The parish of Fetteresso included a considerable part of the town of
Stonehaven on the east coast of Kincardineshire. The old church, the
ruins of which stand in a large churchyard, is situated near the Carron
Water, about one mile and a half south-west from Stonehaven. The
structure probably occupies the site of a very ancient church, dedicated
to St. Cavan, which stood at the Hamlet of Fetteresso. It is beautifully
situated amongst fine old trees.
[Illustration: FIG. 1537.--Pulpit from St. Cuthbert’s Church,
Edinburgh.]
The existing edifice, which is roofless, appears, from the style of its
architecture, to be chiefly post-Reformation. The walls and gables are
well preserved and much covered with ivy.
[Illustration: FIG. 1538.--Fetteresso Church. Plan.]
The church (Fig. 1538) is, internally, 81 feet in length from east to
west by 17 feet 6 inches in width from north to south. It has a wing
[Illustration: FIG. 1539.--Fetteresso Church. View from North-West.]
thrown out to the north, which is about 17 feet square, and bears the
date of 1720. A small adjunct to the west of the wing carries the date
of 1857. The wall openings are almost entirely in the south wall, in
which there are three doorways and six windows. There is one window in
the east end and one pointed doorway in the north wall. The north wing
contains a north doorway and two windows in the east wall. This wing,
doubtless, contained a gallery. The openings in the south wall are all
built up, and the interior is converted into a private burial-ground.
The details have all the character of eighteenth century work. The
belfry (Fig. 1539) stands on the top of the west gable and still retains
its bell, which is used on the occasion of funerals. The church and its
surroundings are very picturesque.