Scheduled Monument

Tarves, Tolquhon Tomb, S of Parish ChurchSM90296

Status: Designated

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.

Summary

Date Added
30/11/1981
Last Date Amended
03/07/2000
Supplementary Information Updated
20/06/2018
Type
Crosses and carved stones: tombstone, Ecclesiastical: burial avile/vault; church
Local Authority
Aberdeenshire
Parish
Tarves
NGR
NJ 86904 31180
Coordinates
386904, 831180

Description

The monument comprises the altar tomb that was erected in 1589 in memory of William Forbes, 7th laird of Tolquhon, and his wife Elizabeth Gordon, in the south aisle of the former parish church of Tarves.

According the the Martyrology of Oengus, the Celtic founder of the church at Tarves was St Murdebar or Muirdebar, who came from Leinster around AD 600. It was later granted by King William I the Lion to the abbey of Arbroath. A description of the medieval church building written in 1732 indicates that it had a choir and two aisles (or transepts): one for the Gordons of Haddo and the other for the Forbeses of Tolquhon. The latter aisle evidently lay to the south of the nave. All that now remains of it is its south wall, incorporating the Forbes tomb and surmounted by a pediment of pink granite, added when the rest of the aisle was demolished around 1798.

The tomb is carved from red sandstone, contrasting with the rubble masonry of the aisle wall. It consists of a tomb chest with arcaded front, recessed into the wall and enclosed by a richly moulded semi-circular arcosolium with heavy gothic cusping. At the apex of the arch is a projecting royal crown flanked by unicorns. The whole is framed by renaissance baluster shafts, incorporating portrait statuettes of the laird and his lady and supporting a heavily embattled cornice. The left-hand spandrel contains the Forbes arms quartered with those of the Prestons, from whom they had inherited the estate.

The shield is surmounted by an esquire's helmet and is flanked by the initials W.F. Below is a scroll dated 1589, and extending into the apex of the spandrel is another bearing the Forbes motto: SALVS PER CHRISTVM. A shield in the right-hand spandrel shows the Forbes arms impaled with those of Gordon, surmounted by a plumed hat. The shield is flanked by the initials E.G. and a scroll in the apex reads: DOCHTER.TO.LESMOR.

The monument to be scheduled represents an area measuring from 9.06m to 8.75m E-W by 8.35m N-S, including the tomb, the wall into which it is built, the modern shelter containing it and a strip 2m wide surrounding it, lying 9.5m south of the S wall of the parish church, as shown in red on the accompanying map extract.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because it represents an extremely fine and well-preserved example of Scottish renaissance sculpture, set in a remaining fragment of the medieval parish church. The tomb's importance is enhanced by its close comparison with other pieces, notably the tomb of Bishop Gavin Dunbar in St Machar's cathedral, Aberdeen, and by its association, both architectural and historical, with nearby Tolquhon Castle.

Not only was the tomb built to contain the remains of William Forbes, the builder of the castle, but it also appears probable that the mason responsible for it was Thomas Leper, who had worked on the castle for William Forbes from 1584 until the latter's death in 1586 and was still in his son William's employment in 1600. The monument's importance is reflected by its status, since 1953, as a property in the care of Secretary of State.

References

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NJ 83 SE 32.

Bibliography:

Cross, M. (1994) Bibliography of Monument in the Care of the Secretary of State for Scotland, Glasgow, 573.

Simpson, W. D. (1945-6) 'The Tolquhon Aisle, and other monuments in Tarves Kirkyard; with some further notes on Tolquhon', Proc Soc Antiq Scot, vol. 80, 117-26.

Historic Environment Scotland Properties

Tarves Tomb

https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/tarves-tomb

Find out more

Related Designations

  1. TOLQUHON MONUMENT, TARVES CHURCHYARDLB19770

    Designation Type
    Listed Building (A)
    Status
    Removed

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.

Images

There are no images available for this record, you may want to check Canmore for images relating to Tarves, Tolquhon Tomb, S of Parish Church

There are no images available for this record.

Search Canmore

Printed: 20/04/2024 02:20