Scheduled MonumentsScotlandAlloway Kirk

Alloway Kirk

Scotland
HES SM308
Nation
Scotland
Boundary

Scheduled area

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Overview

History & significance

Alloway Kirk is a medieval parish church located in Ayrshire, Scotland, dating from the twelfth century or later. The surviving structure comprises the ruins of a simple rectangular stone building, with evidence of the original windows and doorways still visible in the walls. The church is situated in the churchyard at Alloway, which contains burials extending back several centuries and demonstrates the site's long continuity as a place of Christian worship and burial. The kirk achieved particular cultural significance through its association with Robert Burns, the eighteenth-century Scottish poet, who set his narrative poem Tam o' Shanter in the surrounding landscape and made reference to the church within the work.

Alloway Kirk is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM308. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Alloway Kirk?

Alloway Kirk is a medieval parish church located in Ayrshire, Scotland, dating from the twelfth century or later. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM308.

Who is responsible for protecting Alloway Kirk?

Alloway Kirk is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM308.

What other scheduled monuments are near Alloway Kirk?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Brigend Castle (0.4 km), Alloway,motte (0.7 km), Wallace's Stone,cross-incised stone (1.5 km).

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