diff --git a/apps/opencs/model/doc/savingstages.cpp b/apps/opencs/model/doc/savingstages.cpp
index dbfa4651b..87f7ea16a 100644
--- a/apps/opencs/model/doc/savingstages.cpp
+++ b/apps/opencs/model/doc/savingstages.cpp
@@ -107,10 +107,8 @@ void CSMDoc::WriteDialogueCollectionStage::perform (int stage, Messages& message
     {
         // if the topic is deleted, we do not need to bother with INFO records.
         ESM::Dialogue dialogue = topic.get();
-        dialogue.mIsDeleted = true;
-
         writer.startRecord(dialogue.sRecordId);
-        dialogue.save(writer);
+        dialogue.save(writer, true);
         writer.endRecord(dialogue.sRecordId);
         return;
     }
@@ -121,7 +119,7 @@ void CSMDoc::WriteDialogueCollectionStage::perform (int stage, Messages& message
 
     for (CSMWorld::InfoCollection::RecordConstIterator iter (range.first); iter!=range.second; ++iter)
     {
-        if (topic.isModified() || iter->mState == CSMWorld::RecordBase::State_Deleted)
+        if (iter->isModified() || iter->mState == CSMWorld::RecordBase::State_Deleted)
         {
             infoModified = true;
             break;
@@ -131,7 +129,6 @@ void CSMDoc::WriteDialogueCollectionStage::perform (int stage, Messages& message
     if (topic.isModified() || infoModified)
     {
         ESM::Dialogue dialogue = topic.get();
-
         writer.startRecord (dialogue.sRecordId);
         dialogue.save (writer);
         writer.endRecord (dialogue.sRecordId);
@@ -143,7 +140,6 @@ void CSMDoc::WriteDialogueCollectionStage::perform (int stage, Messages& message
             {
                 ESM::DialInfo info = iter->get();
                 info.mId = info.mId.substr (info.mId.find_last_of ('#')+1);
-                info.mIsDeleted = (iter->mState == CSMWorld::RecordBase::State_Deleted);
 
                 info.mPrev = "";
                 if (iter!=range.first)
@@ -164,7 +160,7 @@ void CSMDoc::WriteDialogueCollectionStage::perform (int stage, Messages& message
                 }
 
                 writer.startRecord (info.sRecordId);
-                info.save (writer);
+                info.save (writer, iter->mState == CSMWorld::RecordBase::State_Deleted);
                 writer.endRecord (info.sRecordId);
             }
         }
@@ -213,9 +209,7 @@ void CSMDoc::CollectionReferencesStage::perform (int stage, Messages& messages)
         const CSMWorld::Record<CSMWorld::CellRef>& record =
             mDocument.getData().getReferences().getRecord (i);
 
-        if (record.mState==CSMWorld::RecordBase::State_Deleted ||
-            record.mState==CSMWorld::RecordBase::State_Modified ||
-            record.mState==CSMWorld::RecordBase::State_ModifiedOnly)
+        if (record.isModified() || record.mState == CSMWorld::RecordBase::State_Deleted)
         {
             std::string cellId = record.get().mOriginalCell.empty() ?
                 record.get().mCell : record.get().mOriginalCell;
@@ -284,8 +278,7 @@ void CSMDoc::WriteCellCollectionStage::perform (int stage, Messages& messages)
             stream >> ignore >> cellRecord.mData.mX >> cellRecord.mData.mY;
         }
 
-        cellRecord.mIsDeleted = (cell.mState == CSMWorld::RecordBase::State_Deleted);
-        cellRecord.save (writer);
+        cellRecord.save (writer, cell.mState == CSMWorld::RecordBase::State_Deleted);
 
         // write references
         if (references!=mState.getSubRecords().end())
@@ -326,8 +319,7 @@ void CSMDoc::WriteCellCollectionStage::perform (int stage, Messages& messages)
                         writer.writeHNT ("CNDT", moved.mTarget, 8);
                     }
 
