Scheduled Monument

St. Palladius' ChapelSM9723

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
21/05/2002
Supplementary Information Updated
25/07/2018
Type
Ecclesiastical: chapel
Local Authority
Aberdeenshire
Parish
Fordoun
NGR
NO 72616 78417
Coordinates
372616, 778417

Description

This monument consists of the remains of a late medieval church. It is dedicated to St. Palladius, an early christian martyr in the Mearns, and appears to have been a centre of pilgrimage for him. Unusually the chapel has a crypt with stairs descending and a tomb recess in the east gable. These may relate to the building as a centre for pilgrimage. The building is approximately 11m long by 5m wide and is complete to wall head. The east gable has been given a cement render on the outside face.

The area to be scheduled is rectangular on plan and measures 5m out from the walls of the church. The area measures 23m along its long axis, by 16m and is marked in red on the accompanying map. Excluded from the scheduling are those burial lairs where burial rights exist and those monuments outside the building which are above ground.

Statement of National Importance

This monument is of importance as a late medieval church of unusual design. Dedicated to a local saint, it appears to have features, in particular the crypt, which are unusual and may relate to the site's role as a centre for pilgrimage as well as indicating an earlier date for the foundation of a church on the site. The monument is of interest in the study of the veneration of saints and, through the role of the church, life and beliefs throughout the Middle Ages.

References

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NO 70 NW 3.00.

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

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Printed: 28/03/2024 11:02