Crypt below Guildhall, High Street, Montrose, Angus

Image: © Adrian Diack Taken: 29 Jun 2023

Montrose Guildhall or Town House, locally known as the ‘Ba Hoose’, was partially built on land which was formerly part of the graveyard of the nearby Old Parish Church. In consequence of that, the building incorporates a crypt or vaulted, stone chamber containing old graves. In 1999, a survey was followed by a limited archaeological investigation relating to the contents of the vault which included two table tombs, two horizontal gravestones and four commemorative plaques. With the exception of one horizontal gravestone, all predated the creation of the vault. When the ‘Ba Hoose’ is viewed from the north side of the High Street, it may appear that it is physically connected to the Old Parish Church but this photo, taken looking west, shows the area of separation between the two buildings. With the photo being taken on a sunny morning, there are marked contrasts of light and shadow between areas of bright sunshine, such as the paved passageway between the ‘Ba Hoose’ and the Old Parish Church, and areas of dark shadow such as the crypt below the ‘Ba Hoose’.

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