Kirkatafts, Linga

HU59NE 4 5591 9862.

(HU 5590 9863) Chapel (LB) (Site of)

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

' A circular plot of ground about 40 links in diameter ..... the site of an ancient Romish chapel.' (Neighbouring name: 'Kirkatafts')

Name Book 1878.

There are no definite indications of a chapel here, but there is a "Ne-BA" homestead greatly obscured by tumble.

It comprises an oval building measuring externally 11.7m NNW-SSE by 7.5m ENE-WSW., with a contigeous circular building, 9.4m external diameter, on its W.side. The walls of both are obscured by tumble but appear to measure c.2.0m thick. Internally both are confused by a mass of stones, but there are traces of cells, and in the oval structrue, what appears to be a cross wall The entrance to the oval building is in the SSE but none is apparent in the circular building. The buildings are enclosed by a turf-covered wall, overlaid on the E side by a modern sheep shelter.

Immediately to the W. of the homestead is another sheep shelter incorporating the lower courses of an earlier dry-stone structure, the latter measuring externally c.6.2m NNW - SSE by c.4.2m ENE. - WSW., with walls c.0.8m thick. It is rectangular with a semi-circular N wall. A blocked entrance in the E wall and two blind windows inside the structure are visible. This could possibly have been a cell or chapel but insufficient is evident for classification.

The tradition of a chapel is still known locally, but it seems doubtful.

Visited by OS (RL) 8 May 1969.