Moyness Kirk Brodie
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Building record:
Moyness Kirk Brodie
7 Duke Street Cromarty Ross-shire IV11 8YH Tel/Fax:: 01381 600491 Mobile: 07834 693378 Email: [email protected] Web: www.hi-arch.co.uk VAT No. 838 7358 80 Registered in Scotland no. 262144 Registered Office: 10 Knockbreck Street, Tain, Ross-shire IV19 1BJ
Moyness Kirk: Building Record May-June 2008
Building record:
Moyness Kirk Brodie
Report No. HAS080602 Project code BMK08 Client S. Ashton
Planning Ref 06/00007/OUTNA
Date 10 June 2008
Author John Wood
Summary
A record was made of Moyness Kirk, near Brodie, before conversion to a house. No follow-up fieldwork is proposed.
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Contents
Location ...... 4 Introduction ...... 5 Aims and Objectives ...... 5 Archaeological background and cultural significance ...... 5 Method ...... 7 Discussion and recommendations ...... 9 Appendix 1: Index to photographs...... 15 Appendix 2: Plans ...... 19
List of Illustrations
Cover: The church in c.1916
Plate 1 Removal of the farm building from the east elevation ...... 8 Plate 2 South front in 2008 ...... 9 Plate 3 First floor ...... 9 Plate 4 West doorway ...... 10 Plate 5 South windows ...... 10 Plate 6 Vestry and east wall 2008 ...... 11 Plate 7 Fireplace in vestry...... 11 Plate 8 Wall decoration in vestry ...... 12 Plate 9 North elevation 2008 ...... 12 Plate 10 West elevation 2008 ...... 13 Plate 11 Window in west wall 2008 ...... 13 Plate 12 Stairs to first floor ...... 14 Plate 13 Attic ...... 14
Figure 1 Location...... 4 Figure 2 Sketch of interior made by a member of the congregation in 1949 ...... 7 Figure 3 First Edition OS 1:10560 County Series Map 1871 (extract) ...... 8 Figure 4 Ground floor plan ...... 20 Figure 5 Camera points - ground floor ...... 21 Figure 6 Camera points - 1st floor ...... 22 Figure 7 Camera points - attic floor ...... 23 Figure 8 South elevation ...... 24 Figure 9 North elevation ...... 25 Figure 10 East and west elevations ...... 26 Figure 11 South elevation - internal ...... 27 Figure 12 East and West elevations - internal ...... 28
Acknowledgements
Fieldwork was carried out by Brendan Malone. We wish to thank the client, Sarah Ashton, for commissioning this report and providing plans, photographs, notes and bibliographic references, including the cover picture. Background mapping has been reproduced by permission of the Ordnance Survey under Licence 100043217.
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Location
The church is located midway between Nairn and Forres at OS Grid Ref NH 970 550 at a height of about 55m above sea level.
Figure 1 Location
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Introduction
This report sets out the results of the fieldwork and desk-based assessment carried out in connection with the conversion of Moyness Kirk, near Brodie into a house.
Aims and Objectives
• To determine the character, history, date, form and development of any features or objects of archaeological importance associated with these structures.
• To record, to professional standards, any features and objects of archaeological or historical importance that will be damaged altered or destroyed by this development.
• To minimise any possible delay or cost to the development by anticipating archaeological requirements as far as possible, timetabling and integrating archaeological recording work with the project, and dealing with any issues arising quickly and efficiently.
• To ensure the preservation where possible and recording where necessary of archaeological features in line with the policies set out in the Highland Council’s Structure Plan, NPPG 5 and PAN 42.
Archaeological background and cultural significance
Moyness or Boghole Church is an attractive Georgian building, with Y-tracery windows in the south wall providing light, although unfortunately the eastern doorway has been removed to provide an opening for farm machinery. The main part of the building is of stone and slate construction, with a small single storey annexe of similar construction projecting from the east part of the main gable. There is a large corrugated sheet lean-to extension attached to the south elevation of the original building.
