Morton Rigg Kirkyard, Tower of Sark, Dumfriesshire

Morton Rigg Kirkyard, Tower of Sark, Dumfriesshire

There are no remains of Morton Kirk but it probably stood to the east of its old walled Kirkyard that stands high above a loop in the River Sark and provides a fine view of the surrounding countryside. Erosion has taken the west wall and that side of the Kirkyard is gradually crumbling into the steep-sided valley below.

In the Kirkyard are memorials dating back to the early 17th century. The earliest has been identified recently as the grave-slab of the infamous Border Reiver Kinmont Willie Armstrong of Morton and Sark who died sometime after 1604. A well-executed and inscribed tomb-table is that of his grandson.

Most of the headstones, many uninscribed but having heraldic crests and coats of arms carved on them, can be attributed to particular families associated with the Debateable Land. Crests and arms of the Armstrong Clan, as one would expect, predominate though a good number of Forsters can be identified too.

Location:  Dumfries and Galloway, Dumfriesshire, Morton Rigg, Tower of Sark
OS sheet: 85  GR: NY332751