Dunnottar Cemetery Stonehaven, general info Location: Just south of the town the kirkyard is to be found down a country lane and is situated behind the old manse, now entitled Dunnottar House. OS Map Reference: NO 862 852 Date: Description: There have been a number of churches on the present site. The original church, dedicated to St. Bridget in 1394, was replaced in 1593 by the 5th Earl Marischal (George Keith), which in turn was replaced in 1782 by a much larger church. The church was completely reconstructed in 1903 and remodelled into a cruciform plan by G.P.K. Young of Perth, with parts of the 1782 church incorporated into the present building. The kirk is of a rectangular plan built of granite rubble with Gothic details. There is a plain ball-capped bellcote on the E. gable. The Marischal Aisle is a small stone building in the churchyard, built by George Keith in 1582, as a burial place for his family.The Marischal Aisle is the oldest complete surviving section within the church confines. It was erected in 1582 by the 5th Earl as a family burial place. It was restored in 1913 by Aberdeen University, as a tribute to George Keith who had founded Marischal College. Numerous tombstones of interest are found in the vicinity of the Marischal Aisle. Some date from the 17th & 18th centuries and are elaborately carved with winged souls, skulls, crossbones, hourglasses and sexton’s spades. Some display tools of trade. On the stone of James Kemlo, town’s officer and bellman, is carved a bell. There are approximately 36 recumbent stones of which 13 are particularly well-decorated. There are a pair of oval recumbent tombstones a little to the E. of the Marischal Aisle, which are possibly the only two of their kind in Aberdeenshire. There are many hundreds of upright tombstones, many of special note. There is a stone commemorating those who died in the dungeons of Dunnottar for their adherence to the Covenant. There is an extremely well-carved skull in the boundary wall above an upright tombstone. Related Information: For images of the church building, the Marischal Aisle and further historical details see the external link to the church website. Era: various Settlement: Stonehaven Town: Stonehaven County: Kincardine Information Source: KDDC info board in churchyard & www.mearns.org.uk/stonehaven/dunchur.htm The Historic Kirkyards of Aberdeenshire A Survey Report, Aberdeenshire Council 1998 Related Artefacts: Dunnottar Cemetery Stonehaven, 17th Century Headstone Dunnottar Cemetery Stonehaven, Celtic Cross Dunnottar Cemetery Stonehaven, Headstone of Town Bellman Dunnottar Cemetery Stonehaven, Headstone with Tools Dunnottar Cemetery Stonehaven, Merchant's Headstone Dunnottar Cemetery Stonehaven, Sextant on Old Stone Dunnottar Cemetery Stonehaven, Skull on Churchyard Wall Dunnottar Cemetery Stonehaven, various memento mori Categories: Important Historic Other Memorials and Grave Art Iconography: Creator: External Links: Dunnottar Church website