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

  SM2099_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600008369)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the remains of St Mary's Church and burial ground, and a prehistoric broch (defensive tower) immediately adjacent, all sited on a small promontory at Cullinsburgh, Bressay. The broch was first scheduled in 1934 and St Mary's Church in 1953, but inadequate areas were included to protect all of the archaeological remains: the present re-scheduling rectifies this. In addition, given the close proximity of the two monuments, the two scheduled areas are being combined into one.

The church appears to date from the medieval period and may have been dedicated to St Mary. It is the only medieval cruciform church to have been identified in Shetland so far, although the transepts may have been later additions to the usual arrangement of rectangular nave and chancel. By 1930 the S transepts had been demolished and most of the other walling was represented by a drystone dyke. Older masonry can be observed both in the E end and in the N transept gable.

Sometime during the 19th century, a Pictish cross-slab with an ogham inscription was found near the church, perhaps within the churchyard. The cross-slab now resides in the National Museum of Scotland.

The rectangular churchyard is demarcated by a drystone wall, which traverses a large stony mound at its NW corner. This is almost certainly the remains of a broch, a defensive stone-built tower dating probably from the Iron Age, sometime between 500 BC and AD 500. Three-quarters of the broch mound lies outwith the graveyard dyke, and one-quarter within it. No remains of broch walling are now visible. Typical prehistoric stone tools have been recovered from the surface of the site.

The area to be scheduled includes the remains of the church, the churchyard and the broch, and an area around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive. It has maximum dimensions of 52m N-S by 57m W-E, as indicated in red on the accompanying map. All burial lairs still in use are excluded from the scheduling.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as the only example of a medieval cruciform church in Shetland. The discovery of the cross-slab in the 19th century suggests that the history of this monument as a church site dates at least as far back as the 9th or 10th century; while the existence of a broch mound in the near vicinity not only demonstrates that the site overall has a long history of occupation and use, but also that it has the potential to elucidate what happened to high status domestic prehistoric societies around the time that Christianity was adopted. The broch mound itself has the potential to enhance our knowledge of prehistoric architecture, land-use and economy.

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.