Scheduled Monument

Newton ChapelSM5463

Status: Designated

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.

Summary

Date Added
01/12/1992
Supplementary Information Updated
05/02/2019
Type
Ecclesiastical: burial ground, cemetery, graveyard; chapel
Local Authority
Highland
Planning Authority
Highland
Parish
Tain
NGR
NH 84543 81436
Coordinates
284543, 881436

Description

The monument consists of the remains of Newton Chapel which are located on rising ground overlooking the Dornoch Firth to the N. The rectangular building is defined by footings measuring 13.2m E-W by 5.8m overall. The walls, although they have spread to 1m, appear to have been 0.8m thick and are reduced to a maximum height of 0.7m.

The rubble core walls have had freestone dressings but these have been completely removed.Several appear in a clearance heap to the W of the building. Several facing stones remain on the interior and exterior walls. A carved stone probably from the top of a gablet or buttress lies 9.5m NW of the chapel. The burial ground is traceable as as a rectangular raised platform, strongly defined on the W.

The area to be scheduled is rectangular measuring a maximum of 35m E-W by 50m N-S to include the chapel and burial ground, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The area is of national importance as a chapel of sixteenth century date which, although fragmentary, remains architectural evidence which suggests that it was probably an ambitious building with well defined faces and complex late gothic ornament. As such, it is likely to provide evidence, and has the potential to provide further evidence through excavation, for ecclesiastical architecture and patronage, burial practices, material culture and the development of the medieval church in Scotland.

References

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NH 88 SW 3.

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.

Images

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Printed: 20/04/2024 03:27