Dunscore Old Kirk

Dunscore Old Kirk
Dunscore Old Kirk and burial ground
General view of Dunscore Old Kirk burial ground
NX 92661 83241
Location	Merkland, Dumfries and Galloway
Country	Scotland
Denomination	Protestant
History
Former name(s)	Kirk of Dunscore
Founded	13th century
Events	Significant links with Robert Burns
Architecture
Status	Replaced by Dunscore Kirk
Functional status	Cemetery in use in 2000
Heritage designation	Category B listed
Closed	1645
Specifications
Materials	Dressed red sandstone and rubble
Administration
Parish	Dunscore

Dunscore Old Kirk (NGR NX 92661 83241) was a pre-reformation kirk situated on rising ground off a minor road to Merkland, Parish of Dunscore, Dumfriesshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland; about 3 km from Auldgirth. The church was known locally as the Kirk of Dunscore; it lies close to Fardingwell Farm and was between Isle Tower and Ellisland of Robert Burns, in the eastern part of the Civil Parish of Dunscore.

No identifiable remains of the church can now be seen.

The churchyard, consecrated ground, continues to be used for the inhabitants of the local farms, Isle Tower, Friars Carse, etc.

About AD1170 the original place of worship was established by a Norman lord. The land was gifted to the Abbey of Holywood by the Cistercian monks of Melrose. The monks played an important part in developing the area by improving the drainage, growing new crops and by promoting animal husbandry at such places the Friars' Carse grange and elsewhere.

In AD1257 the first mention of the church occurs in a monastic dispute, and then again in 1412.

Clearly shown on Timothy Pont's map of circa 1600 as 'Kirk of Dunscore',

In 1645 it was recorded that the church was so ruinous and its position so peripheral to the parish that it was decided to build a new church at what is now known as Dunscore.

The 1855 OS map shows a rectangular grave yard in the fields off a minor road to the north of Fardingwell Farm. A track runs up to the enclosure and ends at a rectangular area next to the 'Laird of Lag's Tomb'. The site is now enclosed within a well built stone wall. Trees are shown encircling the cemetery in 1855.

The largest structure is now the mausoleum of the Ferguson family of the nearby Isle Tower. The dedication inscription reads "In memory of Robert Ferguson of Isle Esq. a most worthy gentleman and warm friend: who died the last heir-male of that antient and respectable family on September XVII MDCCLXVII (AD1767) in the LXIX year of his age. This monument is erected by Mrs. Isobel and Henrietta Ferguson, two of his sisters-german. A:D: MDCCLXX. (AD1770)"

A number of the larger burial plots are still demarcated by cast iron railings, usually removed during the WW2 but retained in this remote spot. Dunscore old Kirk burial ground is associated with Robert Burns through the presence of the tomb of Robert Riddell of Glenriddell.