Deer Abbey

E22

DescriptionRemains of a Cistercian Abbey, founded in the 13th Century as a daughter house of Kinloss. The abbey's history is obscure, and judging from the remains, the community could never have been large. In 1544 an abbot and eleven monks were recorded. The abbey fell into disrepair in the late 16th Century. In 1809 the ruins were cleared of rubbish and repaired by the then owner, James Ferguson of Pitfour, but in 1854 it was practically destroyed by Admiral Ferguson in order to build a mausoleum in the grounds. The remains were bought by the Roman Catholic Church in 1930 who gave custody to the Ministry of Works. The mausoleum was removed and the Abbey repaired and laid out as it is today. The remains of the church and cloister can be seen along with the domestic west and south range with the kitchen and refectory, also the chapter-house, toilets, abbot's house and infirmary. A symbol stone, sculptured on both faces, was reported as standing at the Abbey at the east end of a range of buildings a few years prior to 1856 but in 1903 it was noted that it had been lost for a number of years and there is now no trace. The stone was recorded as having a rectangle symbol above crescent and V-rod on one face, and an incised cross on the other. To the south of the abbey lies the remains of either a possible kiln or mill on the north bank of the South Ugie Water. It was partially excavated in 1985 but not enough to establish exactly what this feature represents. A number of fragments of French pottery have been found over the years since the 1930s. These include sherds of Martincamp type flasks, sherds of Loire type narrow-necked jugs, and sherds of jugs of Beauvois lead glazed earthenware. A small-scale excavation was carried out by Kirkdale Archaeology in August 2011 during work to remove a large diseased tree at the main entrance to the site on its north side. Little was excavated that was not already disturbed by the tree roots. At the south end of the east section of the trench a sequence of paths was recorded. A gravel surface below the current path is probably 20th century in date, while the metalled surface (below) may relate to the 19th century lay out, perhaps more of a garden feature than anything to do with the Abbey. The rubble layer below this metalled surface could be a deliberate underlay to this surface, or perhaps just represent rubble from the Abbey or the Mausoleum. At the north end of this section a very different sequence was observed. Here the north part of the enclosing wall was found to overlie an earlier, mortar bonded, wall. This followed a definite curve, and seemed to have a matching curved inner face, where the masonry stepped up to the northeast. Although little was visible, it resembled a curved step, and might suggest a precursor to the current entrance arrangements. Although outside the scope of this project to record in detail, it is clear that the masonry of the gatehouse has been altered, and it may be that the current steps are a replacement of an earlier version represented by the wall. It is possible that the wall is a fragment of a medieval structure on the north side of the Abbey church. A deposit seemed to be built up against the southeast face of the wall, but root disturbance meant that its full extent could not be established. It is possible for example that this deposit represents the fill of a cut for the insertion of the wall. At the base of the sequence, a deposit ran under the wall, and seems likely to represent a medieval deposit, albeit possibly a late demolition layer - perhaps post-dating the Reformation.
