It is still surrounded with the old burying-ground, which contains some interesting monuments. A large tombhouse has been built, like a transept, on the south side of the church. It appears to be an erection of the seventeenth century.
Fig. 647.
The Old Parish Church of Culross.
Tombstones used as Door Lintels.
BEAULY PRIORY, Inverness-shire.
This monastery was pleasantly situated on the north side of the river Beauly, not far from the point where it falls into the sea at the head of the Beauly Frith, which forms the inner portion of the Moray Frith. The land is level and fertile, and the scenery on the river is very beautiful. The priory is about ten miles west from Inverness, and about one mile from Beauly Railway Station. It is believed to have been founded in 1230, and was thereafter endowed by Sir John Bisset of Lovat.[88] The priory was dedicated to St. John the Baptist, and was occupied by seven French monks of the Order of Valliscaulium. This was one of the strict orders established at the time of the revival of religion in the twelfth century. The mother house of the order was at Langres, in Burgundy. Of this order there were only three priories in Scotland: one at Pluscarden, in Morayshire; one at Ardchattan, in Argyle; and one at Beauly. The monks were austere in their lives, and formed a centre of devotion and enlightenment in the midst of these wild and uncivilised districts. The charter of the foundation was confirmed by Pope Gregory XI. in 1231. The priory was probably erected during the thirteenth century, but its records are few for a long period.
The Frasers succeeded the Bysets in the lands surrounding the priory, and Hugh Fraser, who was first Lord of Lovat, died in 1398. His son, Alexander, was a great benefactor of the priory, and is said to have erected a beautiful steeple of carved oak on the west gable, and put curious bells therein.
Hugh Fraser (about 1430-40) afforded means for building the north work of the priory and the chapel of the Holy Cross.
The church was soon after repaired at the expense of the superior, a natural son of Alexander of Kintail, who was there buried, A.D. 1479. His tomb is opposite that of his brother, Sir Kenneth Mackenzie of Kintail, with the date 1491. Sir Kenneth was the first of his family who was buried at Beauly, having married a daughter of Lord Lovat and obtained the Beauly property.