Archaeology Notes

Event ID 676701

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/676701

NN32NE 1.00 35920 28410

(NN 3592 2841) St. Fillan's Chapel (NR) (Ruins of).

OS 6" map, Perthshire, 2nd ed., (1900).

NN32NE 1.01 NN 359 284 Strathfillan Priory, handbell

See also NN32NE 3.

Strathfillan - a priorty of Augustinian Canons, founded 1317/8 by Robert I. when the church or chapel of St Fillan in Glendochart was bestowed upon Inchaffray Abbey. Priors are recorded from 1498. The priory was dissolved in 1607.

An Abbot of "Glendochir (or Glendocheroch)" is mentioned temp. William the Lion (1165 - 1214) but there is no record of a monastery, Celtic or otherwise, in Glendochart during this period.

D E Easson 1957.

The traditional site of the original monastic church is in the neighbourhood of St. Fillan's Pool, further up the river. The present ruins compose parts of the original north and south walls of the church, built of hammer dressed stone and lime mortar four feet thick. The remains of a building on the end of the church may have been the prior's house and the apsidal end may suggest a round tower.

T S Robertson 1898.

The walls of the church are of mortar bound rubble and rise to a maximum height of 3.0m. The NW corner is completely destroyed and at the SE end the walls are a tumble of stone.

Outside the church to the SE, are traces of other structures now represented by stony banks. The plan of one room only can be traced. There are now remains that can be identified as the claustral buildings of the priory. There are no remains and no local knowledge of the traditional site of the monastery at St. Fillan's Pool (NN32NE 5).

Visited by OS (R D L) 5 May 1962.

No change.

Surveyed at 1:2500.

Visited by OS (R D) 30 April 1969.

NN 3595 2839 As a condition of Scheduled Monument Consent a watching brief was undertaken on the excavation of two post-holes being dug in connection with the erection of a signboard for the West Highland Way at St Fillan's Priory. No archaeological deposits were disturbed.

Sponsor: Stirling Council.

L Main 1999.