Scheduled Monument

Barnweill ChurchSM5262

Status: Designated

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.

Summary

Date Added
30/03/1992
Type
Ecclesiastical: church
Local Authority
South Ayrshire
Parish
Craigie
NGR
NS 40506 29905
Coordinates
240506, 629905

Description

The monument consists of the remains of a single-chambered pre- Reformation church probably built at the beginning of the 15th century. It is built on the N side of Barnweil Hill and surrounded by a walled graveyard. The building is orientated E-W and has external dimensions of 16.1m by 7.3m over walls 0.8m thick. Although much of the building appears to be 17th century, the W gable and E window suggest an earlier medieval date.

The blind W gable is intact (6m), rises from a chamfered base plinth and has an offset at the height of the main wallhead. The E gable remains to a height of 3.7m. It is intact only to the apex of its segmental-arched window. The N and S walls survive to a height of between 1m and 1.9m. The masonry is coursed random rubble with dressings at entrances, windows and angles. There have been two opposed entrances, 6.1m from the W end.

There is a small rectangular aumbry in the W gable one metre above floor level. The area to be scheduled is rectangular and measures a maximum of 20m E-W by 15m N-S to be centred on the church, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as it is a good example of a simple pre-Reformation church. It provides evidence and has the potential to provide more evidence through excavation for ecclesiastical architecture, burial practices and parish organisation in medieval Scotland.

References

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NS 42 NW 1.

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.

Images

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Printed: 08/06/2026 09:36