Documents

Where documents include maps, the use of this data is subject to terms and conditions (https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/termsandconditions).

The legal document available for download below constitutes the formal designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The additional details provided on this page are provided for information purposes only and do not form part of the designation. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within this additional information.

• Type

  Legal Documents

  Title

  SM10810_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013780)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the remains of the 17th-century burial aisle of the Mitchells of Westshore, which contains several significant grave markers. The monument is a turf-covered barrel-vaulted structure, measuring approximately 7m by 6m. It stands in the graveyard of the present 19th-century church of St Magnus (Tingwall Parish Church) at around 20m above sea level, and occupies a prominent position within the landscape at the N end of the Loch of Tingwall. The monument was first scheduled in 2003, but the documentation does not meet modern standards: the present rescheduling rectifies this.

The area to be scheduled is rectangular and includes the remains described above and an area around them within which evidence relating to the monument's construction, use and abandonment may survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map. All active burial layers are specifically excluded from the scheduled area.

Statement of National Importance

Cultural Significance

The monument's cultural significance can be expressed as follows:

Intrinsic characteristics

The monument is a well preserved example of a post-medieval burial aisle incorporating architectural elements from an earlier church. Its entrance archway is decorated with a roll moulding, which is thought to have been relocated from the medieval church of St Magnus. This earlier church has not yet been located but is likely to have been situated to the north of the burial aisle. The aisle contains several finely carved tombstones of the 17th and 18th centuries, which have been moved into the aisle from the kirkyard sometime during the 20th century. One, now very fractured, commemorates Andrew Crawford, Master of Works to the Earl of Orkney and Shetland. The monument has the potential to tell us much about ecclesiastical history and architecture, and burial and commemorative practices, as well as stonemasonry skills.

Contextual characteristics

The burial aisle reflects the significance and status of the Mitchell family, who were notable Zetland merchants in the late 17th century. Their connection with Scalloway Castle, the seat of the Earl of Orkney and Shetland, is indicated by the presence of Andrew Crawford's grave slab. This grave slab is particularly interesting because of Crawford's involvement with several significant building works, notably the Earl's Palace in Kirkwall, Orkney, and probably the castles at Scalloway and Muness in Shetland. The remaining grave markers are carved with a range of heraldic symbols and death emblems.

Associative characteristics

This monument has direct links with several notable historical figures, including Andrew Crawford, a Master of Works to the Earl of Orkney and Shetland, responsible for the construction of several significant buildings in the Northern Isles in the 17th century; and the Mitchell family, who were a high-status 17th-century family of merchants.

National Importance

The monument is of national importance as an example of a post-medieval burial aisle incorporating elements of an earlier church and likely to have formed part of the larger footprint of the medieval church of St Magnus. It is also of national importance because it contains several ornately-carved 17th-century grave markers belonging to notable historical personages and is representative of the commemorative practices of the time.

References

Bibliography

About Scheduled Monuments

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Scheduling is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for monuments and archaeological sites of national importance as set out in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

We schedule sites and monuments that are found to be of national importance using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Scheduled monument records provide an indication of the national importance of the scheduled monument which has been identified by the description and map. The description and map (see ‘legal documents’ above) showing the scheduled area is the designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The statement of national importance and additional information provided are supplementary and provided for general information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within the statement of national importance or additional information. These records are not definitive historical or archaeological accounts or a complete description of the monument(s).

The format of scheduled monument records has changed over time. Earlier records will usually be brief. Some information will not have been recorded and the map will not be to current standards. Even if what is described and what is mapped has changed, the monument is still scheduled.

Scheduled monument consent is required to carry out certain work, including repairs, to scheduled monuments. Applications for scheduled monument consent are made to us. We are happy to discuss your proposals with you before you apply and we do not charge for advice or consent. More information about consent and how to apply for it can be found on our website at www.historicenvironment.scot.

Find out more about scheduling and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.