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An Introduction to Aberdeenshire's Historic Kirkyards

Tombstone displaying lettering techniquesAberdeenshire has over 150 historic kirkyards, offering a wealth of information to visitor or local historian. They hold a fascinating collection of memorials and tombs, where finely carved memorials and simply worked headstones can reveal remarkable stories which bring the past alive.

The kirkyards are a place of historical importance, from being the parish marketplace to the days when the body-snatchers stole corpses for sale to medical schools.

The Living Kirkyard (PDF 237KB)

Lettering and Inscriptions (PDF 412KB)

Historic kirkyards can be found in the following parishes:

Banff and Buchan

Aberdour; Alvah; Banff; Boyndie; Doune - Macduff; Fordyce; Forglen; Fraserburgh; Gamrie; Inverkeithny; King Edward; Marnoch; Ordiquhill; Pitsligo; Rathen; Tyrie.

Buchan

Crimond; Cruden; Fetterangus;Longside; Lonmay; New Deer; Old Deer; Peterhead; Rattray; St Combs; St Fergus; Strichen.

Formartine

Auchterless; Belhelvie; Bourtie; Daviot; Ellon; Fyvie Kirk; Holyrood (Newburgh); Logie Buchan; Monquhitter (Cuminestown); Newmachar; Oldmeldrum; Slains (Collieston); St Congan's (Turriff); Tarves Kirk (St Englat's), Tarves (St Johns); Udny Green.

Garioch

Blairdaff; Chapel of Garioch; Cluny; Culsalmond; Echt; Hatton of Fintray; Insch; Inverurie; Keithhall; Kinellar; Kinkell (Inverurie); Kinnernie (Dunecht); Kintore; Midmar Kirk; Midmar (old); Old Logie (Pitcaple); Oyne; Premnay; Rayne; Skene; St Meddans (Hatton of Fintray).

Kincardine and Mearns

Arbuthnott; Banchory-Devenick; Banchory-Ternan; Benholm; Bervie; Catterline; Drumoak; Dunnottar; Fettercairn; Fordoun; Garvock (St Cyrus); Glenbervie; Kinneff; Kirkton of Durris; Kirkton of Fetteresso; Kirkton of Maryculter; Maryculter; Marykirk; St Cyrus; Stonehaven.

Marr

Alford West; Auchindoir; Birse; Braemar; Cairnie; Clatt; Coull (Tarland); Crathie; Drumblade; Dunbennan (Huntly); Essie (Rhynie); Forgue; Glass; Glenbuchat; Glengairn; Glenmuick; Glentanar; Kearn (Auchindoir); Keig; Kennethmont; Kildrummy; Kincardine O'Neil; Kinnoir; Kirkton (Aboyne); Leochel-Cushnie; Logie Coldstone, Migvie; Monymusk; Rhynie; Ruthven; St Finan's (Lumphanan); St Machar's (Aboyne); Strachan; Strathdon; Tarland; Tough; Towie; Tullich (Ballater); Tullynessle and Forbes; Walla' Kirk (Glass).