St Bridgets Kirkyard, Dalgety Bay Nov08

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escortmad79

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A Devonian living in Fife
Whilst searching the interet for ruins in Fife I happened upon pictures of a ruinous church in Dalgety Bay, that church is St Bridget's Kirkyard.

I visited this site on Thursday, ran out of battery & returned again on Friday to finish off the explore after finding something which is close to home!

Here is a history of St Bridget's Kirk: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Bridget's_Kirk

The church sits on the banks of the River Forth, alongside the fife coast trail & is a really peaceful location, aside from a few people walking along the trail & a few birds it was really quiet.

Here is my report, split into 2 sections: 1) the church itself & 2) a selection of the more interesting gravestones.

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The later Durnfermline Aisle built for the Earls of Dunfermline
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Close up detail:
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This sign is posted on the side of the kirk:
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The Dunfermline aisle was built so former Earls of Dunfermline could attend church services at St Bridgets & view the services from an upper window without having to mix with the commoners!
They also had accommodation to house their families including a small fire place.
Access to the ailse is via a spiral staircase, below the Dunfermline aisle is a mauseleum where former Earls of Dunfermline were buried.
This is the view from the Dunfermine aisle window:
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In this area were a few bits of old graffiti etched into the stonework:
SK 1940 & R McGrath 1929
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& this wierd piece:
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Detailing:
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An arch in the church:
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Door to the Earl of Dunfermline Mauseleum:
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Spiral staircase upto the Dunfermline Aisle:
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Another view from the Dunfermline Aisle window:
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Inside the Dunfermline Aisle:
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View from the other end of the church looking toward the Dunfermline Aisle:
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Outside views of the Dunfermline Aisle:
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An arty shot of St Bridgets with gravestone which leads me nicely onto the 2nd part of my report:
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Gravestones:
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A somewhat crudely carved skull design:
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You're a long time dead!! This one dates from 1670!!
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At the start I said that there was something which was close to home.
Once my battery died on Thursday I continued to look around & first found the above stone, the oldest I could find in the site with a date on & then this one:
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The name on the stone is the same as my Grandad!! :eek:
 
What a fabulous church! Really interesting and such a lovely setting too. Love that weird bit of stone etching that looks like runes and the various gravestones. Excellent stuff! :)
 
What a fabulous church! Really interesting and such a lovely setting too. Love that weird bit of stone etching that looks like runes and the various gravestones. Excellent stuff! :)

Maybe somebody will recognise the meaning. But the fish and the cross are obvious. Not sure what the symbol above the fish is supposed to be though, or what the letters either side of the fish is meant to represent.
 
Really interesting stuff matey, weird to see so many skull and crossbones in a church setting... graveyard for piirrrrates maybe!
 

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