Hoy, Chapel Of Brims
Burial Ground (Medieval), Chapel (Medieval)
Site Name Hoy, Chapel Of Brims
Classification Burial Ground (Medieval), Chapel (Medieval)
Alternative Name(s) Brims, Chapel And Graveyard
Canmore ID 8921
Site Number ND28NE 2
NGR ND 2840 8821
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/8921
- Council Orkney Islands
- Parish Walls And Flotta
- Former Region Orkney Islands Area
- Former District Orkney
- Former County Orkney
ND28NE 2 2840 8821
The Chapel and graveyard walls appear to have been of drystone construction; only turf-covered foundations remain. According to Mr Nicholson, Mucklehouse, Longhope, human bones have been found in a level area some 30m W of the chapel, where there are several small low mounds. He believes that the chapel was dedicated to St John but this cannot be confirmed.
Resurveyed at 1:2500.
Visited by OS (NKB) 17 June 1967.
ND 283 881 Chapel of Brims, ruinous.
Sponsors: Historic Scoland, Orkney Archaeological Trust.
G Wilson and H Moore 1997.
Scheduled as 'Chapel of Brims, Hoy... a low turf-covered bank forming a rectangular enclosure, aligned WNW-ESE, which is held to be the remains of a medieval chapel dedicated to St John. The chapel lies towards the western end of a second, larger rectanular enclosure, indicated by a much less complete bank; the larger enclosure possibly forming the precinct or graveyard wall. There are other less distinct surface features in the vicinity of the chapel; some may represent further enclosure or boundary walls while others appear to be the remains of buildings.'
Information from Historic Scotland, scheduling document dated 9 January 2004.
Field Visit (August 1987)
Chapel of Brims ND 2840 8821 ND28NE 2
The chapel occupies a rocky summit on the opposite side of the hill from the present-day township. The building survives as a rectangular foundation, with all four internal but no external wall-faces visible; it measures 8.8m internally from ESE-WNW and 2.9m in width. The doorway seems to have been near the W end of the S wall. The chapel is set at the centre of an enclosure 22m by 16.5m over a wall, which, where visible, is 1.1 m thick. From the NW corner of the enclosure a broad bank runs towards the cliff-edge; some other exposed stones and hummocks, especially a group lying 30m to the SW, may represent earlier settlement or agricultural traces.
RCAHMS 1989, visited August 1987.
(RCAHMS 1946, ii, p. 339, No. 1005; OR 1930).
Field Visit (August 1997)
The grass-covered footings of a rectangular building, aligned NE-SW, are located on a gentle rise, 20m from the cliff edge. The structure measures 8.95m by 3.4m; the footings stand up to 0.5m high. The side walls are up to 0.6m thick, while the end walls are 1.05m thick. There is the suggestion of a doorway at the SW corner. A long, low mound of grass-covered rubble fills the interior of the chapel. The footings of the outer enclosure wall lie 4m from the S and W walls of the chapel and enclose an area 22m by 16.5m.
It is believed locally that the chapel was dedicated to St. John, although this has not been confirmed. Human bones have been found in a level area, 30m to the W of the chapel, where there are several low mounds.
Moore and Wilson, 1997
Coastal Zone Assessment Survey
