Scheduled Monument

St Moluag's Cathedral, LismoreSM286

Status: Designated

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.

Summary

Date Added
06/10/1959
Last Date Amended
22/10/2013
Type
Crosses and carved stones: sculptured stone (not ascribed to a more specific type), Ecclesiastical: burial ground, cemetery, graveyard; cathedral; chapel; enclosure
Local Authority
Argyll And Bute
Parish
Lismore And Appin
NGR
NM 86076 43481
Coordinates
186076, 743481

Description

The monument comprises the remains of St Moluag's Cathedral, the seat of the Bishops of Argyll. It survives as the buried archaeological remains of the cathedral and its various building phases; the adjacent burial ground with grave-markers; and the wider footprint which is likely to contain further remains, including those associated with Early Christian burial and worship. Records indicate that St Moluag landed here in the mid 6th century AD, with the medieval cathedral dating from the early 13th century AD. The footprint of the cathedral is likely to extend over 30m in length (E-W) and is approximately 10m wide (N-S). The cathedral is located inland, towards the N end of Lismore at 55m above sea level. It overlooks part of the Lynn of Lorn and the mainland beyond. The monument was first scheduled in 1959, but the documentation did not meet modern standards: the present amendment rectifies this.

The scheduled area is irregular on plan to include the remains described above and an area around them within which evidence relating to the monument's construction, use and abandonment is expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map. The scheduling excludes the above-ground elements of the parish church and its floor down to the floor base; a wooden storage shed immediately beyond the NW corner of the parish church; and the above-ground elements of a transmission pole and its ground anchors. The scheduling also excludes the above-ground elements of all boundary features, including stone walls, gates and fencing; the top 300mm of all modern road surfaces; and all burial lairs where burial rights still exist.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to make a significant addition to our understanding of the past, in particular the origins and spread of Christianity, the development of a probable monastic centre on Lismore and the later establishment of a bishopric. There is good evidence for the survival of archaeological structures and deposits relating to the 13th-century cathedral and its later building phases, including the structural footprint of the cathedral in its final form and adjacent structures, burials and associated features. The monument is a rare example of the foundations of the nave of a Scottish medieval cathedral. The cathedral appears to have been relatively distant from much of the diocese which it served, but it lay close to a sea route of considerable importance in the medieval period. The loss of the monument would significantly affect our ability to understand the nature and organisation of medieval religious worship and administration in Argyll and western Scotland.

References

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NM84SE 5. The West of Scotland Archaeological Service records the site as WOSASPINs 1288.

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.

Images

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Printed: 29/03/2024 15:27