Little is recorded of its history, and it does not appear in the National Monuments Record or john Gifford’s Buildings of Scotland: Highlands and Islands. The Highland Council’s Sites and Monuments Record includes it (Ref NH95NE0005) but only as noted on the first edition OS 1:10560 map (1871). The policies of Darnaway castle are recorded on the Register of Historic Gardens and Designed landscapes - the boundary runs along the river to the east of the site.
There are two sites recorded nearby. A cairn, containing a ‘stone coffin’ (apparently a cist burial) was noted to the north of the church at NH 9702 5524 (NMRS and HSMR NH95NE0002). According to the Ordnance Survey, who visited in 1971, this was bulldozed away c.1968 to make way for a piggery: ‘According to the farmer, apart from a few flattish stones it contained nothing of interest’.
Also north of the church, the RCAHMS noted in 1996 that ‘a farmstead, comprising one roofed building, one unroofed building, a horse-gang and two enclosures is depicted on the 1st edition of the OS (Nairnshire 1871, sheet i), but it is not shown on the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1977)’ (NMRS NH95NE 31). It seems that Boghole may have formed a small hamlet before agricultural improvements in the 19th.c.
The congregation at Boghole or Moyness was formed in 1747 after it broke away from the Church of Scotland. In the late 17th and 18th centuries Auldearn parish had a strong Covenanting tradition. In
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1712, an Act of the newly united British parliament reintroduced patronage into the church in Scotland, which gave landowners the right to appoint ministers to local churches, where they paid the minister’s stipend. This was strongly opposed by many congregations who then, as now, had the right to appoint their own minister subject to the approval of Presbytery. A further dispute then arose over the requirement for those becoming burgesses or town councillors to swear the following oath on taking office:
Here I protest before God, and your Lordships, that I profess, and allow with my heart, the true religion presently professed within this realm, and authorized by the laics thereof: I shall abide thereat, and defend the same to my life's end ; renouncing the Roman religion called papistry.
Dissenters claimed that this required them to publicly approve patronage and state interference in the church and they refused to swear.
Both grievances came to a head in 1747, with the appointment of an unpopular minister to Auldearn, Thomas Gordon. Many of the congregation left the established church. Initially the group met in a cave and later, in summer, in the courtyard of Moyness castle where the minister was said to have banished the fairies with his preaching. A hundred years later this foundation was celebrated by the congregation who claimed to be the first dissenting church north of the Grampian mountains1.
They were joined by seceders from Nairn parish and went by the name of the United Congregations of Boghole and Nairn. They allied with the General Associate Anti-burgher Synod. The church was in Boghole, although it is not clear whether this was the same building that survives today or a predecessor. In 1763, the Nairn parishioners built a church for themselves but remained linked with Boghole, sharing the same minister. In 1769, the Nairn parishioners were recognized as a separate congregation2.
The First Statistical Account of 1791-9, prepared for Auldearn by John Paterson, the Church of Scotland minister, states
There are about 97 seceders of the Antiburgher persuasion, who, in conjunction with some others, contrive to support a clergyman of their own in Bogholl, in the south-east corner of the parish, and confines of Edinkaillie.
This secession from the communion of the established religion began about 40 years since, and is now rather on the decline. All the rest belong to the establishment, and join with it, at least in religious ordinances, although their attachment to puritanical doctrines makes many of them wander miles to hear popular and applauded preachers.3
The New Statistical account of 1834-45 (by William Barclay, minister) simply records
There is a Dissenting meeting-house at Boghole connected with the United Associate Secession. The charge is at present vacant.’4
The church continued to sustain an active congregation. Between 300 and 400 people apparently attended the centenary celebrations on 1848 ‘notwithstanding the unfavourable state of the weather, and admission by tickets 6d each, the profits of which were to go to missions’.5 John White continued as minister from 1817 to 1894, living in the manse nearby (later destroyed). It is unclear whether any
1 Boghole Church Centenary Meeting, Forres Gazette, 5 January 1848. I am grateful to Sarah Ashton for providing this reference.
