Scheduled Monument

Crombie Old Parish Church,Craigflower Estate,TorryburnSM5651

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
03/03/1993
Type
Ecclesiastical: church
Local Authority
Fife
Parish
Torryburn
NGR
NT 02828 85538
Coordinates
302828, 685538

Description

The monument is the ruin of the Old Parish Church of Crombie, which was the parish church of Crombie before the parishes of Crombie and Torry were united at a date prior to 1623. Crombie Church came to be used as a burial vault by the Colvilles of Ochiltree.

The building is rectangular on plan, with dimensions 14.1m E-W by 4.4m N-S, over walls 0.9m thick. The E gable survives to a height of 3.1m and contains three lancet windows which are likely to date from the 13th century. Only the central one remains unaltered; those flanking it are damaged and have been partly blocked up. A small

aumbry has been inserted beneath the SE light.

The W gable (c. 5m high) and the N wall, which contains the present entrance have been largely rebuilt. The S wall is original with some patching. There are two blocked doorways and an inserted armorial panel near the E end. The N and S walls have been neatly coped at a height of 2.1m.

There are several inscribed and decorated tomb stones dating from the 17 to 19th centuries commemorating members of the Colville family. The area to be scheduled is rectangular, extending 3m from the exterior walls and measuring 20.1m E-W by 10m.4m N-S, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because it is a good example of a pre-Reformation church, providing above and below ground evidence which, through a combination of historical research and archaeological excavation, may contribute to our understanding of the development of ecclesiastical architecture, construction history, parish evolution and church patronage in Medieval Scotland.

References

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NT08NW 5.

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: 20/11/2025 09:54