Inverurie Bass Cemetery
A cemetery with a couple of ancient surprises
It’s incredible what you sometimes find in Scotland’s cemeteries. Inverurie Bass Cemetery has a couple of fascinating artefacts.
Visitors to the cemetery cant fail to notice two large mounds rising over the headstones. Known as ‘The Bass of Inverurie’ these were once a medieval motte and bailey which give their name to the cemetery. These originally belonged to the Earls of Garioch in the 1100s.
Ancient castles were made in two parts. The motte was a raised mound. In this case the mound was a natural formation with a few modifications to fortify it. There would be a stone or wooden keep at the top. The bailey was an enclosed courtyard protected by a ditch and palisades. A bridge would have given access to both mounds.
The Bass of Inverurie is 16 metres high. There is a steep path up it and from the top you can have an insight into the size and shape of the bailey.
Robert the Bruce, King of Scots stayed here in 1308 before defeating the Earl of Buchan.
Another unusual surprise awaits in the cemetery. Four ancient Pictish stones can also be found in a row. The Picts were the ancient indigenous tribes of this area. They had no alphabet and carved mystical symbols on stones which are sadly lost in meaning owing to how little is known about them. One of the stones is clearly a horse but the other stones are typical Pictish symbols that are not understood yet. The stones were built into the walls of the medieval church that served the community around the motte and bailey. When the church was demolished the stones were recovered and placed in the cemetery.
Know Before You Go
The cemetery is free to visit. There isnt really any parking spaces near the cemetery. You may have to park a few streets back and walk.
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