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

  SM10732_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013757)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the remains of a Roman Catholic chapel and burial ground, situated on the N slope of Glen Gairn, high above the River Gairn.

The chapel was built probably by the McGregors of Dalfad during the early to mid 18th century, although the site may indeed be older, as Catholic recusancy was sustained in the Glengairn and Upper Desside from the 1630s, with several Jesuit missions active from the 1670s.

It has been suggested that the chapel may never have been completed, building works ceasing after the death of the McGregor Laird of Dalfad and eighteen of his kinsmen at Culloden in 1746. The focus of Catholic worship in the area then moved to the nearby chapel at Clashenruich.

The monument consists of a rubble-built rectangular structure, 14.5m by 5m with walls 1m thick and 1m high, oriented E to W. At the E end of the chapel there is a crudely carved cross slab and a grave marker and there are three other grave slabs propped up against the N wall of the chapel. The chapel sits within a sub-rectangular burial ground defined by a drystone wall.

The area to be scheduled includes the remains of the chapel and burial ground. The area is defined on the ground by the drystone wall which encloses the site. The scheduled area is sub-rectangular with maximum dimensions of 22m N-S by 30m transversely.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a rare monument to Roman Catholic recusancy in Scotland. It demonstrates the survival, and the struggle for survival, of the Roman Catholic faith after the Reformation in certain parts of Scotland. The chapel at Dalfad demonstrates the strong clan base to recusancy in the Highlands.

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.