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BURIAL-GROUNDS
There are thirty churches,
chapels and burial-grounds on Mull and Iona
considered worthy of preservation by the
Commissioners of the Royal Commission on the
ancient and historical monuments of Scotland
1980.
The following are the places
that we do not have enough information to
warrant a separate entry at present
Bunessan, Kilpatrick -
burial ground
A drawing of this site was
made in 1700 by Edward Lhuyd or one of his
assistants, showing a sub-rectangular enclosure,
but its relationship to the existing enclosure
is uncertain. This drawing also shows what may
be a memorial cairn and a cross-base, but the
earliest identifiable tombstones are early 19th
century.
See: RCAHMS Argyll Volume
3 (Her Majesty's Stationery Office
Edinburgh 1980) ISBN 0 11 491591 1
Calgary - Killantringan
(local name) - burial ground
Situated on the level ground
at the head of Calgary Bay this was formerly
known as Clad Mhuire meaning St Mary's burial
ground. Many religious places were renamed ,
often replacing a Celtic saint's name with that
of the Virgin Mary, and this burial ground was
original named St Ninian's cell or Cill' Shaint
Truinnean.
It is surrounded by a fairly
new lime-mortared stone wall. However two
Early Christian grave-markers, both having been
re-used as headstones, confirm that is of
ancient origin. One is a stone 0.68 m long by
0.14 m wide and has an incised cross on each
opposite sides and is probably the upper part of
a much taller stone. The second is a
pillar-stone 1.27 m long by 0.27 m and has been
trimmed to a point at the foot. On both sides
are interesting cross-decorations.
There are no other visible
memorials of anything earlier that 1707.
See: RCAHMS Argyll Volume
3 (Her Majesty's Stationery Office
Edinburgh 1980) ISBN 0 11 491591 1
Jean Whittaker The burial
grounds of North Mull no. 2 (Brown &
Whittaker) Ready in 2006
Carsaig - St Mary's Chapel
(Site) and burial ground
It is believed that this
chapel was demolished in 1825 and no remains can
now be seen. However the surrounding wall
which enclosed the burial ground contains
numerous fragments of local sandstone, one of
which has been identified as part of a
window-jamb of medieval type.
In the burial ground there is
an Early Christian cross-decorated stone which
has been used as a headstone. It is made of
slate and measures 0.68m in total by 0.23m. A
incised Latin cross is on both sides of the
stone.
The earliest post-reformation
tombstones are early 19th century.
When this site was visited in
1875 by the Ordnance Survey they were shown a
'slight hollow in the ground' in the field east
of the burial ground which was St Mary's
Well. The well is believed to have been
opened until the early 19th century and to
possess therapeutic qualities. Unfortunately
its exact position can no longer be identified.
See: RCAHMS Argyll Volume
3 (Her Majesty's Stationery Office
Edinburgh 1980) ISBN 0 11 491591 1
Cillchriosd (Church of
Christ) or Kilchrist - Nr Langamull - burial
ground
This burial ground can be
found about 100m south east of the farmhouse of
Cillchriosd. A dry-stone wall encloses a
roughly circular area some 25m in diameter.
Inside the enclosure there are traces of a
structure measuring about 9m by 6m, but it does
not appear to be ecclesiastical in origin.
See: RCAHMS Argyll Volume
3 (Her Majesty's Stationery Office
Edinburgh 1980) ISBN 0 11 491591 1
Crackaig - Chapel and
burial ground
These remains are found just
below the ruins of the former village of
Crackaig and consist of the footings of a small
oblong building of a dry-stone construction
within a D-shaped enclosure.
The building is about 5.5m by
3.3m with walls about 1.3m thick and the
entrance is on the west wall. The enclosure
is quite large being about 16m by 25m and the
entrance is directly opposite to that of the
church. Although there are a number of stones
coming through the grass within the enclosure
there is no evidence that they are grave stones.
There is no recorded history,
but the general character of the remains suggest
that it was a medieval chapel.
See: RCAHMS Argyll Volume
3 (Her Majesty's Stationery Office
Edinburgh 1980) ISBN 0 11 491591 1
Craignure - burial ground
This burial ground is situated
in a large clearing on a knoll close to the
northern boundary fence of a Forestry Commission
plantation.
Turf covers the remains of a
dry-stone wall in the shape of a pentagon.
Inside this enclosure are several rough
grave-markers. In the south-west area of the
enclosure are a group of four large recumbent
slabs of slate, one of which was erected by
Hector Allan to commemorate his father George
who died at Scallasdale in 1799.
