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

  SM5566_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600011465)

Summary

Description

The monument, situated in an old graveyard consists of the remains of the former Olrig parish church. Two corner skew-putts, dated 1633 and 1743 may indicate the dates of construction and subsequent repair.

The rectangular-plan church, dedicated to St Trothan, measures 15.6m E-W by 5.6m N-S within walls 0.9-1m thick. The walls, reduced to a uniform height of 3m are constructed in thin-coursed Caithness flag (although a small amount of freestone is used in the E end). All the openings have been blocked up. The original entrance appears to have been in the E end and traces of a window above suggest there might have been an upper floor.

Another blocked entrance lies in the middle of the N wall. The present entrance is in the S wall near the W end. The S wall contains a small dressed lancet window that appears to have been re-set. All the other openings are square-headed and of varying sizes. A chancel partition now reduced to a height of 1.4m appears to be a later addition. The chancel is floored with flag slabs.

The area to be scheduled is rectangular and extends a maximum of 2m from the exterior walls of the chapel measuring a maximum of 20.6m E-W by 10.6m N-S, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a church dating from 1633 which may have been built in response to liturgical changes brought about by Charles I and his policy in Scotland which favoured the agrandizement of the Episcopal church, and threatened the established reformed church of Scotland. In addition it provides evidence and has the potential to provide further evidence, through excavation and analysis, for ecclesiastical architecture, church history, the parochial system, religious patronage and material culture in Scotland during the period of its construction and use.

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.