Desk Based Assessment
Date 1972
Event ID 672997
Category Recording
Type Desk Based Assessment
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/672997
NL94SW 2 9377 4013.
(NL 9376 4010) St. Patrick's Temple (NR) (In Ruins)
OS 6" map, Argyllshire, 2nd ed., (1900)
(NL 9377 4013) St Patrick's Chapel (NR) (remains of)
OS 1:10,000 map, (1976)
APs suggest that this site is an eremitical monastery comparable in size and situation to that of Sgor nam Ban-Naomha (NG20NW 2) which Thomas dates to the 7th c. The enclosing wall was visible in the late 18th century, the enclosed area measuring 1/3 of an acre.
The chapel 'Teampull Phadruig' - 'Temple Patrick' - is reduced to its foundation and part of the east gable, but it measured 26' by 11' within its rough, 3' thick, stone and lime walls. The east gable which stood about 7' externally and 5 1/2' internally in 1903 appears to have been only about 2'6" thick. A square altar at the east end stood 18" high at the end of the 18th century.
Close to the chapel are two pillar-stones, one about 26" high with a Latin cross 9 3/4" and 6" high incised on each side. The other, of coarser material, is 38" high with similar crosses measuring 13 3/4" by 11 1/2". A large stone of irregular shape and rough surface, its length varying from 42" to 36", lies under the shadow of a rock at the east gable. On one side is a cross 16 1/2" long with traces of a smaller, and, according to Reeves (W Reeves 1854), older cross, showing faintly below it. The reverse bears an 11" long cross.
A hillock about 10 yds north of the chapel has borne a separate oval-walled enclosure about 6 yds by 3 yds, containing traces of an erection measuring 4' square internally.
Just below the chapel is a small well near the shore, and in the rocks at about HWM are several curious round, deep holes, evidently natural, one of which, 2' wide and 4' deep, is known as St Patrick's Vat.
OSA 1794; W Reeves 1854; Name Book 1878; E Beveridge 1903; C Thomas 1971.
Information from OS.
