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

  SM9915_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013607)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the remains of St Fillan's Church and churchyard, Kilallan, which dates from the medieval period. Today the church is ruinous, surviving as a roofless structure.

The monument is situated immediately to the E of Kilallan Farm, at c.100m OD. It comprises the remains of Kilallan parish church, dedicated to St Fillan (Faelan of Cluain Moesca in Meath). The origins of the church may date back to the 10th or 11th century AD, when incoming Gaels introduced the cult to the area. This was one of the churches gifted to Paisley Abbey by Walter the Steward in 1169. The church was last used in 1771 (Kilallan parish having been united with Houston in 1760), although the graveyard surrounding the church was still in use as late as 1856.

The church is a long and narrow unicameral building, measuring c.19m E-W by c.6m N-S. The walls survive almost intact, although with much altered medieval fabric and post-medieval gables. All of the openings are 17th-century work and the doorway at the W end of the S wall is dated 1635, when the pre-Reformation character of the building was changed to suit Presbyterian needs. The Barochan Aisle, where several Flemings of Barochan are buried, was later added to the N side of the church. There are records of sculpted stones from the site, although their current location is uncertain.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related material may be expected to survive. It is defined by the churchyard wall and is roughly sub-rectangular in shape, with maximum dimensions of 42.5m NE-SW by 41m transversely, as marked in red on the accompanying map. The above ground components of the enclosing churchyard wall are excluded from the schedule.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as it represents an example of the continuous development of a medieval parish church and churchyard up to the 18th century, with origins in the early medieval period. Its importance is enhanced by its potential to contribute to an understanding of medieval ecclesiastical architecture.

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.