Berneray, Borve, Cladh Maolrithe
Burial Ground (Period Unassigned), Chapel (Period Unassigned)(Possible)
Site Name Berneray, Borve, Cladh Maolrithe
Classification Burial Ground (Period Unassigned), Chapel (Period Unassigned)(Possible)
Canmore ID 10498
Site Number NF98SW 8
NGR NF 91215 80680
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/10498
- Council Western Isles
- Parish Harris
- Former Region Western Isles Islands Area
- Former District Western Isles
- Former County Inverness-shire
NF98SW 8 9121 8068.
(NF 9121 8068) Cladh Maolrithe (NR) (Burial Ground) (Disused)
OS 6"map, Inverness-shire, 2nd ed., (1904)
Cladh Maolrithe, or Cladh Maolruibhe (Information from OS), is a squarish oval enclosure, hollow in the centre, measuring about 45 yards in length and breadth, and surrounded by the remains of an earthen wall spread over a considerable width.
The name suggests a chapel site of St Maolrubha. This is supported by a local tradition that a chapel existed in the graveyard.
Martin (M Martin 1934) states: "There are two chapels in this Isle (Bernaray) to wit, St Asaph's (NF98SW 4) and St Columbus's Chapel.
Name Book 1877; RCAHMS 1928; M Martin 1934.
Cladh Maolruibhe, situated near the top of a hill on gently shelving ground, is generally as described by RCAHMS, except that the enclosed area is on the same level as the exterior, and not hollow. The enclosing earthen bank, indistinct on the E side, is so extensively spread that it must have been of considerable size originally, more suggestive of defence rather than a burial enclosure. A number of shieling-like structures, or cells, 0.6m high, abut against the wall, 4 on the E side and 1 each on the N & S sides, and appear to overlie the wall.
In the centre of the enclosure is an orientated turf-covered foundation measuring 6.5 x 4.5m internally, with walls 1.0m thick and 0.7m high. Possible traces of shell mortar were found, and from the construction of the building it is undoubtedly a chapel of some considerable age.
The site is probably a cashel, as evidenced by the substantial enclosing wall and the chapel within.
Visited by OS (N K B) 20 June 1965.
Field Visit (18 September 2010)
Situated on the crest of a hill overlooking Loch Borve from the NE, this large oval hollow is said to mark the location of a former burial ground. A well-defined lip can be traced around the whole of its circuit forming an enclosure measuring 38m from N to S by 35m transversely and ranging in depth from only 0.5m on the N and S to about 1m on the W and 1.8m on the E. Stones can be detected by probing around most of its circuit, particularly on the E, though here they may represent the remains of two buildings sited on the edge of the hollow. A tall monolith stone stands just to the ENE of the centre (see NF98SW 7) at the E end of a rectangular grass-grown foundation; this measures about 6m by 4m over banks up to 0.5m in height and, if the tradition that the enclosure is a burial ground is correct, is probably the remains of a chapel. In many respects, however, the enclosure resembles a grassed over quarry, and this raises the possibility that the standing stone and the bank enclosing it are elements of an earlier structure, perhaps even a large heavily robbed hilltop burial cairn, which might account for the tradition of a burial ground here.
Visited by RCAHMS (SPH) 18 September 2010
