Aberdeen, St Catherine's Chapel
Chapel (13th Century)
Site Name Aberdeen, St Catherine's Chapel
Classification Chapel (13th Century)
Alternative Name(s) St Katherine's Chapel; St Catherine's Hill
Canmore ID 20170
Site Number NJ90NW 48
NGR NJ 9429 0622
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/20170
- Council Aberdeen, City Of
- Parish Aberdeen
- Former Region Grampian
- Former District City Of Aberdeen
- Former County Aberdeenshire
NJ90NW 48 9429 0622
(NJ 9429 0622). The site of St Catherine's Chapel, founded in 1242,on the summit of St Catherine's Hill. The chapel had gone by 1661, although it is said to have survived the Reformation, and the greater part of the hill was removed in the early 19th century. Allegations of an associated Franciscan Nunnery are unsupported by record evidence
(Easson 1957).
The chapel has been sited to the summit of the hill as shown on pre-19th century plans. (Information from OS surveyor).
J Gordon 1661; G Taylor 1773; A Milne 1789; W Kennedy 1818; Name Book 1866; D E Easson 1957.
The site of this chapel lies in a redeveloped part of the city.
Visited by RCAHMS (JRS, ATW), 26 February 1997.
Publication Account (1997)
This chapel stood on St Katherine's Hill (obliterated by construction of Union Street, but visible in the modern lines of Shiprow and Netherkirkgate) and is said to have been built in 1242 by the constable of Aberdeen. This reputation, however, may have resulted from an over-literal interpretation of a comment by the chaplain of St Katherine's, Sir John Cuming, in 1542 that the chapel 'was foundit and biggyit iijc yeir syne be the constabill of Abirdene'. By 1661 , according to Gordon's map figure 6, the chapel had disappeared.
Information from ‘Historic Aberdeen: The Archaeological Implications of Development’ (1997).