-                    refRecord.mIsDeleted = (ref.mState == CSMWorld::RecordBase::State_Deleted);
-                    refRecord.save (writer);
+                    refRecord.save (writer, false, false, ref.mState == CSMWorld::RecordBase::State_Deleted);
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -366,9 +358,8 @@ void CSMDoc::WritePathgridCollectionStage::perform (int stage, Messages& message
         else
             record.mCell = record.mId;
 
-        record.mIsDeleted = (pathgrid.mState == CSMWorld::RecordBase::State_Deleted);
         writer.startRecord (record.sRecordId);
-        record.save (writer);
+        record.save (writer, pathgrid.mState == CSMWorld::RecordBase::State_Deleted);
         writer.endRecord (record.sRecordId);
     }
 }
@@ -393,10 +384,8 @@ void CSMDoc::WriteLandCollectionStage::perform (int stage, Messages& messages)
     if (land.isModified() || land.mState == CSMWorld::RecordBase::State_Deleted)
     {
         CSMWorld::Land record = land.get();
-
-        record.mLand->mIsDeleted = (land.mState == CSMWorld::RecordBase::State_Deleted);
         writer.startRecord (record.mLand->sRecordId);
-        record.mLand->save (writer);
+        record.mLand->save (writer, land.mState == CSMWorld::RecordBase::State_Deleted);
         writer.endRecord (record.mLand->sRecordId);
     }
 }
@@ -421,10 +410,8 @@ void CSMDoc::WriteLandTextureCollectionStage::perform (int stage, Messages& mess
     if (landTexture.isModified() || landTexture.mState == CSMWorld::RecordBase::State_Deleted)
     {
         CSMWorld::LandTexture record = landTexture.get();
-        record.mIsDeleted = (landTexture.mState == CSMWorld::RecordBase::State_Deleted);
-
         writer.startRecord (record.sRecordId);
-        record.save (writer);
+        record.save (writer, landTexture.mState == CSMWorld::RecordBase::State_Deleted);
         writer.endRecord (record.sRecordId);
     }
 }
diff --git a/apps/opencs/model/doc/savingstages.hpp b/apps/opencs/model/doc/savingstages.hpp
index a7d9704b0..64afd0dd8 100644
--- a/apps/opencs/model/doc/savingstages.hpp
+++ b/apps/opencs/model/doc/savingstages.hpp
@@ -108,9 +108,8 @@ namespace CSMDoc
             state == CSMWorld::RecordBase::State_ModifiedOnly ||
             state == CSMWorld::RecordBase::State_Deleted)
         {
-            CSMWorld::setRecordDeleted (record, state == CSMWorld::RecordBase::State_Deleted);
             writer.startRecord (record.sRecordId);
-            record.save (writer);
+            record.save (writer, state == CSMWorld::RecordBase::State_Deleted);
             writer.endRecord (record.sRecordId);
         }
     }
diff --git a/apps/opencs/model/world/cell.cpp b/apps/opencs/model/world/cell.cpp
index 8816cd35e..be64061be 100644
--- a/apps/opencs/model/world/cell.cpp
+++ b/apps/opencs/model/world/cell.cpp
@@ -3,12 +3,12 @@
 
 #include <sstream>
 
-void CSMWorld::Cell::load (ESM::ESMReader &esm)
+void CSMWorld::Cell::load (ESM::ESMReader &esm, bool &isDeleted)
 {
-    ESM::Cell::load (esm, false);
+    ESM::Cell::load (esm, isDeleted, false);
 
     mId = mName;
-    if (!(mData.mFlags & Interior))
+    if (isExterior())
     {
         std::ostringstream stream;
         stream << "#" << mData.mX << " " << mData.mY;
diff --git a/apps/opencs/model/world/cell.hpp b/apps/opencs/model/world/cell.hpp
index f393e2cf9..160610874 100644
--- a/apps/opencs/model/world/cell.hpp
+++ b/apps/opencs/model/world/cell.hpp
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ namespace CSMWorld
     {
         std::string mId;
 
-        void load (ESM::ESMReader &esm);
+        void load (ESM::ESMReader &esm, bool &isDeleted);
 
