Gardenstown

A slightly vernacular attempt at a Classical monument, the red sandstone pediment and architrave are literally falling apart. The inscription reads "Here lies interred the ashes of Margaret _____ Spouse to John Ord at ____ Crivie who died Jan the_ _ 1754. As also the ashes of Margaret Watt Spouse to John Ord sometime att Mill of Melross who died Jan the 7th 1707.
This is erected to their memory by Alex and John Ord's their lawful sons & grand sons.
I know that my redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the later day upon the Earth & though after my skin worms destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God Job 19th 25 26"

A typical early 18th cent grave slab with momenti mori, there are so many of these we stop noticing them but they are in their way not only remarkable works of art but also if legible historic records that tell poignant tales of the lives of our ancestors.
The inscription reads: "This stone is here set by Barbara Bruce sometime in Bloodymire to the memory of William Gordon her husband who departed this life Dec 14th 173(8?) and Jean William Janet Ann & Isbeel Gordons their children The said Barbara Bruce died March 28th 174* James Gordon thr son died April 4 17(5?)0

A very deteriorated primitive hand painted coat of arms and sign.

A simple and restrained granite monument to a grandmother, the inscription reads: "Erected by Francis William Garden Campbell of Troup and Glenlyon 1878 in memory of his mother's mother Emma Margaret Brigstocke who died August 20 1876 Psalm XCIII VER 3. 4."
Verses 3 and 4 of Psalm 93 are "The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods have lift up their waves.
The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea."
Has been recently (2007) restored and re-engraved the lower picture shows its previous state.

It has a needle obelisk sitting on a small three-stepped plinth above a solid rectangular base, the sides of which bear the inscriptions. At the base, on each corner, is a small rectangular projection above which sit carved scrolls running up the corners. The whole monument sits on a one-step base within a small walled enclosure above which is a low iron fence. There are two World War I war graves in the churchyard also. Commemorates the dead of both World War I & II.

An example of that much favoured genre of vandalistic intervention that involves removing or adding to official signage text to say something more amusing or profound, in this case with a certain wit.

The ruined church of St Johns; the ruins of former parish church dedicated to St John the Evangelist said to be founded in 11thC. The present church has been built in two periods at least, the east end probably early 16thC and the rest 17thC; measures 28.75m long by 4.72m wide; rubble built, gable ends; wall and gable remain to roof height; ambry in E wall; 16thC Barclay of Tolly monument; 17thC onwards monuments in churchyard; fell in to ruin mid 19thC when new parish church built in 1830. Repointed in 1961.
In 1004 after a battle with the Danes the battle of the Bloody Pits (or pots) trophy skulls were brought here where they remained till fairly recently in a niche in the wall, Bloodymire (NJ 726 635) where Barbara Bruce lived is a possible site for the battle. One of the skulls went to the Banff museum. Arial photos of Bloodymire farm show crop marks of pits.
An entry in E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898. says " "Kirk of Skulls."Gamrie church in Banffshire: so called because the skulls and other bones of the Norsemen who fell in the neighbouring field, called the Bloody Pots, were built into its walls. " presumably relates to St Johns and not the newer 1830 Gamrie church.