Conservation

Date 1998

Event ID 922609

Category Building History

Type Conservation

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/922609

NN 198 014. An extensive ongoing conservation programme involving the wholesale exposure of the masonry fabric of the church to the exterior and of the E gable wall on the interior, and limited groundworks in the vicinity of the E end both internally and externally. Monitoring and architectural survey were undertaken from 1995 to 1998.

The recent works have permitted a full assessment of the evolution of the present structure. The body of the existing kirk contains substantial portions of the fabric of its late medieval predecessor within the E, N and W walls. The internal splay of the E window was tentatively identified and S of this a small unadorned aumbry was revealed (and reinstated as part of the conservation works). Two well-preserved blocked windows, rectangular with simple chamfered surrounds, were exposed on the N and W walls. Within the masonry of subsequent rebuildings many moulded architectural dressings had been reused, most doubtless coming from this early structure and some possibly from a monument within. One fragment formed part of a voussoir displaying a glazing groove and a well-formed cusp that was apparently part of the former E window.

Laying of new paving within the E end exposed a small surviving section of a flagstone floor and what may have been the slight truncated remains of a masonry altar, both apparently contemporary with the early church fabric.

The structure is tentatively dated to c 1440 on the basis of documentary source material and similarity of carved details to those of the W tower of the former collegiate church at Kilmun, similarly endowed by Sir Duncan Campbell of Lochawe.

The blocked entrance to the Campbell burial aisle of c 1590 that formerly abutted the E gable was recorded. Exterior trenching at the E end revealed the founds of this structure and a single inhumation within (not disturbed).

A major episode of rebuilding was identified within the standing fabric. This had involved the slight broadening of the nave by the reconstruction of its S wall, the reconstruction of wall-heads throughout and the insertion of a new roof. Payments made in 1644 'for building the queir and repaireing of the kirk of Lochgoilshead' can be identified with this work, as can the occurrence of a distinctive mason's mark in the form of a crossed double-headed arrow.

Subsequent additions of a N aisle, a session house to the S and the insertion of various large nave windows were also defined. The former contained a blocked doorway and displayed a series of mason's marks upon lintels throughout.

The trench along the E end exposed the remains of two substantial mortared footings that clearly lay beneath the existing masonry fabric of the 15th-century church. Whether these represented an immediate predecessor or an Early Christian structure was not determined.

Mortar and harl samples were taken from all phases as a comparative collection for future analysis and vested with the Scottish Lime Centre.

Reports will be lodged with the NMRS.

Sponsors: Historic Scotland, Parish of Lochgoilhead & Kilmorich.

T Addyman 1998