Photographic copy of a plan of a stone-built structure No. 3 to scale [a quarter inch to one foot]. A hand-written description at the foot of the page reads: "me[a]sures from 6 ft to 8 ft. Height of W ...

Description Photographic copy of a plan of a stone-built structure No. 3 to scale [a quarter inch to one foot]. A hand-written description at the foot of the page reads: "me[a]sures from 6 ft to 8 ft. Height of Wall 3 to 2 feet. Seat 8 in. by 1 ft.".

Date c. 1915

Collection Papers of John Nicolson, antiquarian, Keiss, Caithness, Scotland

Catalogue Number E 49335 CN

Category Photographs and Off-line Digital Images

Copies SC 876533

Scope and Content Watercolour of Kirk Stones, Caithness, Highland The site of Kirk Stones is located on a grassy knoll near Stroupster in north-east Caithness and is an alleged ecclesiastical complex. The site consists of four structures, one of which is said to be a chapel. A stone wall and ditch surround the site and other large stones, some of them set on edge, lie within the enclosure. This watercolour by John Nicolson (1843-1934) shows one of the structures (No 3). It was a small structure, little more than 3 metres wide. Around the sides there was a scarcement or ledge and a fireplace was discovered on the west. Two floor levels were excavated. The site shown here was cleared by John Nicolson probably around 1915. The date and use of the structure is a mystery. Other structures on the site, including a chapel, were excavated by Samuel Laing before 1866 and Sir Francis Tress Barry (1825-1907) between 1881 and 1907. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

External Reference PPD 207

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