External Reference

Date 20 July 1971

Event ID 962198

Category Documentary Reference

Type External Reference

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/962198

c. 1350. Rubble. Roofless. CHURCH: 1st Pointed. Long

narrow chamber. Gabled. Splayed slit windows (rudimentary

trefoils). 3-light mullioned E. window. Freestone. Sacrament

House within buttress at S.E. corner. McDaffie's Mortuary

Chapel on S. side. 'Baptistery' at W. end. Narrow recess on

N. side gives access to range of domestic buildings around

Cloisters.

CHAPTER HOUSE: (sub-divided into 3 parts, including McNeill

Burial Place (with 19th century extension to E.))

REFECTORY. KITCHEN. PRIOR'S CHAPEL. CLOISTERS: on N. Side

of Church. 5 narrow round arches on S. 7 unusual straightlined

pointed arches on thin pillars (some inscribed)

on N. (Other sides destroyed.) PRIOR'S HOUSE: detached, to

N. of Prior's Chapel. Gabled.

Re-roofed 1937 to house grave-slabs, etc.

Groome.

Argyll C.C. 'List'

Pennant 'Tour 1772' Vol. 1, pp. 270-1 (ills.)

Grieve. 'Colonsay and Oronsay' Vol. 1, pp. 367-373 (plan;

ills.)

Muir 'Characteristics' p. 69.

Ecc. Arch. Vo. III, pp. 372-381 (plan; ills.)

P.S.A.S. XV pp. 113-115.

RCAHMS Vol 5 No 386 p230-254 (Plans, ills)

Ruin but with more interesting remains than any other

religious foundation except Iona in Hebrides.

Enclosed by ancient burial ground. Founded by John Macdonald,

1st Lord of the Isles as a house of Augustinian Canons.

Subsequent history obscure.

Attached to Bishopric of Argyll in 16th century.

Scheduled Ancient Monument No 287.

Information from Historic Scotland, 20 July 1971