     };
 }
diff --git a/apps/opencs/model/world/data.cpp b/apps/opencs/model/world/data.cpp
index 91ccda73c..32255cb1a 100644
--- a/apps/opencs/model/world/data.cpp
+++ b/apps/opencs/model/world/data.cpp
@@ -989,9 +989,11 @@ bool CSMWorld::Data::continueLoading (CSMDoc::Messages& messages)
         case ESM::REC_DIAL:
         {
             ESM::Dialogue record;
-            record.load (*mReader);
+            bool isDeleted = false;
 
-            if (record.mIsDeleted)
+            record.load (*mReader, isDeleted);
+
+            if (isDeleted)
             {
                 // record vector can be shuffled around which would make pointer to record invalid
                 mDialogue = 0;
diff --git a/apps/opencs/model/world/idcollection.cpp b/apps/opencs/model/world/idcollection.cpp
deleted file mode 100644
index 9571ed773..000000000
--- a/apps/opencs/model/world/idcollection.cpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-#include "idcollection.hpp"
-
-
diff --git a/apps/opencs/model/world/idcollection.hpp b/apps/opencs/model/world/idcollection.hpp
index 9d3ec990e..c79b4e020 100644
--- a/apps/opencs/model/world/idcollection.hpp
+++ b/apps/opencs/model/world/idcollection.hpp
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ namespace CSMWorld
     template<typename ESXRecordT, typename IdAccessorT = IdAccessor<ESXRecordT> >
     class IdCollection : public Collection<ESXRecordT, IdAccessorT>
     {
-            virtual void loadRecord (ESXRecordT& record, ESM::ESMReader& reader);
+            virtual void loadRecord (ESXRecordT& record, ESM::ESMReader& reader, bool& isDeleted);
 
         public:
 
@@ -34,21 +34,24 @@ namespace CSMWorld
 
     template<typename ESXRecordT, typename IdAccessorT>
     void IdCollection<ESXRecordT, IdAccessorT>::loadRecord (ESXRecordT& record,
-        ESM::ESMReader& reader)
+                                                            ESM::ESMReader& reader,
+                                                            bool& isDeleted)
     {
-        record.load (reader);
+        record.load (reader, isDeleted);
     }
 
     template<typename ESXRecordT, typename IdAccessorT>
     int IdCollection<ESXRecordT, IdAccessorT>::load (ESM::ESMReader& reader, bool base)
     {
         ESXRecordT record;
-        loadRecord (record, reader);
+        bool isDeleted = false;
+
+        loadRecord (record, reader, isDeleted);
 
         std::string id = IdAccessorT().getId (record);
         int index = this->searchId (id);
 
-        if (isRecordDeleted(record))
+        if (isDeleted)
         {
             if (index==-1)
             {
diff --git a/apps/opencs/model/world/infocollection.cpp b/apps/opencs/model/world/infocollection.cpp
index 665b497d0..81f3ac143 100644
--- a/apps/opencs/model/world/infocollection.cpp
+++ b/apps/opencs/model/world/infocollection.cpp
@@ -108,10 +108,12 @@ bool CSMWorld::InfoCollection::reorderRows (int baseIndex, const std::vector<int
 void CSMWorld::InfoCollection::load (ESM::ESMReader& reader, bool base, const ESM::Dialogue& dialogue)
 {
     Info info;
-    info.load (reader);
+    bool isDeleted = false;
+
+    info.load (reader, isDeleted);
     std::string id = Misc::StringUtils::lowerCase (dialogue.mId) + "#" + info.mId;
 
-    if (info.mIsDeleted)
+    if (isDeleted)
     {
         int index = searchId (id);
 
diff --git a/apps/opencs/model/world/land.cpp b/apps/opencs/model/world/land.cpp
index 119e18761..f94776c70 100644
--- a/apps/opencs/model/world/land.cpp
+++ b/apps/opencs/model/world/land.cpp
@@ -10,13 +10,12 @@ namespace CSMWorld
         mLand.reset(new ESM::Land());
     }
 
