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

  SM90312_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600014829)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises a church of medieval date and a burial ground. The church is in the care of the Secretary of State for Scotland and is being re-scheduled to clarify the extent of the protected area.

The monument lies in rough grassland on the S shore of the Ness of Tuquoy, at around 5m OD. The church is now roofless. The earliest part appears to be 12th century and consisted of a rectangular nave, some 5.65m by 4.15m internally, which was entered through a round-headed door in the S wall and opened through a plain rounded arch on the E into a rectangular chancel, measuring 2.8m by 2.1m internally and enclosed by a barrel-vault. The nave was extended westwards at a later date, probably in the 16th or 17th century. The whole building measures approximately 20m E-W by about 7m transversely overall. The original church walls, at the E of the building, stand to a height of about 2.5m. The later walls at the W end of the building stand to a height of less than 1m.

The church stands within a burial ground, enclosed by a stone wall and measuring about 60m E-W by about 35m transversely. Traces of an earlier sub-rectangular enclosure, measuring some 50m by 25m and represented by a turf-covered bank, are apparent to the N and E of the church. The church probably owes its location to the presence near by, proven by excavation, of an important settlement of late Norse date.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related material may be expected to be found. It is polygonal with maximum dimensions of 70m from its easternmost point to its westernmost point and 70m from its northernmost point to its southernmost point, defined by the outer face of the stone wall enclosing the burial ground.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as representing one of a group of small Romanesque church buildings to survive in Orkney. Its significance is considerably enhanced by its association with an adjacent high'status settlement site of the Norse period and by the potential of its below'ground remains to contribute to our understanding of medieval religious practices and architecture. The importance of the site is reflected in its status as a property in care.

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.