Churchyard, Strathdon Parish Church, Strathdon

18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Graveyard to S, E and W of Parish Church with coped rubble and harl enclosure walls also forming boundary with garden of former manse. Many stones pre-date 1853 church, and include variety of moulded apex and obelisk stones, mural monuments and Egyptian style mausolea.

FURTHER DESCRIPTION: some early stones depicting relief-carved death emblems including stone to NW with primitive grim reaper. Rectangular-plan ashlar mausoleum to W wall with gentle batter to pilastered angles and raised centre bay crowned with pediment and angle acroteria, good latticework iron gate, 'Burial Place of George Forbes, D D of Blelack and Inverernan 1778-1834'. Early mural monuments set into S elevation of church include eroded stone with winged head over incised memorial to Donald McSween, minister of Strathdon, and re-cut stone memorial of 1790s, to Farquharson family. Semicircular Candacraig Memorial Garden to E with mural and free standing stones.

GATEPIERS AND GATES: large square-section ashlar gatepiers flanking decorative ironwork gates to W; 2 pairs of squat pyramidally-coped ashlar gatepiers flanking arcaded timber gates at E.