-    void Land::load(ESM::ESMReader &esm)
+    void Land::load(ESM::ESMReader &esm, bool &isDeleted)
     {
-        mLand->load(esm);
+        mLand->load(esm, isDeleted);
 
         std::ostringstream stream;
         stream << "#" << mLand->mX << " " << mLand->mY;
-
         mId = stream.str();
     }
 
diff --git a/apps/opencs/model/world/land.hpp b/apps/opencs/model/world/land.hpp
index e97a2d7dd..c006f2a4d 100644
--- a/apps/opencs/model/world/land.hpp
+++ b/apps/opencs/model/world/land.hpp
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ namespace CSMWorld
         std::string mId;
 
         /// Loads the metadata and ID
-        void load (ESM::ESMReader &esm);
+        void load (ESM::ESMReader &esm, bool &isDeleted);
 
         void blank();
     };
diff --git a/apps/opencs/model/world/landtexture.cpp b/apps/opencs/model/world/landtexture.cpp
index 4725866a5..9e8dcff9f 100644
--- a/apps/opencs/model/world/landtexture.cpp
+++ b/apps/opencs/model/world/landtexture.cpp
@@ -4,17 +4,13 @@
 
 namespace CSMWorld
 {
-
-    void LandTexture::load(ESM::ESMReader &esm)
+    void LandTexture::load(ESM::ESMReader &esm, bool &isDeleted)
     {
-        ESM::LandTexture::load(esm);
-
+        ESM::LandTexture::load(esm, isDeleted);
         int plugin = esm.getIndex();
 
         std::ostringstream stream;
-
         stream << mIndex << "_" << plugin;
-
         mId = stream.str();
     }
 
diff --git a/apps/opencs/model/world/landtexture.hpp b/apps/opencs/model/world/landtexture.hpp
index b13903186..e18f0277c 100644
--- a/apps/opencs/model/world/landtexture.hpp
+++ b/apps/opencs/model/world/landtexture.hpp
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ namespace CSMWorld
     {
         std::string mId;
 
-        void load (ESM::ESMReader &esm);
+        void load (ESM::ESMReader &esm, bool &isDeleted);
     };
 }
 
diff --git a/apps/opencs/model/world/pathgrid.cpp b/apps/opencs/model/world/pathgrid.cpp
index 5c66e7d8e..c995bd8f0 100644
--- a/apps/opencs/model/world/pathgrid.cpp
+++ b/apps/opencs/model/world/pathgrid.cpp
@@ -4,33 +4,28 @@
 
 #include <sstream>
 
-void CSMWorld::Pathgrid::load (ESM::ESMReader &esm, const IdCollection<Cell>& cells)
+void CSMWorld::Pathgrid::load (ESM::ESMReader &esm, bool &isDeleted, const IdCollection<Cell>& cells)
 {
-    load (esm);
+    load (esm, isDeleted);
 
     // correct ID
     if (!mId.empty() && mId[0]!='#' && cells.searchId (mId)==-1)
     {
         std::ostringstream stream;
-
         stream << "#" << mData.mX << " " << mData.mY;
-
         mId = stream.str();
     }
 }
 
-void CSMWorld::Pathgrid::load (ESM::ESMReader &esm)
+void CSMWorld::Pathgrid::load (ESM::ESMReader &esm, bool &isDeleted)
 {
-    ESM::Pathgrid::load (esm);
+    ESM::Pathgrid::load (esm, isDeleted);
 
+    mId = mCell;
     if (mCell.empty())
     {
         std::ostringstream stream;
-
         stream << "#" << mData.mX << " " << mData.mY;
-
         mId = stream.str();
     }
-    else
-        mId = mCell;
 }
diff --git a/apps/opencs/model/world/pathgrid.hpp b/apps/opencs/model/world/pathgrid.hpp
index 7e7b7c3bb..22d01b071 100644
--- a/apps/opencs/model/world/pathgrid.hpp
+++ b/apps/opencs/model/world/pathgrid.hpp
@@ -20,9 +20,8 @@ namespace CSMWorld
     {
         std::string mId;
 
