Alves and its historical themes

Alves is associated with several specific historical themes: church architecture, bells, war graves and archaeological sites. If you are looking for a holiday rental in Alves, you can choose your destination based on your interests: are you most interested in particular architectural styles, memorial sites or fortifications? This distinction helps you choose a cultural focus for your trip.

Churches, bells and war graves

Alves Old Church is a long, narrow, rectangular church. On its south side is a narrow window arrangement with eight bays. The church is no longer used for religious purposes. Its elongated rectangular form and articulated south side describe two different aspects of the same architecture: the building itself and the arrangement of its façade.

Alves Parish Church is also no longer used for religious purposes and, in its present form, dates to 1878. Two bells made by Michael Burgherhys Holland in 1637 and 1639 are on display there. They were removed from the old Alves Parish Church in 1978. Thus, this church brings together older, individually dated bells and a church building that dates from a later period.

The cemetery of Alves Old Parish Church contains two Commonwealth war graves from the First World War: the graves of Private G. Millar of the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) and Private T. Robertson of the Seaforth Highlanders. Their shared wartime period connects the two graves; the names and regiments distinguish the soldiers buried there. This specific memorial connection differs from the architectural history of the churches: the focus is on two people and their military units.

Fort, stone circle and historic buildings

A partially damaged fort with five lines of defence stands on the Knock of Alves. These consist of three walls and two outer ramparts. The stone circle at the Knock of Alves lies 200 metres south of York Tower. This distance and compass direction give a precise reference point between the stone circle and the tower.

York Tower is a three-storey Gothic ornamental tower on a hill, dated 5 January 1827. As a single tower, it is on a different scale from the multi-part fortification at the Knock of Alves. Forteath Mausoleum lies directly northeast of York Tower and was built around 1850 by A. and W. Reid. The tower and mausoleum can therefore be distinguished both by their location and by their form.

The dates also offer a point of comparison: the 17th-century bells are considerably older than the present form of Alves Parish Church, dated to 1878. The date of York Tower, 1827, and the construction period of Forteath Mausoleum, around 1850, are about two decades apart. Together, these historical references span older church objects and 19th-century buildings.

Getting there

Bus route 31 connects Elgin, Alves and Forres. Check the timetable before travelling so you can coordinate your travel day and departure times for your journey.

Discover more destinations: Aberlour, Portknockie, Drumin, Dandalieth, Rafford, Keith, Burghead, Fochabers.

For the wider travel guide: Moray.