Lewis, Pabay Mor, St Peter's Church
Burial Ground (Medieval)(Possible), Church (Medieval)
Site Name Lewis, Pabay Mor, St Peter's Church
Classification Burial Ground (Medieval)(Possible), Church (Medieval)
Canmore ID 4095
Site Number NB13NW 1
NGR NB 10446 37699
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/4095
- Council Western Isles
- Parish Uig
- Former Region Western Isles Islands Area
- Former District Western Isles
- Former County Ross And Cromarty
Field Visit (17 June 1914)
Church, Pabay More, Loch Roag.
On a ridge between the almost dry lochan, near the south end of the island of Pabay More and a small sandy bay on the east side of the island, are the slight remains of a small church built of stone and lime, rectangular on plan and orientated almost east north-east and west-north-west, and measuring about 20 feet 9 inches in length internally and about 13 feet in breadth, the wall being about 2 feet 10 inches thick. The building is much dilapidated, and only one window is traceable towards the west end of the south wall. The best preserved part of the wall shows a height of 2 feet 6 inches, but the doorway is quite obliterated.
RCAHSM 1928, visited 17 June 1914.
OS map: Lewis xvii
Field Visit (8 July 1969)
A church, locally known as St Peter's Church, generally as described by RCAHMS. It is oriented NE-SW, with the window at the E end of the S wall. There are traces of a chancel, denoted by a mutilated turf-covered wall showing little of its stonework. There is a local tradition of a burial ground, but there is no sign of it.
Visited by OS (A A) 8 July 1969.
Desk Based Assessment (1969)
The slight remains of a small church, built of stone and lime, rectangular on plan,and orientated almost ENE-WSW.
It measures about 20'9" by 13' internally with walls about 2'10" thick. The building is much dilapidated and only one window is traceable, towards the west end of the south wall. The best preserved part of the wall shows a height of 2'6" but the doorway is quite obliterated.
Martin mentions the church of St Peter in Pabbay Island which is presumably a reference to this site.
Information from OS c1969.
Sources: RCAHMS 1928; M Martin 1934.
Field Visit (2005)
This chapel site was included in a research project to identify the chapel sites of Lewis and surrounding islands. The Lewis Coastal Chapel-sites survey recorded 37 such sites.
R Barrowman 2005
Field Visit (2006)
NB 10450 37450 Due to recent interference to the fabric of the Tempall Peter, there are distinct remains of the tops of two lancet windows in the W gable which would indicate that this building has suffered inundation by sand and also that the roof was formerly corbelled, as there is a distinct roof springing of the walls which is not due to settlement.
J Crawford 2006
Photographic Record (2010)
NB 10454 37693 Teampaill Padruig
A photographic record was made of the remaining fabric. OS1. (S35). Note: Used as
a refuge for the MacLeod of Lewis chiefs. A document from 1549 records there was a church on the site. It is an interesting possibility that the current fragmentary nature of the site may reflect the impact of artillery used during the Scottish Crown’s campaign against MacLeod of Lewis in 1506.
J Crawford 2010
Note
Title: Chapel-sites on the Isle of Lewis: Results of the Lewis Coastal Chapel-sites Survey
Journal: SCOTTISH ARCHAEOLOGICAL INTERNET REPORTS (e-ISSN: 2056-7421)
Author: Barrowman, R C
Publisher: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, Edinburgh
Date: 2020
MCE (2023): Reviewed as part of the GAPR. Publication was completed in 2020. Open Access publication with SAIR. Publication grant-aided by HES.
