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

  SM10828_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013783)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the medieval and later graveyard of Dornoch Cathedral, which includes the possible site of the early Christian St Finnbarr's Church. The monument is situated at about 10m OD in the centre of the small town of Dornoch.

The cathedral was founded around 1233 and razed in 1570, after which it was partially restored in the early 17th century as a parish church and re-built in the 19th century. In about 1926, foundations were revealed during grave-digging at the E end of the graveyard. These were of indeterminate date and nature and could have been associated with either an early Christian church or the 1730 tolbooth.

James Loch cleared the area to the S of the cathedral in 1811, when he also built the existing graveyard wall. Most of the funerary monuments date to between 1760 and 1920, although some grave markers may be earlier.

At the W end of the graveyard is the 'Plaiden Ell', which appears to be a re-used gravestone. The standard ell, a unit of measurement, was 37.2 inches long. Often, an ell was fixed to a public place by burgh officials to avoid argument with the market traders. Scotland adopted English imperial weights and measures after the Union of the Parliaments in 1707.

Some examples survive elsewhere, including on the wall of the townhouse in Dumfries, the shaft of Kincardine mercat cross (now in Fettercairn), and on a wall in Market Square, Dunkeld. The Dornoch example would have been used to measure 'plaid', a length of twilled woollen cloth, usually tartan.

The area to be scheduled comprises the entire graveyard, including the graveyard walls, in which archaeological evidence is likely to survive. It is irregular on plan with maximum dimensions of 122m E-W by 42m N-S, as marked in red on the accompanying map. The surfaces of all existing paths, to a depth of 30cm, are excluded from the scheduling to allow for routine maintenance. Dornoch Cathedral itself is in use as an ecclesiastical building and is also excluded from the scheduling.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a medieval, and probably earlier, ecclesiastical centre associated with the Bishops of Caithness. Its significance is increased because of the availability of documentary sources and because the graveyard retains considerable archaeological potential.

The secular associations of the monument, namely the presence of the ell measure in the graveyard and the location of the site adjacent to the medieval market place, add to its importance as this ecclecsiastical site is a focal point for our understanding of the development of the early burgh.

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.