Black and white photograph of the interior of one of the Kirkapol chapels.
Interior of the larger of the Kirkapol chapels, St Columba`s, showing excavated human bones to the right, taken in 2001.
2002.69.2
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Tag Archives: ancient monuments
2002.69.3
Black and white photograph of excavated human remains in one of the Kirkapol chapels.
Excavated human bones in the larger of the Kirkapol chapels, St Columba`s, taken in 2001.
2002.69.4
Black and white photograph from the interior of one of the Kirkapol chapels.
View of the old graveyard from the interior of the larger of the Kirkapol chapels, St Columba`s, taken in 2001.
2002.69.5
The chapel at Kilkenneth
Photograph of the ruins of the chapel at Kilkenneth in 2001
Courtesy of Rev. Robert Higham
The ruins of a small chapel dedicated to St Cainnech lie in the sand-dunes at Kilkenneth. Like the other remaining medieval chapels on Tiree, it was built from lime-mortared local rubble. Oblong in plan, it measures 8.7 by 3.1 metres within walls three-quarters of a metre thick.
The entrance is situated in the west gable-wall, of which a large part has collapsed. The chapel was lit by two slit-windows opposite each other in the side walls near the east end of the building.
The Statistical Account of 1794 records that at the chapel was ‘a burying ground so sandy, that, by blowing, heaps of human bones are seen, and coffins often exposed, before half consumed. It is now surrounded by sand banks higher than the side walls; they no longer bury there.’
Colour photograph of the Kilkenneth chapel in 2001.
The chapel at Kilkenneth, photographed in 2001.
2002.69.6
Black and white photograph of aerial view of Kirkapol and Gott Bay.
Aerial view of Kirkapol showing the Parish Church, the graveyard, the old chapels and the Lodge Hotel.
2002.69.9
The small chapel at Kirkapol
Photograph of the small chapel at Kirkapol in 2001.
Courtesy of Rev. Robert Higham
The smaller and older of the two medieval chapels at Kirkapol was probably dedicated to St Brendan. It stands on a rocky knoll about 80 metres north of the larger chapel which originally served as the island’s Parish Church. Both chapels are constructed from random rubble laid in lime mortar.
The small chapel is a simple oblong in plan with gables to the east and west and measures 7 by 3.5 metres internally. The flat but uneven surface of the rock it stands on serves as the floor.
The south wall of the chapel has partially collapsed but there is still a round-arch door in the west wall. A narrow slit window in the north wall lights what would have been the altar area at the east end.
Colour photograph of one of the Kirkapol chapels.
The smaller of the two Kirkapol chapels, possibly called St Brendan`s, photographed in 2001.
2002.69.10
St Columba’s Church, Kirkapol
Photograph of the Old Parish Church at Kirkapol in 2001.
Courtesy of Rev. Robert Higham
The Old Parish Church, dedicated to St Columba, stands within its own graveyard, An Cladh Beag, a quarter of a kilometre from Gott Bay. It is oblong in plan and measures 11.3 by 5.2 metres within walls over a metre thick.
There is a blocked-up round-arch entrance in the west wall and two round-arch windows in the south wall. During conservation work on the church in 2001, the disarticulated remains of at least ten bodies were found in the area of ground beneath the large breach in the east gable wall.
Beneath these bones, the remains of two more bodies were found in a small burial chamber, which was probably part of the original church construction in the late 14th century. These discoveries accord with the medieval practice of burying bodies beneath the walls of consecrated buildings.
Colour photograph of one of the Kirkapol chapels.
The larger of the two Kirkapol chapels, St Columba`s, photographed in 2001.
2002.58.4
Minutes from meetings of Tiree Heritage Society between 5/4/2001 and 12/2/2002.
Minutes of five meetings of Tiree Heritage Society covering topics such as a Guide book, archaeological survey, Kirkapol approach track, the pilgrimage route, fencing, Tobar Eachann, fundraising, Shell Better Britain award, pipe tune, Nud`s Notebooks, access roads and plaques for the chapels.
1997.93.1
Historic Scotland publication `A List of Ancient Monuments in Scotland 1997`.
List of prehistoric, Roman, ecclestistical, secular and industrial monuments, crosses and carved stones.
1997.47.1
Photocopy of book extract `Parish of Tiry` by Rev. Archibald McColl.
Description of the geography of Tiree, its wildlife, minerals, antiquities, climate, diseases, population, fuel, manufactures and fishery, livestock, agriculture, the character and customs of the people, the poor, schools, emigration, ferries, churches.