Scheduled Monument

Carriden House,church and burial ground 20m SW ofSM5458

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
01/12/1992
Type
Ecclesiastical: burial ground, cemetery, graveyard; church
Local Authority
Falkirk
Parish
Bo'Ness And Carriden
NGR
NT 02476 80791
Coordinates
302476, 680791

Description

The monument consists of the remains of a medieval church and its surrounding burial ground. Between 1124 and 1142 Carriden church was granted to Holyrood Abbey by Robert, Bishop of St Andrews. It was dedicated by Bishop de Bernham in 1243. The rectangular graveyard sits in the grounds of Carriden House. The excavated foundations of the rectangular church are situated in the burial ground.

There are several carved stones and table tombs in the cemetery which date from the eighteenth century. The church was abandoned in 1766 when a new church was built 700m to the NW. The area to be scheduled is rectangular measuring a maximum of 50m E-W by 40m 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 it is the site of an early medieval chapel documented from the twelfth century. Although it has been partly excavated, it is likely to preserve archaeological data which may provide further evidence for ecclesiastical architecture, patronage and material culture during the period of its construction and use. In addition it contains several fine examples of post-Reformation mortuary art which preserve evidence for the development of style and iconography in the local tradition and within the broader context of eighteenth century decorative sculpture.

References

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NT 08 SW 9.

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: 05/06/2026 18:25