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

  SM10705_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013745)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the remains of Kilmore Church and burial ground (or the Old Parish Church of Kilcolmkill), which is medieval in date and visible as turf-covered footings. The monument is situated at about 60m OD, on a knoll some 0.6km SE of the small village of Dervaig.

The church was one of seven medieval parish churches on Mull and was annexed to Iona Abbey in the early 15th century. The Parish of Kilcolmkill was united with Kilninian in 1628, but Kilmore Church continued in use until 1754 when a successor was built in Dervaig. This was itself replaced in 1905 by the present Kilmore Kirk.

On the summit of the knoll, turf-covered footings standing up to 1m high may be identified as the E and S walls of a rectangular structure, Kilmore Church. The burial ground, an irregular trapezoid in shape, is enclosed by a boundary wall. The entrance is currently located at the E corner; evidence of an older entrance is visible midway along the SE wall.

Within the burial ground there survives the lower part (about 1m in length) of a 14th- or 15th-century graveslab, decorated with a sword, plant-scrolls and a pair of shears. Two fragments of a free-standing cross of a similar date formerly stood in the burial ground: one fragment is now housed within the present Kilmore Church. Some notable 17th- and 18th-century funerary monuments also survive. The funerary monuments and burial enclosures of greatest antiquity lie along the ridge that forms the highest part of the site.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described, including the graveyard walls but excluding any burial lairs which are in use. It is irregular in plan with maximum dimensions of 88m WNW-ESE by 114m N-S, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a medieval ecclesiastical centre associated with Iona Abbey. Its significance is enhanced by the considerable archaeological potential of the monument, given its early date of abandonment. The survival of parts of an important medieval gravestone and a free-standing cross demonstrates that other carved stones of intrinsic value might also survive, buried in the graveyard.

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.