MHG42258 - St. Martin's Chapel and Burial Ground, Ulbster
Summary
No summary available.
Type and Period (1)
- MAUSOLEUM (Undated)
Protected Status
Full Description
See also:
ND34SW0227 Graveyard
J Aitken : 09/12/02
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ND34SW 28 3356 4185 to 335 418.
(ND 3356 4185) Mausoleum (NAT) on site of St Martin's Chapel (NR) OS 1:10,000 map, (1976)
Although RCAHMS (1911) confirms that mausoleum, bearing date '1700', occupies site of St Martin's Chapel, both Oliphant (Macfarlane 1906-8) and Thomson (NSA 1845) maintain that mausoleum is converted remains of chapel.
The Ulbster Stone (ND16NW 13), a cross slab with symbols, originally stood in a corner of churchyard. It is now in Thurso Museum (ND16NW 69.2)
RCAHMS 1911; W Macfarlane 1906-8; NSA (written by C Thomson - 1841) 1845; J Stuart 1856.
The mausoleum is a 6.7m square building, harled and showing signs of recent repair. A weather vane on the top bears the date '1700'. Some of the stones in the building appear to be of very old date and may have come from the chapel. Otherwise, there are no extant remains of the chapel. The burial ground around the mausoleum is still in use.
C E Batey 1981.
There are no indications that the stones of the older chapel are incorporated in the newer building.
C E Batey 1981.
The Mausoleum was visited and photographed by K Hawthorne and N Brockie in early March 2014. The building was described as in an extremely poor condition and in need of attention, the graveyard wall was noted as partly collapsed. A pile of human bones was exposed inside on one of the window cills. <1>
Sources/Archives (7)
- --- SHG1959 Text/Report/Fieldwork Report: Batey, C E. 1981. Caithness coastal survey 1981: interim report. University of Durham, Department of Archaeology. . Wic 204.
- --- SHG2441 Text/Publication/Volume: Mitchell, Sir A and Clark, J T (eds.). 1906-8. Geographical collections relating to Scotland. Vol. 1, 160.
- --- SHG2597 Text/Publication/Volume: NSA. 1845. The new statistical account of Scotland by the ministers of the respective parishes under the superintendence of a committee of the society for the benefit of the sons and daughters of the clergy. Vol. 15, (Caithness), 160.
- --- SHG26528 Image/Photograph(s): Brockie, N. 2014. Photographs and information on Ulbster Mausoleum and Sibster Mains. Colour digital. No. Digital.
- --- SHG2664 Text/Report: RCAHMS. 1911. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments and Constructions of Scotland. Third report and inventory of monuments and constructions in the county of Caithness. . 194, No. 596.
- --- SHG3470 Text/Publication/Volume: Watson, G.. 1991. Caithness Chapel Sites.
- --- SHG350 Text/Publication/Monograph: Stuart, J. 1856. Sculptured stones of Scotland. 1. 14; pl. 40.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred ND 3356 4185 (10m by 10m) (2 map features) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | ND34SW |
| Civil Parish | WICK |
| Geographical Area | CAITHNESS |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (1)
Related Investigations/Events (0)
External Links (2)
- http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB14066 (Online designation description (Historic Environment Scotland))
- https://canmore.org.uk/site/9031 (View RCAHMS Canmore entry for this site)
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