Tarves Tomb

Tarves Tomb dates to the late 1500s. It is the only surviving fragment of the medieval church at Tarves, which was supposedly founded by St Murdebar in around AD 600.

The tomb was located in one of two aisles added to the orginal church. A description written in 1732 indicates that one aisle was for the Gordons of Haddo while the other was for the Forbes of Tolquhon.

It was built by master mason Thomas Leiper, who’d just completed construction of Tolquhon Castle, a few miles down the road.

This was to be the final resting place of Sir William Forbes and his wife Elizabeth Gordon, the laird and lady of Tolquhon.

The tomb is built in red sandstone and it is largely complete, with Gothic features on the front and the enclosing arch.

The design appears to have been inspired by the tomb of Bishop Gavin Dunbar in St Machars Cathedral, which was probably built in the 1530s.

Sir William and Lady Elizabeth are depicted in portrait statuettes supporting the arch. Sir William wears a flat cap, a ruff, a puffed and slashed doublet and knee breeches. Lady Elizabeth wears a long embroidered gown with full sleeves and a ruff.

Above the arch are the couple’s heraldic achievements.

Carved on the tomb are:

• Sir William’s arms, quartered with those of the Prestons, from whom they acquired Tulquhon through marriage in the 1400s

• the motto SALVS PER CHRISTVM, or ‘Salvation through Christ’

• lady Elizabeth’s arms, quartered with those of her husband

• the motto DOCHTER TO LESMOR – Elizabeth was a daughter of a Gordon of Lesmoir