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

  SM90268_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600014788)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the partial remains of St Ninian's Cave, which features a number of rock-cut crosses. This is a natural cleft in a cliff face, its floor at 7.5m OD, partially altered for human use. The cave is located in the cliff face above a pebble beach, 300m NW of the seaward end of Physgill Glen.

From at least the late 17th century, the cave at Physgill was thought to have been the personal retreat of St Ninian. Even though the historicity of Ninian has recently been questioned, it is nevertheless likely that the cave functioned as a retreat from the monastery at Whithorn. Alternative interpretations are that it was a chapel, or else a stone-carving workshop.

The Cave is approximately 7m in length by 3m in height. It is almost 3m wide at the mouth. The walls slope inwards and upwards, meeting at an acute angle both at the end and at the roof. The Cave is now reduced in size compared to its medieval form, due to periodic collapses of the overhanging stone ceiling. Following such a collapse the Cave was excavated by Sir Herbert Maxwell in 1884 and 1886, and then by Raleigh Radford in 1950. Internal stone walls and pavements were revealed, together with the disturbed and undated burials of an elderly adult and two children. Eighteen early medieval carved stones were also found. This collection is displayed in the Whithorn Priory site museum, and does not form part of this scheduling.

In addition to the free-standing monuments and moveable stones, there are ten crosses cut into the cave wall itself. All but two of these crosses are carved outside the mouth of the cave, the largest group is 2m from the cave mouth, another is 6m outside, both on the S side. The only certain evidence for the use of the cave in the early medieval period is the sculpture itself, including these rock-cut crosses. The latter are interpreted as being votive. The Cave came into care in 1887.

The scheduled area comprises the remains described, and includes the Cave interior together with the open forecourt. It is irregular with maximum extents of 30m due N-S by 30m due E-W, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as an important example of an early medieval place of religious retreat. Its traditional association with St Ninian has raised the importance of the Cave within the national consciousness. This importance is reinforced by the fact that organised pilgrimages to the Cave continue to take place each year. The votive crosses and medieval graffiti have the potential to inform an understanding of the role of such retreats within monastic and popular religious practice. The national importance is further underlined by the Cave's status as a property in the care of Historic Scotland.

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.