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

  SM10398_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013645)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises a free-standing cross, sited within the grounds of St Margaret's Roman Catholic Church in Argyll Street, Lochgilphead. The cross previously stood until about 1969 in a rockery garden at Kilmory Castle.

It can, however, be identified with a cross, described by Martin and Muir, which at some time before 1901 was removed to 'Argyllshire' from the island of Vallay, which was then part of the North Uist estate of the Orde family of Kilmory. This identification is confirmed by the material used, a dark hornblende-schist, apparently of Hebridean origin.

The cross is 1.27m in visible height by about 90mm in average thickness, and the shaft tapers from 0.34m at ground level to 0.28m below the cross-head. It has been cruciform, with a somewhat irregular top arm, but the upper part of the right edge, including the side-arm, has been trimmed, probably for domestic re-use.

The left arm, however, is substantially complete, with a projection of about 60mm, and the smoothed and slightly rounded armpits are preserved except for that below the right arm. Within each of the armpits, and opening into them as if to link with an edge-moulding, there are incised rings, about 100mm in diameter, which define four circular mouldings with 40mm pierced centres.

The front surface, which now faces NW, is irregular, but no other ornament can be identified. The area to be scheduled comprises the cross which is located 9.1m WSW of the W door of St Margaret's Roman Catholic Church, Lochgilphead, as marked in red on the accompanying map. The modern base on which the cross stands is excluded from the scheduling.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as one of the few surviving early medieval crosses from the Outer Hebrides and for its potential to provide important art-historical information on this group of monuments.

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.