Monument record MHG31350 - Cemetery - Latheron Old Church

(ND 2022 3329) The Aisle (NR)
OS 6" map, Caithness, 2nd ed., (1907)
Church (NAT) OS 6" map, (1959)

An 18th century parish church, and a fragment of its predecessor, apparently occupying site of a 13th century church.
Latheron was one of churches reserved to bishop in a charter of 1223 x 45, and in 1515 the vicar of Latheron is on record but intermediate references appear to be lacking. A new church was built about 1734, part of its predecessor being retained in the rear to serve as a burial place of Sinclairs of Dunbeath. Known as 'The Aisle', this fragment presents no features of architectural interest, although a 17th century monument with an effaced Latin inscription is built into wall. No stones of interest are visible in the churchyard. A belfry was added to the church in 1822 in which bell from 17th century bell tower (ND23SW 5) was installed.
Orig Paroch Scot 1855; RCAHMS 1911, visited 1910; Name Book 1871; G Hay 1957.

A burial aisle as described, about 4 m square, attached to S side of Latheron Old Church.
Visited by OS (R L) 6 March 1968.

REFERENCE - Scottish Record Office

New aisle and gallery in Latheron Church. Estimate of wright and mason work (copy) 1815 GD 136/706/2

Proposed new aisle in the church at Latheron. An arch in the North wall is to be examined and measured in order to decide if an aisle and gallery may be added. 1815 GD 136/706/1

Repair of the Parish Church. Letter from Sir William Dunbar of Hempriggs. He complains that the Heritors have demanded ?24 (Scots) from him. 1765 GD 214/722/1/1

The church and burial ground were listed at Category B in 1971.

Tne old church and the aisle were scheduled in 1973.

Built into S wall of 'The Aisle' is a piece of worked sandstone resembling a window head. (Latheron Church, Burial Aisle, and Graveyard are all listed - Category B.) <1>

'Caithness Monumental Inscriptions', pre 1855
Monumental inscription survey completed by A.S.Cowper & I.Ross. The survey may not include inscription information after 1855 and each inscription transcribed does not give the full details that appear on the stones, abbreviations used. Some ommissions and inacuracies. Published 1992. <2>

The scheduling was amended in 2011 to exclude the upstanding elements of the 18th-century church. <3>

The scheduled area was specifically removed from the listing in August 2015 as part of a project looking at dual designations of sites in the Highlands. <4>

See also:
ND23SW0004 (MHG1912) Latheron Old Church