See: RCAHMS Argyll Volume
3 (Her Majesty's Stationery Office
Edinburgh 1980) ISBN 0 11 491591 1
Garmony, Lag na Cille -
burial ground
All that remains are the
footings of a dry-stone wall forming an
enclosure about 14m square. It is situated in a
clearing of a mature Forestry Commission
plantation close to Garmony. There is no
recorded history, but it evidently served a
number of deserted villages between Garmony and
Fishnish Point.
See: RCAHMS Argyll Volume
3 (Her Majesty's Stationery Office
Edinburgh 1980) ISBN 0 11 491591 1
Glenbyre - St Columba's
Well (Tobar Choluim Chille)
This is a small fresh-water
spring situated immediately to the east of the
old track from Lochbuie to Carsaig, and about
1km north east of Glenbyre. This well is still
in occasional use and maybe the one at Loch Buie
whose medicinal properties are mentioned in a
late 17th century topographical account of the
area.
See: RCAHMS Argyll Volume
3 (Her Majesty's Stationery Office
Edinburgh 1980) ISBN 0 11 491591 1
Glencannel - burial ground
This burial ground is in a
sub-rectangular enclosure which is crossed by a
large sheepfold of 19th century on its south
wall.
The only visible remains are
the south wall and part of the north wall
represented by stony mounds. In parts of the
burial ground are a few rough grave markers and
a number of unnamed slabs.
See: RCAHMS Argyll Volume
3 (Her Majesty's Stationery Office
Edinburgh 1980) ISBN 0 11 491591 1
Glenforsa - long-cist
burials
While ploughing was taking
place in 1960 a number of graves, in two rows,
were exposed in level ground some 460 m from
Glenforsa Hotel. One grave was fully
excavated, but no identifiable remains were
found. Although there are no records of any
ecclesiastical associations with this site, the
character of the graves suggests a date in the
Early Christian or medieval period.
Gometra - Bail a' Chlaidh -
burial ground
Situated close to a small
settlement and landing place on the west sore of
the south anchorage between Gometra and Ulva,
this former burial ground is unenclosed except
for a curving bank of turf defining its east
boundary.
The earliest identifiable tomb
stone is dated 1792. There is also a small
iron-railed enclosure containing headstones
commemorating Donald Lamont, 'late merchant of
Ulva', who died in 1805 and his descendants.
See: RCAHMS Argyll Volume
3 (Her Majesty's Stationery Office
Edinburgh 1980) ISBN 0 11 491591 1
Jean Whittaker The burial
grounds of North Mull no. 2 (Brown &
Whittaker) Ready in 2006
Kelland - burial ground
In 1878 it was reported that
human bones had been discovered 'a few years
ago' during timber operations in Kellan Wood,
but today there are no identifiable remains of
there having been a burial ground here.
See: RCAHMS Argyll Volume
3 (Her Majesty's Stationery Office
Edinburgh 1980) ISBN 0 11 491591 1
Kilbrenan - burial ground
All that can be seen of this
former burial ground is a curving bank of turf
of about 0.6m high forming the eastern half of a
boundary and from which an occasional stone
projects. The enclosure would seem to have been
circular some 24m in diameter.
There are no visible
grave-markers, but there is a low mound on an
east-west axis which may represent the side wall
of a chapel. The dedication was believed to
have been to St Brendan.
See: RCAHMS Argyll Volume
3 (Her Majesty's Stationery Office
Edinburgh 1980) ISBN 0 11 491591 1
Killbeg - burial ground
This can be found some 30m
south east of the shepherd's cottage at Killberg.
It only has traces of a stony bank forming an
irregular enclosure about 23m wide. The north
west part of the site is overlain by a sheepfold
of 19th century. There are no visible
grave-markers and in 1872 when the site was
inspected by the officers of the Ordnance Survey
the burial-round was already in the condition
described and there are no records of its
history. The name 'Kelbeg' was recorded in
1494 and means 'the little chapel'.
See: RCAHMS Argyll Volume
3 (Her Majesty's Stationery Office
Edinburgh 1980) ISBN 0 11 491591 1
Jean Whittaker The burial
grounds of North Mull no. 2 (Brown &
Whittaker) Ready in 2006
Killunaig - burial ground
This is found about 130m
east-north-east of the farm of the same name and
was probably dedicated to St Findoca. The
existing boundary wall is 19th century In a
burial enclosure for the MacLean's of Pennycross
is the earliest visible monument, a large
table-tomb of Carsaig sandstone. It was
erected in memory of Charles Maclean of
Killinaigg who died in 1743 and his wife
Margaret, sister of Donald MacLean of Torloisk,
by their sons, Hector and Alexander.
