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Field Visit
HY53SE 7 5602 3242.
In 1831 a large cairn was used as a quarry for the building of the adjacent United Presbyterian Church (HY53SE 13). The wreckage was investigated by Major Hebden, who found ' a long passage or room flagged over', and numerous passages branching out and leading to small semi-circular cells'; the famous spiral-marked stone (NMAS 1A 2) is only half of the complete entity, as Hebden was not in time to save the other portion from being used as a lintel in the church (the ruin has been carefully examined, without success). The overgrown and spread out remains of the cairn give no clue to the original layout of the chambers; Henshall surmises a chamber of Maes Howe type, and it is tempting to think of Holm of Papa Westray (RCAHMS 1983, ORK 22).
The possibility that the remains were those of a settlement mound cannot, however, be entirely excluded.
RCAHMS 1984, visited October 1981.
(PSAS, 4 ( 1860-2), 185-6; RCAMS 1946, ii, p. 62, No. 225; Henshall 1963, 198; OR 758.)
