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

  SM90144_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600014675)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises a church of medieval date and a settlement of post medieval date with possible earlier origins. It is in the care of the Secretary of State for Scotland and is being re-scheduled to clarify the extent of the protected area.

The monument lies on the SW slope of the island of Eynhallow, at around 10m OD. It comprises a roofless 12th-century church measuring about 21m WNW-ESE by about 7m transversely. The church, which was reconstructed as a dwelling house in the 16th century, consists of a rectangular nave with a porch at its W end and a square-ended chancel at the E end. Very little of the original stonework of the nave survives.

The church is surrounded to the SW by a settlement of 16th-century date, consisting of at least four houses abutting each other. These houses appear to incorporate earlier structures, possibly monastic buildings associated with the church; such a monastic complex would be comparable to other Norwegian examples of the 12th century. The settlement measures about 30m N-S by about 30m E-W overall.

Although it has been suggested that Eynhallow was the abbey over which Abbot Laurence of Melrose (quondam abbas in Orcadia) had presided before his election in 1175, there is no specific reason to associate him with this particular site. The monastery, if such there was, had evidently ceased to exist by the 16th century, though the church is mentioned in 1588.

The building went unrecognized until 1851, when the inhabitants were cleared from the island and the buildings were unroofed. They were subsequently studied by T.S. Muir and Sir Henry Dryden; and in 1897 they were cleared out and examined further by Professor T. Lethaby. In 1911 they were placed in the guardianship of the Office of Works.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related material may be expected to be found. It is square, measuring 100m NNE-SSW by 100m WNW-ESE, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of what it contributes and, through archaeological excavation, has the potential to contribute to our understanding of medieval ecclesiastical architecture and material culture. The later phase of the complex also shed important light on post-medieval rural settlement and late 19th and early 20th century attitudes towards the care of historic ruins. The importance of the site is reflected in its status as a Property in Care.

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.