2 William MacKelvie 1873 Annals and Statistics of the United Presbyterian Church 3 http://stat-acc-scot.edina.ac.uk/link/1791-99/Elgin/Auldearn/19/619/ 4 http://stat‐acc‐scot.edina.ac.uk/link/1834‐45/Elgin/Auldearn/13/16/ 5 Boghole Church Centenary Meeting, Forres Gazette, 5 January 1848.
6 Moyness Kirk: Building Record May-June 2008 effect was felt by this already independent congregation of the Disruption of 1843, when the Free Church broke away from the established Church of Scotland, but possibly some new members were attracted at that time. However, four years later 1847 the Moyness congregation was one of those that joined with others to form the United Presbyterian Church.
In the early 20th c., there were three active churches in Auldearn parish: the parish church, the Dalmore kirk (United Free Church) and this one, the United Presbyterian church at Moyness6. These apparently reunited with the Church of Scotland in 1929. The nearby manse burned down in 1944 and church seems to have ceased to be used in 19497.
Figure 2 Sketch of interior made by a member of the congregation in 1949 Courtesy of Sarah Ashton
It is shown on the 1959 Ordnance Survey 1:10560 map as disused, and was used as farm buildings for many years. A large shed built against the south wall protected this from the elements, but the east doorway was removed to create an opening for farm machinery. The building belonged to the Cawdor Estate in 2006: further information might exist among the estate records, but unfortunately it has not been possible to check these.
Method
The building was visited and photographed. Scale drawings were made of the principal elevations and plans. A desk-based assessment was also carried out: the results of this appear in the archaeological background section above.
6 Henry Hamilton 1965, The Counties of Moray and Nairn, 425 7 Sarah Ashton, pers.comm
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Plate 1 Removal of the farm building from the east elevation Courtesy of Sarah Ashton
Figure 3 First Edition OS 1:10560 County Series Map 1871 (extract) Derived from digital mapping. Not to survey scale – National Grid superimposed at 1km intervals.
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Discussion and recommendations
The building is attractive, despite its adaptation for use as farm buildings. It has an interesting history that illustrates important themes in Scottish history over the last 300 years.
Only selected images have been included in this report: a full set of digital photographs is provided on the accompanying CD. There are no recommendations for further archaeological work.
Plate 2 South front in 2008
Plate 3 First floor
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Plate 4 West doorway
Plate 5 South windows
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Plate 6 Vestry and east wall 2008 +
Plate 7 Fireplace in vestry
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Plate 8 Wall decoration in vestry
Plate 9 North elevation 2008
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Plate 10 West elevation 2008
Plate 11 Window in west wall 2008
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Plate 12 Stairs to first floor
Plate 13 Attic
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Appendix 1: Index to photographs
Photo Camera Direction Date Comments No. Point Vestry 1 1 NE 02/05/2008 East wall of Vestry 2 2 E 02/05/2008 Fireplace in Vestry 3 3 E 02/05/2008 Cupboard Door in Vestry 4 3 E 02/05/2008 Cornice and ceiling detail in Vestry 5 4 SW 02/05/2008 South wall of Vestry 6 3 E 02/05/2008 Cupboard (open) in Vestry 7 3 E 02/05/2008 Cupboard (open) in Vestry 8 1 W 02/05/2008 Artwork on West wall of Vestry 9 1 W 02/05/2008 Artwork on West wall of Vestry 10 1 W 02/05/2008 Artwork on West wall of Vestry 11 1 N 02/05/2008 North wall of Vestry 12 4 W 02/05/2008 West wall of Vestry
