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| Kinneil
Church |
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It
is believed that the Kinneil Church with its double
belfry was built about the middle of the 12th Century,
in the reign of Malcolm IV, King of Scots (1153-65), probably
by Herbertus, Chamberlain to the King. Herbertus granted "the
Church of Kinneil with all its dues and tithes, lands, wood and
plain, pasture and meadow" to Holyrood Abbey. At this
time there
was a substantial village to the south of the church. It continued
in use as a Parish Church until 1669 when a new Parish church at
Corbiehall was built. Even so the Kinneil Church was used as a Hamilton
family church until it was accidentally destroyed by fire in 1745
by a troop of Dragons stationed at Kinneil House. The original Carriden
Church is thought to date back to a similar period.
Kinneil Church was excavated
in 1951. The excavation revealed that the Church had consisted of
an oblong nave and small square ended chancel. The "laird's
loft" was added at a later date, possibly in the early 17th Century,
and may have provided a private gallery for the Hamilton family. |
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