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

  SM5345_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600011247)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of the remains of a single chambered early Mediaeval church within a burial ground. The church is located on the SE coast of Eilean Chaluim Chille near the mouth of the Loch Erisort, a sea loch. The building has lost its gables but elsewhere the walls generally survive to a height of 2.1m. It is orientated E-W, measuring externally 11m by 5.7m over walls 1m thick. The masonry is of rough random coursed rubble with small stone pinnings.

There is a deeply splayed, round headed window in the SE part of the South wall which has been blocked up on the exterior. Its sill has fallen and is inside the church. A section of the North wall has been poorly consolidated, possibly obscuring the entrance. The overgrown interior of the church contains a number of upright 19th century grave stones. The graveyard measures approximately 30m N-S by 25m E-W and contains numerous marker stones and several 19th century tablets.

There is a well constructed retaining wall between the burial ground and the shore. Against the S wall of the burial ground is a well. On either side of the cemetery are the wall footings of old farmsteads and field boundaries. These dwellings have subsequently had a pair of small high walled rectangular burial enclosures built within them.

The area to be scheduled is irregular and measures a maximum of 30m N-S by 30m E-W to include the Church and burial ground as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a good example of a simple early Christian chapel which preserves evidence of ecclesiastical architecture. The dedication to St Columba, although no doubt indirect, may signify an original connection with Iona, and the surviving structure may overlie an earlier foundation, offering the possibility of information regarding the spread of the Celtic Church throughout the Western sea-board of Scotland following St Columba's mission.

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.