13 2 W 02/05/2008 Doorway to main building in West wall of Vestry
Outside 14 5 NE 02/05/2008 South wall 15 6 N 02/05/2008 Western Doorway in South wall (blocked up) 16 7 N 02/05/2008 Western Window in South wall 17 8 N 02/05/2008 Eastern Window in South wall 18 9 N 02/05/2008 Both Windows in South wall 19 10 N 02/05/2008 Eastern Opening in South wall 20 11 NW 02/05/2008 South wall 21 12 N 02/05/2008 South wall of Vestry showing openings 22 13 N 02/05/2008 Roof showing Velux windows 23 14 W 02/05/2008 East wall 24 14 W 02/05/2008 East wall 25 15 SW 02/05/2008 East wall 26 16 NW 02/05/2008 East wall 27 17 W 02/05/2008 Flue gatherer in East wall of Boiler house 28 17 W 02/05/2008 Flue gatherer in East wall of Boiler house
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Photo No. Camera Point Direction Date Comments 30 18 NW 02/05/2008 Chimney Top from Boiler Room 31 18 W 02/05/2008 Chimney off Boiler Room 32 19 S 02/05/2008 Boiler Room entrance Vestry Roof
Boiler room 33 20 E 02/05/2008 Boiler cobbled floor 34 20 E 02/05/2008 East wall 35 21 S 02/05/2008 South wall 36 21 S 02/05/2008 South wall 37 21 W 02/05/2008 West wall 38 22 N 02/05/2008 North wall showing door 39 23 N 02/05/2008 North wall showing door 40 24 N 02/05/2008 Doorway 41 22 S 02/05/2008 Flu gatherer in South wall
Outside 42 25 S 02/05/2008 North Wall from road 43 26 S 02/05/2008 North wall 44 27 SW 02/05/2008 North Wall from road 45 26 S 02/05/2008 North Roof showing Velux windows 46 28 NE 02/05/2008 West wall 47 29 E 02/05/2008 Window in West wall 48 30 E 02/05/2008 West wall
Main Building 49 31 NW 02/05/2008 Overall Ground Floor 50 32 W 02/05/2008 West passage 51 33 SSW 02/05/2008 West Doorway in South wall (blocked up) 52 33 S 02/05/2008 Decoration on South wall 53 34 W 02/05/2008 Decoration on West wall 54 35 W 02/05/2008 West wall at end of Southern passage 55 36 W 02/05/2008 Decoration on West wall 56 37 S 02/05/2008 Decoration around windows 57 38 E 02/05/2008 Doorway to Vestry in East wall 58 39 E 02/05/2008 Decoration on East wall 59 39 E 02/05/2008 Decoration on East wall 60 32 NE 02/05/2008 East wall
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Photo No. Camera Point Direction Date Comments 62 41 E 02/05/2008 Upper East wall 63 41 SE 02/05/2008 Open plan in North East corner 64 32 W 02/05/2008 Open plan in South East corner 65 42 N 02/05/2008 North wall 66 43 N 02/05/2008 Modern blockwork rooms 1 and 2 67 43 N 02/05/2008 Modern blockwork rooms 1 and 2 68 44 W 02/05/2008 Modern blockwork room 1 69 45 N 02/05/2008 North wall continued room 2 70 46 N 02/05/2008 West opening for furnace in North Wall room 2 71 47 N 02/05/2008 East opening for furnace in North wall room 1 72 48 N 02/05/2008 Decoration on North wall Room 3 73 48 NE 02/05/2008 Upper North wall Room 3 74 49 NW 02/05/2008 North wall continued Room 3 75 50 NE 02/05/2008 North wall continued Room 3 76 50 E 02/05/2008 Modern blockwork room 3 77 51 W 02/05/2008 Modern blockwork room 3 78 52 SW 02/05/2008 Modern blockwork room 3 79 53 SE 02/05/2008 Modern blockwork room 3
80 54 NE 02/05/2008 Decoration and plastering on North wall Room 4
81 54 NE 02/05/2008 Upper North wall Room 4 82 55 NW 02/05/2008 North wall continued Room 4 83 50 W 02/05/2008 West wall Room 4 84 50 W 02/05/2008 Upper West wall Room 4 85 56 SE 02/05/2008 Modern blockwork room 4 86 50 SW 02/05/2008 Modern blockwork room 4 87 57 E 02/05/2008 Modern blockwork room 4 88 57 ESE 02/05/2008 Modern blockwork room 4 89 58 SW 02/05/2008 Stairs and Windows 90 58 SW 02/05/2008 Stairs and Windows 91 58 SW 02/05/2008 Stairs and Windows 92 31 W 02/05/2008 Stairway to gallery
