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North Uist, Hougharry, Kilmuir Old Church
Church (19th Century)
Site Name North Uist, Hougharry, Kilmuir Old Church
Classification Church (19th Century)
Alternative Name(s) St Mary's Church
Canmore ID 238305
Site Number NF77SW 56
NGR NF 70726 70578
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/238305
- Council Western Isles
- Parish North Uist
- Former Region Western Isles Islands Area
- Former District Western Isles
- Former County Inverness-shire
Kilmuir Old Kirk (Cille Mhuire), 1764, mason John Arbuckle of South Queensferry Mottled ruin of old parish church standing just outside its walled burial ground (now extended), which breasts a slight eminence on Hougharry machair. Site of the island's earliest church, which we know stood here in 1549, the graveyard contains various important stone burial enclosures - flat-topped boxes with good squared edges, the largest being that of the Macdonalds of Balranald, with lintel incised 1768. See also the gneiss cross with boss (arms missing), and various other crudely carved stones of 10th/11 th century.
Kilmuir Parish Church, Alexander Shairp, 1894 A dullish T-plan hall, turned into something of a landmark by a stagey, battlemented tower.
Taken from "Western Seaboard: An Illustrated Architectural Guide", by Mary Miers, 2008. Published by the Rutland Press http://www.rias.org.uk
Rectangular-plan former church, now a roofless shell: altered, especially on south wall, probably earlier/mid 19th century. Rubble-built; some harling survives. Window high on either gable, door on west gable: south elevation with outer square-headed and 2 inner round-headed openings: blocked opening to north.(Historic Scotland)
Replaced by by a later church in 1894. (Historic Scotland) Site of the island's earlier church, which stood here in 1549. ( M.Miers)
Photographic Survey (June 2012)
This building was photographed during the Uists Landscapes Project.
