Westray, 'old Kirkhouse'
Chapel (Medieval)
Site Name Westray, 'old Kirkhouse'
Classification Chapel (Medieval)
Alternative Name(s) Surrigarth
Canmore ID 2761
Site Number HY44NE 8
NGR HY 489 452
NGR Description HY c. 489 452
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/2761
- Council Orkney Islands
- Parish Westray
- Former Region Orkney Islands Area
- Former District Orkney
- Former County Orkney
HY44NE 8 c. 489 452.
A chapel is said to have existed near 'Old Kirkhouse', a farm-house which formerly stood in an enclosure, which adjoins the new (in 1928) road, close to the kitchen-midden at Surrigarth (HY44NE 6).
RCAHMS 1946, visited 1928.
There is no trace and no local knowledge of a chapel near Old Kirkhouse, which stood in the field centred HY 4892 4524. The finding of human and animal bones on the Mound of Skelwick (HY44NE 6) may have led to the tradition of a chapel and graveyard here.
Visited by OS (NKB) 2 July 1970.
Field Visit (July 1981)
No trace. The name however indicates a church and the location is a likely one.
Information from Orkney SMR (RGL) Jun 81.
Field Visit (June 1981)
Old Kirkhouse HY c. 489 452 HY44NE 8
A chapel, evidently associated with the large settlement-mound of Skelwick (HY44NE 6), is traditionally located in its general area, but there is no evidence of its exact site.
RCAHMS 1983, visited June 1981.
(RCAHMS 1946, ii, p. 360, No. 1069; OR 717).
Field Visit (1998)
A chapel of which no trace has been found, is alleged to have stood in the vicinity of the farmstead of Old Kirkhouse, which is now demolished.
Moore and Wilson, 1998
Coastal Zone Assessment Survey