-        void load (ESM::ESMReader &esm, const IdCollection<Cell>& cells);
-
-        void load (ESM::ESMReader &esm);
+        void load (ESM::ESMReader &esm, bool &isDeleted, const IdCollection<Cell>& cells);
+        void load (ESM::ESMReader &esm, bool &isDeleted);
     };
 }
 
diff --git a/apps/opencs/model/world/record.cpp b/apps/opencs/model/world/record.cpp
index 7563c4cfd..ef2f4d320 100644
--- a/apps/opencs/model/world/record.cpp
+++ b/apps/opencs/model/world/record.cpp
@@ -19,51 +19,3 @@ bool CSMWorld::RecordBase::isModified() const
 {
     return mState==State_Modified || mState==State_ModifiedOnly;
 }
-
-template<>
-bool CSMWorld::isRecordDeleted(const CSMWorld::Land &land)
-{
-    return land.mLand->mIsDeleted;
-}
-
-template<>
-bool CSMWorld::isRecordDeleted(const ESM::GameSetting &setting)
-{
-    return false;
-}
-
-template<>
-bool CSMWorld::isRecordDeleted(const ESM::MagicEffect &effect)
-{
-    return false;
-}
-
-template<>
-bool CSMWorld::isRecordDeleted(const ESM::Skill &skill)
-{
-    return false;
-}
-
-template<>
-void CSMWorld::setRecordDeleted(CSMWorld::Land &land, bool isDeleted)
-{
-    land.mLand->mIsDeleted = isDeleted;
-}
-
-template<>
-void CSMWorld::setRecordDeleted(ESM::GameSetting &setting, bool isDeleted)
-{
-    // GameSetting doesn't have a Deleted flag
-}
-
-template<>
-void CSMWorld::setRecordDeleted(ESM::MagicEffect &effect, bool isDeleted)
-{
-    // MagicEffect doesn't have a Deleted flag
-}
-
-template<>
-void CSMWorld::setRecordDeleted(ESM::Skill &skill, bool isDeleted)
-{
-    // Skill doesn't have a Deleted flag
-}
diff --git a/apps/opencs/model/world/record.hpp b/apps/opencs/model/world/record.hpp
index 8e39cd705..3362f9f96 100644
--- a/apps/opencs/model/world/record.hpp
+++ b/apps/opencs/model/world/record.hpp
@@ -3,12 +3,6 @@
 
 #include <stdexcept>
 
-#include <components/esm/loadgmst.hpp>
-#include <components/esm/loadmgef.hpp>
-#include <components/esm/loadskil.hpp>
-
-#include "land.hpp"
-
 namespace CSMWorld
 {
     struct RecordBase
@@ -160,39 +154,6 @@ namespace CSMWorld
             mState = State_Erased;
         }
     }
-
-    // Not all records can be deleted (may be changed in the future), 
-    // so we need to use a separate method to check whether a record is deleted or not.
-    template<typename ESXRecordT>
-    bool isRecordDeleted(const ESXRecordT &record)
-    {
-        return record.mIsDeleted;
-    }
-
-    template<>
-    bool isRecordDeleted(const Land &land);
-    template<>
-    bool isRecordDeleted(const ESM::GameSetting &setting);
-    template<>
-    bool isRecordDeleted(const ESM::MagicEffect &effect);
-    template<>
-    bool isRecordDeleted(const ESM::Skill &skill);
-
-    // ... and also a separate method for setting the deleted flag of a record
-    template<typename ESXRecordT>
-    void setRecordDeleted(ESXRecordT &record, bool isDeleted = false)
-    {
-        record.mIsDeleted = isDeleted;
-    }
-
-    template<>
-    void setRecordDeleted(Land &land, bool isDeleted);
-    template<>
-    void setRecordDeleted(ESM::GameSetting &setting, bool isDeleted);
-    template<>
-    void setRecordDeleted(ESM::MagicEffect &effect, bool isDeleted);
-    template<>
-    void setRecordDeleted(ESM::Skill &skill, bool isDeleted);
 }
 
