A 19th Century, Romanesque style burial chapel now stands on the site of what is thought to be, one of the earliest Christian communities in Scotland.

Kirkmadrine burial chapel

Situated in the South Rhins of Galloway on the western tip of the Scottish borders, the Kirkmadrine burial chapel was built for Lady MacTaggart Stewart of Ardwell and during its construction, older stones which date back to the 5th Century AD were discovered.

These stones have been housed in a glass fronted porch and are referred to as the “Kirkmadrine Stones“.

Kirkmadrine Stones

Inside the locked chapel, glimmers of light from a deteriorating door and the partly boarded, small stained glass windows, show the feint outline of stone tablets set into the floor.

The first tablet in memory of Edward Orde MacTaggart Stewart of Ardwell, 2nd Baronet of Southwich and his wife Margaret. Elder daughter of the 3rd Baron and Baroness of Donington.

The second tablet is dedicated to the Right Honorable Archibald Patrick Thomas, 17th Baron of Borthwick.

The third tablet belongs to Lady Marianne Susanna MacTaggart Stewart of Ardwell.

Kirkmadrine chapel memorials

More tablets lie out of view within the chapel.

Kirkmadrine chapel interior

An elaborate arch leads to an area which seems to house an old wooden pulpit, surrounded by a beautifully tiled floor.

The full inscriptions of these tablets can be found on the Ardwell Church website commemorating family burials between 1849 and 1998.

Outside the chapel, on a grass mound, stands another memorial to older MacTaggart family members.

The tall column has ornate decoration and an inscription which reads;

Older Kirkmadrine McTaggart Memorial

In memory of John McTaggart Esquire of Ardwell who died October 18th 1810 age 54 and was buried in the church yard of Kirkgowan.
Also of his wife Susan Dean who died January 24th 1891 and was buried in the Abbey church of St. Alban’s Herefordshire.
Also of Sir John McTaggart Baron of Ardwick who died August 13th 1867 age 78 also his wife Susannah Rymer who died December 2nd 1864 age 79.

More information

Ardwell Church website – Inscriptions from the Kirkmadrine chapel tablets.

Heritage and History – Kirkmadrine Stones

Mull of Galloway website – About Ardwell Village.

Scottish Places – Overview of Ardwell House

Archie Armstrong court jester

Members of the court however, were not so taken and disliked his insolent, mischievous and presumptuous manner.

In 1611 he was granted a pension of two shillings a day, and his influence seemed to hold great sway.  He travelled with King James VI/I to Scotland and in 1623 accompanied Prince Charles to Spain, where he charmed the favour of the Spanish court.

When Charles I became king, Archie Armstrong remained in his post and by all accounts, accumulated a considerable fortune, including 1000 acres in Ireland, granted to him by the king.

In 1637 Archbishop William Laud became the butt of his malice and upon Laud’s complaint to the council, Archie was sentenced the same day “to have his coat pulled over his head and be discharged the king’s service and banished the king’s court.”

He is then thought to have settled for some time in London as a money-lender, with many complaints made to the privy council and House of Lords about his sharp practices, before returning to his estate and birthplace of Arthuret in Cumberland.

Arthuret Church near Longtown, Cumbria

An unmarked grave
He married twice, his second wife was a Sybilla Bell. No record of any legal offspring exists, but the local parish register does note a baptism of a “base son” of Archibald Armstrong on December 17, 1643.

Archie died in 1672 and was buried in an unmarked grave at Arthuret Church on April 1.

Archie Armstrong’s publications
A Banquet of Jests: A change of Cheare, published about 1630.

A choice Banquet of Witty Jests … Being an addition to Archee’s Jests, taken out of his Closet but never published in his Lifetime (1660).