Durisdeer Parish Church

Heritage listing

Category A Date Added 03/08/1971 Local Authority Dumfries And Galloway Planning Authority Dumfries And Galloway Parish Durisdeer NGR NS 89407 03770 Coordinates 289407, 603770 — All probably by James Smith. 1718-20 church and west wing with vestry (latter built as Ducal Withdrawing Rooms and session house) with square tower above, adjoining circa 1708 Queensberry mausoleum; latter houses "Queensberry marbles". Church and mausoleum arranged in Greek-cross plan, wing and tower to west. Mausoleum built of polished ashlar; remainder rubble-built with pink ashlar dressings, channelled quoins and continuous moulded cornice. Re-roofed in simplified form by Andrew Watson, joiner 1784-5 and again re-roofed 1957. Mausoleum: adjoins north wall of church; square-plan; polished ashlar with bell-cast leaded roof; altered circa 1711 - shallow outshot on north wall (replacing flamboyant traceried window) to accomodate marble sepulchral mural monument by John Van Nost, and square-headed window slapped in east and west walls (former now a door); Queensberry vault below elaborate white marble baldacchino (also by Smith) on 4 barley-sugar columns. Church: (1699 sundial on jam is re-set) windows mostly round-headed, in bolection-moulded architraves; small-paned glazing (not original); rusticated square-headed doorway to east and to south, each linked with gallery window cill; interior: (renovated 1784-5 and re-arranged circa 1870) separated from mausoleum by wide segmental arch with elaborate wrought-iron gates; pulpit with back board now placed against these; boxed communion pews; 3 galleries, each with panelled front and 2 supporting columns; west gallery also by Andrew Watson. West wing: (at present, part disused, part used as vestry, part as Sunday School - possibly never completed. 2 st

From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.