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

  SM11116_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013877)

Summary

Description

The monument consist of the fragmentary remains of the medieval parish church of St Combs (St Columba) which served the parish of Lonmay. The monument stands within a burial ground which almost lies within sand dunes overlooking St Combs Haven.

An account of 1527 states that Henry Le Chen, bishop of Aberdeen, was responsible for founding this church as a prebend of the cathedral in 1314. The church was abandoned in 1608 when a new church was built 2 miles further inland at Kirkton of Lonmay.

The remains of the church are extremely fragmentary, with the W gable being the most substantial upstanding element, surviving to a height on 3m, pierced by a small square-headed window. The N wall survives to several course in places, but as with the rest of the structure, much of the wall consists of turf covered footings. Despite this fragmentary condition, the general form and dimensions of church can be made out: it was a simple rectangular structure aligned ESE-WNW and measured 19m ESE-WNW by about 6m transversely.

The area to be scheduled includes the church and an area around in which associated remains may be expected to be found. The area is rectangular in shape and has maximum dimensions of 28m ESE-WNW by 14m transversely as marked in red on the attached map. All modern burial lairs still in use are excluded from the scheduling.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as the site of a medieval parish church which served as a prebend of Aberdeen Cathedral and as such it has great potential to contribute toward an understanding of medieval art, architecture, religious practices and material culture. Its abandonment just fifty years after the Reformation suggest that remains represent what was essentially a medieval church, with few post-Reformation changes. If the documentary evidence is correct, and the church was founded in the early 14th century, it would be a relatively rare example of church building during that period.

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.