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

  SM2124_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600008392)

Summary

Description

The monument is a multi-period site comprising the remains of St Tredwell's Chapel atop a settlement mound containing a possible broch. The settlement is likely to date to the early 1st millennium AD, and the visible chapel is probably 12th century (Norse period) in date.

The monument survives as a large stony mound with steep sides, measuring approximately 50m NW-SE by 40m transversely and standing up to 4.5m high. On top of the mound on the SE side are the foundations of a Norse chapel. The chapel is of drystone rubble construction, with occasional dressed stones. The N and W walls survive up to 1.3m high and are 0.5m thick. To the N of the chapel are the low foundations of a smaller rectangular structure, which may be the remains of an earlier chapel, possibly of early Christian date. Elsewhere, both on the summit of the mound and around the lower slopes, are traces of earlier walling indicative of a broch and associated settlement remains. Immediately outside the W wall of the chapel, part of a passageway and corbelled chamber can be seen, which was exposed and recorded by Traill in 1879 when he was clearing out the chapel. Around the SW edge of the mound several courses of curving drystone wall are also visible. The monument fully occupies a peninsula (formerly an island) on the E shore of the Loch of St Tredwell in Papa Westray and is around 5m above sea level. It has extensive views in all directions and is highly visible within the landscape. The monument was first scheduled in 1961, but the documentation did not meet modern standards: the present amendment rectifies this.

The scheduled area is oval on plan to include the remains described above and an area around them within which evidence relating to the monument's use and re-use is expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map. The scheduling specifically excludes the above-ground elements of the post-and-wire fence and modern dry stone walls.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as an impressive and well-preserved example of a multi-period site with high potential to add significantly to our understanding of the establishment, development and changing character of settlement and places of worship in the 1st millennium AD. It can enhance our understanding of the establishment of early ecclesiastical centres and places of worship, their relationship with earlier secular sites, and the character, development and abandonment of Iron Age settlements. Study of this site in comparison with similar examples (notably St Boniface 2km to the NNW) can add to our understanding of changes in politics, society and religion through the 1st millennium AD and later. The significance of the monument is enhanced by its Norse associations (it is mentioned in Orkneyinga Saga) and by historical references to the site continuing to be a place of pilgrimage into the 17th and 18th centuries. The loss of the monument would impede our ability to understand the nature of Iron Age society, economy and social hierarchy, and the establishment and development of Christian sites in Orkney and further afield.

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.