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MHG8451 - Fearn Abbey
Summary
Church built on, and incorporating, the ruins of Fearn Abbey
Type and Period (3)
ABBEY (Built, Medieval - 1338 AD? to 1372 AD? (between))
CHURCH (Built, 18th Century - 1770 AD? to 1771 AD? (between))
PREMONSTRATENSIAN MONASTERY (Built, Medieval - 1338 AD? to 1372 AD? (between))
Protected Status
Images (75)
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Listed Building Record - photograph © id:20664 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Old Council listed building record (for up to date description see link to Historic Scotland's website) © Highland Council id:20665 (click to view a larger version of this image)
© id:25329 (click to view a larger version of this image)
© id:25330 (click to view a larger version of this image)
© id:25331 (click to view a larger version of this image)
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council id:59173 (click to view a larger version of this image)
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council id:59175 (click to view a larger version of this image)
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council id:59178 (click to view a larger version of this image)
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council id:59181 (click to view a larger version of this image)
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council id:59184 (click to view a larger version of this image)
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council id:59187 (click to view a larger version of this image)
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council id:59190 (click to view a larger version of this image)
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council id:59193 (click to view a larger version of this image)
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council id:59196 (click to view a larger version of this image)
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council id:59199 (click to view a larger version of this image)
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council id:59202 (click to view a larger version of this image)
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council id:59205 (click to view a larger version of this image)
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council id:190284 (click to view a larger version of this image)
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council id:190285 (click to view a larger version of this image)
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council id:190286 (click to view a larger version of this image)
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council id:190287 (click to view a larger version of this image)
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council id:190288 (click to view a larger version of this image)
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council id:190289 (click to view a larger version of this image)
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council id:190290 (click to view a larger version of this image)
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council id:190291 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225275 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225276 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225277 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225278 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225279 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225280 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225281 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225282 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225283 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225284 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225285 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225286 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225287 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225288 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225289 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225290 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225291 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225292 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225293 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225294 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225295 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225296 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225297 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225298 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225299 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225300 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225301 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225302 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225303 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225304 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225305 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225306 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225307 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225308 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225309 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225310 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225311 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225312 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225313 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225314 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225315 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225316 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225317 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225318 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225319 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225320 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225321 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225322 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225323 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011 id:225324 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Listed Building Record - photograph © The Highland Council