Location InfoNational Grid Reference: NJ 9685 4812
Easting: 396856.580222129, Northing: 848122.055974278
Postcode: AB53
NotesAllen and Anderson, J R and J. (1903) The early Christian monuments of Scotland: a classified illustrated descriptive list of the monuments with an analysis of their symbolism and ornamentation. Edinburgh. Page(s): Vol.3, 162 RCAHMS Shelf Number: G.1.11.ALL Bogdan and Bryce, N and I B D. (1991) 'Castles, manors and 'town houses' survey', Discovery Excav Scot, 1991. Page(s): 26 Cowan and Easson, I B and D E. (1976) 'Medieval religious houses, Scotland: with an appendix on the houses in the Isle of Man'. 2nd. London. Page(s): 47, 74 RCAHMS Shelf Number: C.3.2.COW Cowan and Easson, I B and D E. (1976) Medieval religious houses in Scotland: with an appendix on the houses in the Isle of Man. 2nd. London. Page(s): 63 RCAHMS Shelf Number: C.3.2.EAS.R Cruden, S. (1958a) 'Scottish medieval pottery', Proc Soc Antiq Scot, vol. 89, 1955-6. Page(s): 69, 72, 78-9 Cruden, S. (1960b) Scottish abbeys: an introduction to the medieval abbeys and priories of Scotland. Edinburgh. Page(s): 72 RCAHMS Shelf Number: F.5.31.CRU Easson, D E. (1957a) Medieval religious houses in Scotland: with an appendix on the houses in the Isle of Man. London. Page(s): 63 RCAHMS Shelf Number: C.3.2.EAS Ewart and Stewart, G and D. (2002) 'Old Deer Abbey, Aberdeenshire (Old Deer parish), watching brief', Discovery Excav Scot, vol. 3, 2002. Page(s): 11 Fawcett, R. (2002) Scottish medieval churches: architecture and furnishings. Stroud. Page(s): 331 RCAHMS Shelf Number: F.5.31.FAW Fawcett, R. (2011) The Architecture of the Scottish Medieval Church 1100-1560. London. RCAHMS Shelf Number: F.5.31.FAW Jackson, A. (1984) The symbol stones of Scotland: a social anthropological resolution to the problem of the Picts. Kirkwall. RCAHMS Shelf Number: E.11.JAC Laing and Robertson, L R and W N. (1973) 'Notes on Scottish medieval pottery', Proc Soc Antiq Scot, vol. 102, 1969-70. Page(s): 146 RCAHMS Shelf Number: E.13.1.LAI.P MacGibbon and Ross, D and T. (1896-7) 'The ecclesiastical architecture of Scotland from the earliest Christian times to the seventeenth century', 3v. Edinburgh. Page(s): vol. 2, 274-8 RCAHMS Shelf Number: F.5.31.MAC Mack, A. (1997) Field guide to the Pictish symbol stones. Balgavies, Angus. Page(s): 138 RCAHMS Shelf Number: E.11.MAC McConnochie, A I (comp.. ({190-?}c) 123 views of Royal Deeside. Aberdeen. Page(s): 38 RCAHMS Shelf Number: D.5.1.MCC Murray, D. (2011) 'Deer Abbey, Aberdeenshire (Old Deer parish), watching brief', Discovery Excav Scot, New, vol. 12, 2011. Cathedral Communications Limited, Wiltshire, England. Page(s): 25 Ovenden, S. (2018) Deer Abbey, Geophysical survey, Discovery Excav Scot, New, vol. 18, 2017. Cathedral Communications Limited, Wiltshire, England. Page(s): 23 RCAHMS. (1994c) The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Pictish symbol stones: a handlist 1994. Edinburgh. Page(s): 8 RCAHMS Shelf Number: A.1.6.PIC Ritchie, J N G. (1985) Pictish symbol stones: a handlist 1985. Edinburgh. Page(s): 6 RCAHMS Shelf Number: A.1.6.RIT Scottish Castle Survey. (1988) 'A directory of the owners and occupiers of the castles, manors and 'town houses' {c.1050-c.1707} of Scotland: Grampian Region'. Aberdeen. Page(s): 18, no.26/8 RCAHMS Shelf Number: B.2.1.CAS Simpson, W D. (1927a) 'The Celtic monastery and Cistercian abbey at Deer', Trans Scot Eccles Soc, vol. 8, 3, 1926-7. Simpson, W D. (1952e) The Abbey of Deer, Aberdeenshire. {Edinburgh}. RCAHMS Shelf Number: D.5.13.DEE.P Stones, J A. (1986) 'Abbey of Deer (Old Deer p), Cistercian abbey', Discovery Excav Scot, 1986. Page(s): 10 Stuart, J. (1856a) Sculptured stones of Scotland, vol. 1. Aberdeen. Page(s): 6 pl. 11 RCAHMS Shelf Number: D.4.L.RReference Numbers