Description

The monument comprises the grass-covered remains of a building, known locally as Kirkhouse and interpreted as the site of a medieval chapel. It is sited on a small peninsula by the shore on the E side of Houton Head. The monument was first scheduled in 1972, but the documentation is faulty: the present scheduling rectifies this.

The visible remains are a grass-covered hollow measuring about 4m from N-S by 2.5m transversely by 0.4m deep and lined with on-edge slabs. Whilst this structure is not suggestive of a chapel, the place-name evidence and the fact that four medieval bronze bells were found here, do suggest that the chapel is on this site.

The area to be scheduled is irregular on plan and measures a maximum of 46m from NE-SW by 38m transversely, to include the visible remains and an area around in which associated remains may survive, as marked in red on the attached map. The NW edge of the scheduled area is defined by a modern fence which is excluded from the scheduling.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national significance because of its potential to provide information about the medieval and later church in Orkney.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS record this monument as HY30SW7.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland