Monument record MHG10119 - St. John the Baptist's Chapel, Helmsdale

See also:
ND01NW0108 Graveyard
J Aitken : 12/12/02
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The graveyard is in modern use. Long walled area to the W of the river. Modern graves in 3(?) compartments, the 2(?) most northerly still not in use. See photo - HAW 11/2002

Included in Historic Scotland / SUAT Hospitals Gazetteer 2000
earthworks visible within the main Helmsdale cemetery
- see Assoc. Docs
JW 7/7/2000
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NMRS notes:
ND01NW 17 0246 1562.
St John the Baptist's Chapel (NR) (Site of) OS 25" map, (1971)

Helmsdale Hospital dedicated to St John the Baptist was founded before 1362 and was a dependent of Kinloss Abbey. William, Earl of Sutherland, is said to have bestowed upon Kinloss Abbey the hospital of St John Baptist at Hebnisden, 21 May 1362. This has been identified with the hospital of St John at Helmsdale, the master of which is said to have been subsequently a canonry and prebend of cathedral at Dornoch. There is a reference, in 1578, to the chaplainry in chapel of St John Baptist at Helmsdale.
Orig Paroch Scot 1855; J Mackay 1894; D E Easson 1957.

St John the Baptist's Chapel (Site of): "The site of this chapel can be still traced. It stands in a Graveyard which is still used by the parishiners.."
Name Book 1871.

At this site is a low earthen bank (possible covering a wall) 2m wide and 0.3m high, forming a rectangle 15m E-W by 7.2m transversely, and it seems probable that this is all that remains of the chapel. The burial ground is still in use.
Visited by OS (W D J) 23 May 1960.

No change. Visited by OS (J B) 22 June 1976.

See assoc. docs. File. J Aitken : 06/03/01.