Gallery 93 59 SE 02/05/2008 Top of West window in South wall 94 60 SW 02/05/2008 Top of West window in South wall 95 61 SW 02/05/2008 Top of East window in South wall
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Photo No. Camera Point Direction Date Comments
Main Building 97 63 S 02/05/2008 East window in South wall showing stairs 98 37 S 02/05/2008 West window in South wall 99 64 S 02/05/2008 Decoration around windows (Top, Gallery)
Attic/Roof space 100 65 E 02/05/2008 South rafters and trusses 101 66 E 02/05/2008 South trusses and struts 102 67 E 02/05/2008 Central Walkway 103 68 W 02/05/2008 North trusses and struts 104 69 W 02/05/2008 North rafters and trusses
Gallery 105 70 W 02/05/2008 Stairs to Roof space 106 71 S 02/05/2008 Decoration on South wall just below ceiling 107 70 WNW 02/05/2008 West wall 108 70 NW 02/05/2008 West/North walls 109 70 N 02/05/2008 North wall 110 70 NE 02/05/2008 North wall 111 70 ENE 02/05/2008 North/East walls 112 72 SE 02/05/2008 East/South walls 113 72 NE 02/05/2008 East/North walls 114 72 SW 02/05/2008 South wall West wall showing modern blockwork rooms 5 115 73 W 02/05/2008 and 6 116 73 SW 02/05/2008 South/West walls 117 74 W 02/05/2008 West wall of room 5 118 75 N 02/05/2008 North wall of room 5 119 76 NE 02/05/2008 East wall of room 5 120 77 SW 02/05/2008 South wall of room 5 showing doorway 121 78 NW 02/05/2008 West wall 122 78 N 02/05/2008 North wall of room 6 123 78 N 02/05/2008 North wall of room 6 124 78 NE 02/05/2008 East wall of room 6 125 79 N 02/05/2008 Room 1 from gallery 126 80 N 02/05/2008 Room 2 from gallery
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Photo No. Camera Point Direction Date Comments
Main building 128 39 W 02/05/2008 Through opening to gallery showing roof space 129 39 W 02/05/2008 Through opening to gallery showing roof space 130 58 W 02/05/2008 Ceiling rafters and support 131 58 W 02/05/2008 Ceiling rafters and support 132 81 S 02/05/2008 Date of concrete for farm yard
Photos provided by Sarah Ashton 133 SSE North Wall from road 134 WSW North Wall 135 SSE North Wall from road 136 SSE North Wall from road 137 NNW Vestry Front 138 N Vestry Front 139 WSW Window from Gallery showing piping emerging 140 E Looking out from Gallery showing piping West side of South wall showing doorway 141 N blocked and western window 142 NW South Wall before corrugated shed dismantled 143 S Top of Western Window 144 E Cobbled floor in Boiler Room 145 N North Wall 146 N Dismantling corrugated shed 147 E Cobbled floor in Boiler Room 148 N Dismantling corrugated shed 149 NW Dismantling corrugated shed 150 S Top of West window in South wall 151 S Top of West window in South wall Earliest photo available of U.F. Church of 152 SSW Moyness c.1916
Appendix 2: Plans
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Figure 4 Ground floor plan
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Figure 5 Camera points - ground floor
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Figure 6 Camera points - 1st floor
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Figure 7 Camera points - attic floor
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Figure 8 South elevation
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Figure 9 North elevation
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Figure 10 East and west elevations
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Figure 11 South elevation - internal
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Figure 12 East and West elevations - internal
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