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

  SM5314_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600011216)

Summary

Description

Fintray parish belonged to the Abbey of Lindores from the end of the 12th century until 1610, and a parish church dedicated to St Meddan was in use on this site until 1703, when a new church was built at Hatton of Fintray. The remains of the church now form a rectangular burial enclosure, some 20 by 7.8m; the walls stand about 3m high, and are capped by a sloping wallhead which oversails the outer face.

A wide gap in the north wall and smaller, lintelled opening in the south are closed by iron gates. Only the east wall, the east half of the north wall and east end of the south wall appear to belong to the medieval church, though it is likely that the other walls are built over medieval foundations. Near the east end of the north wall is a crudely carved late medieval sacrament house let into the wall, and above it a square stone panel covered with a depiction of Christ crucified flanked by 2 figures.

To the west of this, just before the gap in the wall, is the right-hand reveal of a blocked door or window. There are at least 4 medieval sculptured grave stones within the church and surrounding disused burial ground. The area to be scheduled includes the church, burial ground and boundary wall, a quadrangular area measuring some 70m on the north, east and south, 65m on the west.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of the evidence that it provides, and has the potential to provide through archaeological excavation, for church history, ecclesiastical art and architecture, and burial practices during the Middle Ages.

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.