Description

The monument comprises the turf-covered footings of an early medieval chapel and its associated burial ground, situated 270m SSE of Craigens, Islay.

The monument was first scheduled in 1963, but an inadequate area was included to protect all of the archaeological remains: the present rescheduling rectifies this.

The chapel and enclosure are situated on a level terrace on a W facing slope overlooking Loch Gruinart. The chapel appears to have been of drystone construction and measured about 5.5m from E to W by 2.7m transversely, within walls about 1 m in thickness. The doorway was in the N wall. The burial ground is roughly D-shaped and measures about 18m from NE to SW by 14m transversely, within a drystone dyke about 1m thick.

Little is known of the history of this chapel. According to local tradition, it was as ruinous in the 16th century (when the land passed to the MacTaggart family) as it is now. The name Corsapool, about 400m to the S, may indicate the former existence of a cross in association with the chapel.

The area to be scheduled includes the remains described and an area around them within which related material may be expected to survive. It is irregular in plan with maximum dimensions of 24m NE-SW by 19m transversely, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography
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Source: Historic Environment Scotland