Strathspey Deanery
Cromdale
Sgìre mo-Lúag
Parish Church: OS Ref: NGR NJ 067290 H.E.S. No: NJ02NE 13 Dedication: St Moluag
Associated Chapels: Ballinlag
The ancient name of this church (Sgìre mo-Lúag) indicates that it was associated with St Moluag of Lismore, one of the earliest to bring Christianity to these parts. Close by there was also a Holy Well (Tobar mo-Lúag) dedicated in his name at
There is a tradition, related to us by Mr. William Crammond, that a golden fibula "and other remains of a more remote antiquity have been found in this parish." Unfortunately, no further information about this has been found.3
Of old, Cromdale was a thanage which, from c.1226, belonged to the Earls of Fife.4 The present parish church, built in 1809 and much altered c.1895, was located on the site of a very much older church. There is a stone, inscribed "WG:EG 1602", set into a wall of the church, which is believed to have come from the older church.
The present church is almost centrally located within the designated area of the famous Battle of Cromdale, fought in 1690. It was the headquarters of the Government Forces before they moved south westwards to meet the Jacobite Forces which were drawn up at Ballachule
| No. | Name | Including | OS Grid Ref. | Extent | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Dalvey | Shenvale of Dalvey | 1 dabhach | ||
| Carnglas | |||||
| Mains of Dalvey | NJ 137343 | ||||
| Dalriach | NJ 088316 | ||||
| Aird of Dalvey | NJ 114312 | ||||
| Auchmannach | |||||
| Auchinncuranach | |||||
| Knockananaulach | |||||
| Ballinloan | |||||
| 2 Sheannachs | NJ 111304 | ||||
| Aldevan | |||||
| Knockancorn | |||||
| Aive | |||||
| Ailan | |||||
| 2 Auchineranacks | |||||
| Achnamoun | |||||
| Auchinveoach | |||||
| Knockandalach | |||||
| Belnalon | NJ 310108 | ||||
| 2. | Rienabellach | NJ 109299 | 1 dabhach | ||
| 3. | Burnside | NJ 081262 | 1 dabhach | ||
| 4. | Lethendrie | NJ 078274 | 1 dabhach | ||
| 5. | Delchaple | NJ 081293 | 1 dabhach | ||
| Ailanmore | |||||
| Drumchomack | |||||
| Auldnikiis | |||||
| Auldcheynach | |||||
| Seantyrie | |||||
| Shemvullen | |||||
| Kulanfearn | |||||
| Polluvick | |||||
| Clavack | |||||
| Tomanourd | |||||
| Belnafetack | NJ 087288 | ||||
| Tomnagean | |||||
| Delmore | |||||
| Torrannbracks | |||||
| Hogsland | |||||
| Vorecalan | |||||
| Belnabodach | |||||
| Staundie | |||||
| Aillanagatt | |||||
| 6. | Auchroisk and Garlyn | NJ 070283 | 1 dabhach | ||
| Rinnbalich | ½ dabhach | ||||
| Lethindie | ½ dabhach | ||||
| Information from Ross (2003).90 Locations by David at Cushnie Enterprises. | |||||
1224-1228 (possibly 1226} An agreement between Malcolm (I), earl of Fife, and Andrew, bishop of Moray, and the chapter of Moray, over the lands of Advie; Inveraldeny [Invera'an]; Dunyn Bryde [Duninbride]; Letheny Mychel [Lethenimichael (Kirkmichael)]; Newyn Christ [Nevie]; Tulacharum Douenald, [Tulachtarumdouenald (Tullich)]; Kynnef Martyn [in Strathavon]; Fyskelmor; Abyrbradalum [Knockando]; Brenyn [Birnie]; Doaskyn Mychel [Deskie]. The earl also renounced in perpetuity and quitclaimed to the mensa of the Bishop of Moray all the land of Advie by its right bounds and with its just pertinents, as well as the churchlands of Invera'an [Inveravon], with the right which he was said to have in the advowson of that church, by its right bounds and with its just pertinents. The earl has also conferred the advowson of the church of Cromdale to the aforesaid bishop in perpetuity. Witnesses: Thomas, Prior of Urquhard; David, son of the said earl; William de Blare; Elia[s] de Kynynmund; Ada[m] Gurmund; Walter de Moravia; Alexander, sheriff of Elgin; T., rector of Lamanbride [Lhanbryde]; Robert and William, deans of Christianty of Inverness and Strathbogie; Ralph, rector de Elechin [Elgin]; and many others. Signed: by Andrew, bishop of Moray; Richard, precentor of Moray; Henry, Treasurer of Moray; Hugh, archdeacon of Moray; Adam, sub-deacon of Moray; Lambert, succentor of Moray; Edward, canon of Moray; Edward, canon of Moray; Robert de Duffus, canon of Moray; Robert, canon of Moray.
