Cille Bharra

Heritage listing

Date Added 06/10/1970 Last Date Amended 16/02/2001 Type Crosses and carved stones: cross (free-standing); cross-incised stone; sculptured stone (not ascribed to a more specific type), Ecclesiastical: burial ground, cemetery, graveyard; chapel; church Local Authority Na h-Eileanan Siar Parish Barra NGR NF 70521 07402 Coordinates 70521, 807402 — The monument comprises the remains of a medieval church, two chapels, four recumbent grave-slabs, two cross-shaped grave-markers and a small slab incised with a Latin cross. The site, at the N end of Barra, is dedicated to St Barr, Findbarr of Cork, who was a follower of St Columba. The monument was first scheduled in 1970, but an inadequate area was included to protect all of the archaeological remains: the present scheduling rectifies this. St Barr's church probably dates to the 12th or 13th century and was roofless by 1625. It measures 11.6m by 4m within walls 0.7m thick and survives to a maximum height of 2.2m. The doorway was on the N, where there is an earth-fast stoop. Three windows survive, two lighting the altar. Externally the windows have rounded-headed arches, but their interior is pointed, formed by two lintels set diagonally. The church, like the chapels, is built of rubble pinned with shells and built in lime mortar. To the SE are the remains of a small chapel (4.4m by 2m internally within walls 0.6m thick and surviving to a height of about 2m in the W gable) with a surviving round-headed window. The chapel to the NE of the church is probably later and was restored in 1970. Now entered from the S, its original entrance was in the W. Narrow slit windows on the E and side walls illuminate the interior. It now houses four grave-slabs: three West Highland and one ?16th century with a long inscription in Latin letters. I

From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.