See: RCAHMS Argyll Volume
3 (Her Majesty's Stationery Office
Edinburgh 1980) ISBN 0 11 491591 1
Kinloch - burial ground
Situated on sloping ground
near the Kinloch Hotel this rectangular
enclosure measures about 18m by 16m and is
within a ruinous dry-stone wall some 1.1m
thick. The footings of a small rectangular
burial-aisle can be seen near the centre of the
enclosure and the remains of others can also be
identified. The only visible monument is a
sandstone headstone erected in 1775 by Donald
Shaw a joiner in Brolas, to his parents John
Shaw who died in 1735 and Mearion McArthur.
Carved on the front of the stone is a shield, on
the right of which is a hand holding an axe and
carved above are a carpenter's square and
compass and the motto IN GOD WE TRU(ST).
See: RCAHMS Argyll Volume
3 (Her Majesty's Stationery Office
Edinburgh 1980) ISBN 0 11 491591 1
Knock - burial ground
Situated near Knock House on
the summit of a small knoll, this is a square
enclosure surrounded by a substantial 19th
century wall. The earliest dated headstone is
carved in relief with a winged angel's head and
commemorated To Florans Moreson who died in
1745.
See: RCAHMS Argyll Volume
3 (Her Majesty's Stationery Office
Edinburgh 1980) ISBN 0 11 491591 1
Brown,
Whittaker et al Altera Merces (Brown &
Whittaker 2003) and www.brown-whittaker.co.uk
Laorin Bay - burial ground
(site)
All that can be seen is an
irregular enclosure of about 18m bounded by the
turf-covered remains of a dry-stone wall
standing about 0.6m high. There is a possible
entrance near the centre of the north west
side. No grave-markers can be seen.
See: RCAHMS Argyll Volume
3 (Her Majesty's Stationery Office
Edinburgh 1980) ISBN 0 11 491591 1
Jean Whittaker The burial
grounds of North Mull no. 2 (Brown &
Whittaker) Ready in 2006
Lephin - burial ground
(site)
This is a fragmented enclosure
measuring 28m by 21m containing the turf-covered
foundations of two buildings. The larger of
the two is 8.5m by 4.6m within walls about 0.9
thick and the other with rounded angles is
situated about 2.0m to the west and at right
angles. Although it was identified by the
Ordnance Survey in 1875 as a burial ground, the
remains appear to be more of a dwelling-house
and outbuilding with a cultivation-patch.
See: RCAHMS Argyll Volume
3 (Her Majesty's Stationery Office
Edinburgh 1980) ISBN 0 11 491591 1
Jean Whittaker The burial
grounds of North Mull no. 2 (Brown &
Whittaker) Ready in 2006
Lochdonhead, Kilpatrick -
burial ground
The name suggests this may be
the site of an early chapel dedicated to St
Patrick. There are no identifiable tombstones
earlier that 1707.
See: RCAHMS Argyll Volume
3 (Her Majesty's Stationery Office
Edinburgh 1980) ISBN 0 11 491591 1
Port a' Chlaidh - burial
ground
This burial ground is found
close to the north shore of Loch na Keal and is
roughly an oblong enclosure measuring about 21m
by 12m transversely within a dry-stone wall
about 1m thick. The interior is overgrown, but
a few plain stone grave-markers can be seen.
Near the centre of the enclosure is a low
circular mound about 2m in diameter.
About 100m to the south east
is Port a' Chlaidh ('harbour of the
burial-ground') and a roughly constructed pier
which was probably used by funeral parties.
The site has no recorded
history but is believed to have fallen into
disuse by the mid 19th century.
See: RCAHMS Argyll Volume
3 (Her Majesty's Stationery Office
Edinburgh 1980) ISBN 0 11 491591 1
Ulva - Cill Mhic Eoghainn -
burial ground
The name of this burial ground
first appears on record as 'Kilvc Ewyn' in 1630
when it refered to an associated township. It
has been suggested that it was dedicated to
Ernan son of Eoghan, a nephew of St Columba as
that of the parish church of
Kilvickeon.
It is found on the south coast
of Ulva and measures 35m from north to south by
22m. It lies within a 19th century boundary
wall. At its highest point there is a
rectangular enclosure of lime-mortared rubble
masonry with the only entrance being an opening
on the east wall. It contains a headstone of
slate erected in 1791 by Hector McQuarie, Soriby,
to mark his burying-place. The walls of this
enclosure appear to stand on more substantial
footings which may incorporate some fragments of
an earlier church.
The main burial ground
contains many simple uninscribed grave stones,
the earliest being the burying-place of John
McGuire of Balligarten in 165. He was a
grandson of Donald MacQuarrie, 12th of Ulva.
See: RCAHMS Argyll Volume
3 (Her Majesty's Stationery Office
Edinburgh 1980) ISBN 0 11 491591 1
Jean Whittaker The burial
grounds of North Mull no. 2 (Brown &
Whittaker) Ready in 2006 |
