Description

This monument consists of the substantial remains of a medieval chapel and a varied collection of carved stones. The chapel is a simple rectangle in plan measuring roughly 12m E-W by 5m. It is complete to wallheads apart from the E gable and much of the dressed stones of the door, windows and quoins. The chapel was given an inverted glass roof in the 1930s to allow it to be used as a lapidarium.

The chapel contains a collection of nearly 40 carved stones dating from the Early Christian period to the 16th century. All but one of them appear to be from Kilmory, brought in from the graveyard. In the graveyard there is the base of MacMillan's Cross (which is now in the chapel) as well as another cross-base.

The area to be scheduled includes the chapel and graveyard. It is defined by and includes the boundary walls of the graveyard. The area is irregular in shape measuring approximately 30m N-S by 30m at its extremities and is marked in red on the accompanying map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

This monument is of national importance as a well-preserved medieval chapel with a fine collection of finely carved stones. The decorations on the stones indicate that Kilmory was a wealthy trading centre in the late Middle Ages. The archaeology of the site has the potential to increase our understanding of the Middle Ages in Argyll from the coming Christianity to the 16th Century.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NR 77 NW 2.
Historic Environment Scotland Properties
Kilmory Knap Chapel
https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/kilmory-knap-chapel
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Source: Historic Environment Scotland