Archaeology Notes

Event ID 675866

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/675866

NN03SW 2 00505 31001

(A: NN 0050 3100) Church (NAT)

(B: NN 0051 3098) Kilespikeral Church (NR) (remains of) (NAT)

OS 1:10,000 map, (1976)

The modern parish church of Muckairn, Taynuilt (A) was built in 1829, but immediately south of it are the fragmentary remains of its medieval predecessor (B), which served the former parish of Muckairn or Kilespikeral (note 'Kilespickerill' - RCAHMS 1975). Parts of the north and south walls survive, together with a substantial portion of the east gable-wall, but the entire western portion has disappeared, so the original length cannot now be determined. The building measures 5.6 metres in width within walls about one metre in thickness.

The inner face of the south wall has an arched recess which probably housed a tomb-chest, and it is mainly on the strength of the recess from an architectural point of view that the building has been ascribed to the later Middle Ages. To the east of the recess was a window, and to the west of it, a high-level doorway, both of which are probably associated with a post-Reformation reconstruction of the building. The existence of an earlier church on this site is recorded in a mid-14th century charter. A number of medieval stone slabs or blocks with weathered decoration may be seen in the churchyard, while two medieval carved stones, probably from the earlier church, are built into the outer face of the south wall of the modern church.

RCAHMS 1975.

As described.

Surveyed at 1:2500 scale.

Visited by OS (R D) 21 October 1971.

Scheduled as Taynuilt, Old Parish Church of Muckairn.

Information from Historic Scotland, scheduling document dated 14 January 2002.