Old Council listed building record (for up to date description see link to Historic Scotland's website) © Highland Council
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council
by Andrew Puls © Highland Council
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Fearn Abbey by Martin Briscoe via Flickr © J M Briscoe, 2011
Documents (5)
Show captions
Colour photograph © The Highland Council id: 39375 (click to open this file in a new window)
Sites and Monuments Record Card © Highland Council id: 39379 (click to open this file in a new window)
Plan © The Highland Council id: 39380 (click to open this file in a new window)
Report © The Highland Council id: 39381 (click to open this file in a new window)
Report © The Highland Council id: 39382 (click to open this file in a new window)
Full Description
See also NH68NW0010 Plans of the buildings, held separately in SMR - HAW 11/2004 The church building survives in use with modern cemetery around it. Clear evidence of several structural rebuilds with walls & doorways blocked. Interior retains a few original medieval structural decorative features, but generally removed. A coffin plinth with part person in it is now built into the external structural elements with exposure to the weather. No evidence of conventual buildings that probably lie in area of the graveyard itself, but also in the pasture field to the N and possibly underr the car park to the E. The manse lies in a large garden, that is on a markedly lower level to the modern graveyard. - HAW 8/2004 Fearn Abbey: Conservation Plan (LDN Architects), dated 15/12/00. See assoc. docs. File. J Aitken : 07/11/01. Remains of Fearn Abbey are generally as described and illustrated. It is still used as Parish Church. Visited by OS (I S S) 29 August 1972. The Premonstratensian Abbey of Fearn was originally founded 1221-2 or c1227 at Edderton on Dornoch Firth by Farquhard, Earl of Ross, but was transferred to a more suitable site in Tarbert (now Fearn parish) c1238. This is c10 miles SE of original site. Re-building took place from 1338 to 1372 and again in 15th century. It was annexed to bishopric of Ross, in parliament, 1609. The church is a simple oblong structure, and part of it is still used as the parish church. It has been much patched and altered. All traces of domestic buildings and cloister have now gone. D MacGibbon and T Ross 1896-7; D E Easson 1957. NH87NW 1 8373 7728 See also NH68NW 10. Church (NAT) On Site of (NAT) Abbey (NR). OS 6" map, Ross-shire, 2nd ed., (1907) NH 837 773: Early monastic establishment of Nova Ferna. Info from Dark Age Index by C W Phillips. REFERENCE: SCOTTISH RECORD OFFICE Report on condition of Church by Hugh Fraser with condemnation of the floor which is sinking, blocked up windows in the North wall and galleries which are useless. 1876 GD71/305/34 Report of storm damage to the window in the West wall of Fearn Church. ND GD71/305/6 Request for payment of account for the new window put in the Church of Fearn by John Chisholm. 1807 GD71/305/28 Report on condition of Abbacy Church and of the New Church. Decision by the Heritors to repair the Old Abbacy Church. 1771 GD71/305/1 Estimate for repair of Old Abbacy ?200 1771 GD71/305/2 Slating of the Church of Ferne. Discharge by John Ross, slater in Dunrobin. 1703 GD129/Box32/127 (Tain & Balnagown) REFERENCE: NATIONAL LIBRARY OF SCOTLAND Advocates' MS 29.4.2(xi), ff.225-300 passim. Advocates'MS 30.5.23, 130a-b and 131. The National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh contains, among the "Uncatalogued MSS of General Hutton" and numbered 131 and 132, Vol 1, a plan of this Abbey Church, By James Shand, dated 1815, to a scale of 10 feet to an inch; and another and more elaborate plan, also dated 1815. The situation is 2 miles inland from the North shore of the Moray Firth. Once an extensive Abbey, and later, till 1742, answered as the Parish Church.
Sources/Archives (16)
--- Text/Publication/Article: Thoyts, E. 1887. 'Notes on some Ross-shire churches', Trans Aberdeen Eccles Soc Vol. 1 1887, p.24-8. Trans Aberdeen Eccles Soc. 24-8. 27-8.
--- Image/Photograph(s): Fearn Abbey. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
--- Text/Publication/Volume: Cowan and Easson, I B and D E. 1976. Medieval religious houses, Scotland: with an appendix on the houses in the Isle of Man. 2nd ed.. 101-2.
--- Text/Publication/Volume: Easson, D E. 1957. Medieval religious houses in Scotland: with an appendix on the houses in the Isle of Man. 87.
--- Text/Publication/Volume: Fearn Abbey. {n.d.}. Fearn Abbey.
--- Text/Publication/Volume: Fearn Abbey. post-1963. History of Fearn Abbey.
--- Image/Photograph(s): Briscoe, J M. 2008-11. Information and photographs of various sites submitted by Martin Briscoe. Colour. Yes. Digital. via Flickr.
--- Text/Publication/Volume: MacGibbon and Ross, D and T. 1896-7. The ecclesiastical architecture of Scotland from the earliest Christian times to the seventeenth century. Vol. 2, 542-7; illust..
--- Text/Publication/Volume: MacGill, W. 1909. Old Ross-shire and Scotland as seen in the Tain and Balnagown Documents {Volume 1}. Nos. 97-101, 1029-.
--- Text/Report: RCAHMS. 1979. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. The archaeological sites and monuments of Easter Ross, Ross and Cromarty District, Highland Region. . 27, No. 229.
--- Text/Report: Wright A. 2000. (Draft) A Conservation plan for Fearn Abbey. .
--- Text/Report: Brady K. 2001. Fearn Abbey. .
--- Text/Publication/Article: Stell, G. 1986. Architecture and society in Easter Ross before 1707. SHG1943. 99-132. 101, 107-10.
--- Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
--- Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
--- Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
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Location
Grid reference
Centred NH 83736 77286 (32m by 26m)
Map sheet
NH87NW
Geographical Area
ROSS AND CROMARTY
Civil Parish
FEARN
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (1)
Related Investigations/Events (0)
External Links (2)
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