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

  SM90249_Legal Docs

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600017869)

Summary

Description

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

The monument lies at around 20m OD. St Clement's Church was built in the early part of the 16th century by Alexander Macleod of Harris and Dunvegan, whose superbly carved tomb, dated 1528 with tomb chest, recumbent effigy and highly decorated arcosolium, occupies a prestigious position on the south side of the choir.

The tomb of his son William, dated 1539, lies on the south side of the nave and another, possibly that of John MacLeod of Minginish (died 1557), lies in the S transept. The church also contains a number of late and post-medieval graveslabs and the head of a free-standing cross.

Although altered at the Reformation and restored on a number of occasions, most notably in 1784 and 1873, the building is essentially of one period. It is cruciform in plan, with a tower at the west end and chapels occupying the two transepts. It measures about 23m E-W by some 19m across the N and S transepts. The church lies within a burial ground, which contains several 18th-century burial enclosures and is defined by a stone wall.

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 irregular with maximum dimensions of 85m from its northernmost point to its southernmost point and 77m from its easternmost point to its westernmost point, defined by the outer face of the stone wall enclosing the burial ground, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract. All lairs with existing burial rights are excluded from scheduling.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as representing the most complete major medieval church in the Western Isles and because of what it contributes to our understanding of late medieval ecclesiastical art and architecture and late and post-medieval society and burial practices. 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.