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

  SM1482_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600004229)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the ruins of the later medieval church and graveyard situated on Kirk Hill, close to the shore of Bay of Linton on the E side of Shapinsay, between Linton and Kirkton farms. The monument was first scheduled in 1951 but an inadequate area was included to protect all of the archaeological remains. The present rescheduling rectifies this.

The chapel has two chambers - nave and chancel. Within walls c 0.9m thick the nave measures 5.85m by 4.15m and the nace is 2.5m long and of indeterminate width. The walls survive to a height of 1m in places. The lines of the walls are now largely obscured by rubble. The build is largely drystone with some external lime pointing. Unusually, in comparison to other chapels of similar date in Orkney, the entrance was on the S.

On the basis of comparison with chapels elsewhere in Orkney, such as St Mary's, Wyre, the chapel is probably of 12th-century (late Norse) date. MacGibbon and Ross (1896) suggest it was dedicated to St Catherine.

The line of the graveyard, indicated as being visible on the OS 1st edition map, is not now visible on the ground as an upstanding monument, although changes in the vegetation may be significant (the ground immediately around the church is wet). The irregular, sub-circular form of the churchyard may possibly suggest that the site has earlier Christian origins. The farmer has encountered stone structures of unknown date in the area to the NW of the church.

The area to be scheduled is irregular on plan, with a maximum dimensions of 60m due E-W, by 54m N-S, to include the church and its associated graveyard, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract. The above ground elements of modern field boundaries are excluded from scheduling, to allow for their maintenance.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because it represents the remains of a small, late Norse church and associated burial ground. While nothing is apparently known about the documented history of the site, the building and its sub-surface archaeology retain the potential to provide information about the nature of a lordly Norse chapel and its subsequent use over many centuries. Little remains of the above ground remains of what would have been a simple Romaneque building, but the plan and form of construction contribute to our understanding of Norse architecture and its relationship to contemporary European trends. Modern Orcadian society attaches a high signifincance to the fact that it was part of Norway for around 600 years, and this site is part of the tangible evidence for this.

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.