The Kirk

The kirk at present is roofless to the east and has, asymmetrically abutting an increasingly precariously roofed "nave". The roof of which may have been re-slated in the 19th century over existing ver poor timbers.

To the west lies the remains of an earlier church site and evidence of a rough rubble wall with a round arch tomb recess perhaps of 16th century origin. The base of the west gable wall is still evident beneath the turf. The two sections of the church are used as burial aisles, the "nave" is the mausoleum of Munro of Poyntzfield and the "chancel" the tomb of the Urquharts of Braelangwell. The roof pitch, fenestration details and door mouldings exhibit similarities with neighbouring burial aisles of Wardlaw (1634), Gichrist (16th cent.), Kilmuir Easter (1616) across the Cromarty Firth.

Materials and construction.

Walls

The walls are a mixture of stonework; there is broached ashlar, sneck pointed coursed rubble, harled random rubble, and un-harled random rubble. Internally there is little evidence of much plaster work but mostly sneck harled rubble stonework. The stone used is generally red sand stone with harder yellow sandstone for dressed mouldings. The lancet window is in red sandstone as was perhaps the missing finial(s) on the roof. The rubble walls to the north have slate pinnings in the red sandstone. The chancel walls are of rougher and generally smaller rubble construction. The south west corner of the wall is about to collapse although timber props have been fitted these have also slipped and are unsound.

Roof

Of adzed rafter with overlain sarking finished with Scottish slate. The roof structure is seriously weakened by the steep pitch of the roof and the lack of proper ties. Internally there are more recent timber props to try to support the failing roof. There is no ready evidence of ceiling materials.

Floor

All the floors are of compacted earth.

with thanks to Fred Geddes, Architect, for permission to use drawings and plagiarise text

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