 #endif
diff --git a/apps/opencs/model/world/refcollection.cpp b/apps/opencs/model/world/refcollection.cpp
index d32f21d0a..39af9b408 100644
--- a/apps/opencs/model/world/refcollection.cpp
+++ b/apps/opencs/model/world/refcollection.cpp
@@ -21,9 +21,10 @@ void CSMWorld::RefCollection::load (ESM::ESMReader& reader, int cellIndex, bool
 
     CellRef ref;
     ESM::MovedCellRef mref;
+    bool isDeleted = false;
 
     // hack to initialise mindex
-    while (!(mref.mRefNum.mIndex = 0) && ESM::Cell::getNextRef(reader, ref, true, &mref))
+    while (!(mref.mRefNum.mIndex = 0) && ESM::Cell::getNextRef(reader, ref, isDeleted, true, &mref))
     {
         // Keep mOriginalCell empty when in modified (as an indicator that the
         // original cell will always be equal the current cell).
@@ -79,7 +80,7 @@ void CSMWorld::RefCollection::load (ESM::ESMReader& reader, int cellIndex, bool
                 break;
         }
 
-        if (ref.mIsDeleted)
+        if (isDeleted)
         {
             if (iter==cache.end())
             {
diff --git a/apps/opencs/model/world/refiddata.hpp b/apps/opencs/model/world/refiddata.hpp
index 195244ba8..0c9239d59 100644
--- a/apps/opencs/model/world/refiddata.hpp
+++ b/apps/opencs/model/world/refiddata.hpp
@@ -129,7 +129,9 @@ namespace CSMWorld
     int RefIdDataContainer<RecordT>::load (ESM::ESMReader& reader, bool base)
     {
         RecordT record;
-        record.load(reader);
+        bool isDeleted = false;
+
+        record.load(reader, isDeleted);
 
         int index = 0;
         int numRecords = static_cast<int>(mContainer.size());
@@ -141,7 +143,7 @@ namespace CSMWorld
             }
         }
 
-        if (record.mIsDeleted)
+        if (isDeleted)
         {
             if (index == numRecords)
             {
@@ -197,13 +199,12 @@ namespace CSMWorld
     void RefIdDataContainer<RecordT>::save (int index, ESM::ESMWriter& writer) const
     {
         Record<RecordT> record = mContainer.at(index);
-        RecordT esmRecord = record.get();
 
         if (record.isModified() || record.mState == RecordBase::State_Deleted)
         {
-            esmRecord.mIsDeleted = (record.mState == RecordBase::State_Deleted);
+            RecordT esmRecord = record.get();
             writer.startRecord(esmRecord.sRecordId);
-            esmRecord.save(writer);
+            esmRecord.save(writer, record.mState == RecordBase::State_Deleted);
             writer.endRecord(esmRecord.sRecordId);
         }
     }
diff --git a/apps/opencs/model/world/subcellcollection.hpp b/apps/opencs/model/world/subcellcollection.hpp
index df1f8a12e..496cb0643 100644
--- a/apps/opencs/model/world/subcellcollection.hpp
+++ b/apps/opencs/model/world/subcellcollection.hpp
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ namespace CSMWorld
     {
             const IdCollection<Cell>& mCells;
 
-            virtual void loadRecord (ESXRecordT& record, ESM::ESMReader& reader);
+            virtual void loadRecord (ESXRecordT& record, ESM::ESMReader& reader, bool& isDeleted);
 
         public:
 
@@ -29,9 +29,10 @@ namespace CSMWorld
 
     template<typename ESXRecordT, typename IdAccessorT>
     void SubCellCollection<ESXRecordT, IdAccessorT>::loadRecord (ESXRecordT& record,
-        ESM::ESMReader& reader)
+                                                                 ESM::ESMReader& reader,
+                                                                 bool& isDeleted)
     {
-        record.load (reader, mCells);
+        record.load (reader, isDeleted, mCells);
     }
 
     template<typename ESXRecordT, typename IdAccessorT>