1226 Bishop Andrew de Moravia confirms this parish, combined with Aduyn (Advie), as being one of the eight prebends created by Bishop Bricius de Douglas.5
`. Shaw (1882), i., p. 235, Canmore Database: "Tobar Ma Luaig". "It is a small, natural spring, close to the River Spey, and was, until recently, used by the occupants of Boat of Cromdale as a water supply. It has since silted up, and appears as a damp patch of sand, through which a small trickle of water seeps. [OS Record Card]" Return to Text
2. Mackinlay (1914), ii., p.130. Return to Text
3. Cramond (1897), p. 26. Return to Text
4. Cramond (1897), p. 26. Return to Text
5. R.E.M. no. 69, p. 73. Return to Text
90. Ross (2003), ii., p. 139. Return to Text
Barrow, G.S. (1988) 'Badenoch & Strathspey, 1130-1312', in Northern Scotland, Vol. 8.
Bliss, W.H. et al (1896) Calendar of entries in the Papal registers relating to Great Britain and Ireland: Petitions to the Pope, Volume I, A.D. 1342-1419, London: H.M. Stationery Office. [C.P.P., i.] https://archive.org/details/calendarentries00blisgoog
Chalmers, G. (1807) Caledonia or an Account, Historical and Topgraphic, of North Britain; from the most ancient to the present times: with a Dictionary of Places, Edinburgh: A. Constable. https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=_JiPwwEACAAJ&pg=PA115&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=2#v=onepage&q=Cromdale&f=false
Clancy, T.O. (1995) 'Annat in Scotland', Edinburgh: Innes Review, No. 46., Vol. 2., pp. 91-115.
Cramond, Wm. (1897) Guide to Grantown and District, Dundee: John Leng & Co..
Fawcett, R. and Oram, R. (2014) Elgin Cathedral and the Diocese of Moray, Edinburgh, Historic Scotland. Return to Text.
Forsyth, W. (1900) In the Shadow of Cairngorm: Chronicles of the united parishes of Abernethy and Kincardine, Inverness: The Northern Counties Publishing Company, Ltd. https://ia601605.us.archive.org/25/items/inshadowcairngo00forsgoog/inshadowcairngo00forsgoog.pdf
Fraser, Wm. (1883) The Chiefs of Grant, Edinburgh. Published by the Grant family in 3 volumes.
Fraser-Mackintosh of Drummond, C. (1866) Dunachton Past and Present, Inverness: Printed at the Advertiser Office. (Only fourty copies were printed.)https://archive.org/details/dunachtonpastpre1866mack
Innes, C. (1837) Registrum Episcopatus Moraviensis: e pluribus codicibus consarcinatum virca A.D. MCCCC, cum continuatione diplomatum recentiorum usque ad A.D. MDCVVIII, Edinburgh: for the Bannatyne Club. [R.E.M.]
MacDonald, A. (1973) '"Annat" in Scotland: A Provisional Review', Scottish Studies, 17 (1973), pp. 135-146.
Mackinlay, J.M. (1914) Ancient Church Dedications in Scotland: Volume 2, Non-Scriptural Dedications, Edinburgh: David Douglas.
Mitchell, J. & Noble, G. (2017) 'The Monumental Cemeteries of Northern Pictland', Medieval Archaeology, vol. 61:1, p. 1-40. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00766097.2017.1296031
Shaw, L., (1882) The History of the Province of Moray, Glasgow: Hamilton, Adams, & Co. New Edition in three volumes.
Shead, N.F., (2015) Scottish Episcopal Acta, Volume 1: The Twelfth Century, [Scottish History Society, 6th Series, Volume 10], Woodbridge, Suffolk: The Boydell Press. [S.E.A., i.]
Stringer, K., (ed.) (waiting publication) Regesta Regum Scottorum III: The Acts of Alexander II, King of Scots, 1214-1249, Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. [R.R.S., iii.]
Theses.
Ross, A.D. (2003) The Province of Moray, c.1000-1230, unpublished PhD thesis presented to Aberdeen University, 2 volumes.
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