aligned NW-SE, and has measured at least 30m NW-SE by 8.9m NE-SW over walls 0.8m thick. The chancel measures 6.9m NE-SW by 6.6m NW-SE. The SW wall of the nave adjoining the chancel survives for 9.5m and the NE wall extends for 1.8m.

The chancel arch has plain jambs with cushion capitals. It has a span of 2.3m and is 2.7m to its apex. The SW wall of the chancel contains a round-headed niche. The exterior of this wall is lined with 18th-century mural monuments. In the chancel are two 17th- century grave slabs. The church was abandoned in 1771. The area to be scheduled is rectangular, measuring a maximum of 33.5m NW-SE by 13m NE-SW, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a well documented parish church dating from at least the early 13th century. As such it provides evidence and has the potential to provide further evidence, through a combination of historical research and archaeological excavation, for ecclesiastical architecture, parish history and material culture during the Middle Ages.

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.