OS1/7/3/70
| List of names as written | Various modes of spelling | Authorities for spelling | Situation | Description remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KIRK O' BANKS (Remains of) | Kirk O' Banks (in ruins) | George Calder, Rattar Inn. Edward Calder. Scarffskerry H. McLean Whitebridge |
002 | This is the ruins of an old [church] round which is an old [grave-yard] it is said to have been a place [--?] at the time the Picts inhabited Caithness, but this is doubtful as there is a number of [people] in ScarfsKerry at the [present] time, that remembers seeing walls of this ruin standing a [considerable] height above ground [?] the ruin is still visible the [walls?] of which are not thicK, [which] would lead one to thinK [they] could not have been of [such an?] early date, The present [tenant] of Rattar House on whose [property?] this ruin stands, sent a few of his worKmen to cut a [drain?] close by the ruin, and through the grave-yard, so as to [stop?] the ScarffsKerry Tenants from crossing through a small [piece?] of good pasture, this drain was cut, at the doing of which, [the] worKmen found 8 large silver rings, they were [grooved?] and about three inches in diameter - situated about 40 [chains] North of Rattar House. and close upon the Sea. The property of J. Traill Esq. of Rattar, |
| GRAVE YARD (Remains of) [Kirk O' Banks] | 002 | This is the ruins of an old [church] round which is an old [grave-yard] it is said to have been a place [--?] at the time the Picts inhabited Caithness, but this is doubtful as there is a number of [people] in ScarfsKerry at the [present] time, that remembers seeing walls of this ruin standing a [considerable] height above ground [?] the ruin is still visible the [walls?] of which are not thicK, [which] would lead one to thinK [they] could not have been of [such an?] early date, The present [tenant] of Rattar House on whose [property?] this ruin stands, sent a few of his worKmen to cut a [drain?] close by the ruin, and through the grave-yard, so as to [stop?] the ScarffsKerry Tenants from crossing through a small [piece?] of good pasture, this drain was cut, at the doing of which, [the] worKmen found 8 large silver rings, they were [grooved?] and about three inches in diameter - situated about 40 [chains] North of Rattar House. and close upon the Sea. The property of J. Traill Esq. of Rattar, |
Continued entries/extra info
[Page] 70County of Caithness -- Parish of Dunnet
[Note] -- The Kirk o' Banks appears to be of considerable antiquity - several old people who
remember seeing the walls standing 5 or 6 feet high tell me that they were built
of undressed and uncemented stones. There is no traditionary dedication in
connection with it as far as I can learn - It seems to have been divided into
Nave and Chancel. and that fact forbids the supposition of its belonging
to the very earliest period of ecclesiastical buildings in the North
The Silver rings were found deposited in short stone cists which contained human
remains - They are said to agree in size, form and weight with those found
in a great hoard discovered at Skaill in Orkney in 1858 - There were a
number of coins in the Skaill Hoard - The latest was struck at Bagdad in the
year A.D. 945 - "It is recorded in the Saga of King Hakon Hakson that when he
Passed southwards in the year 1263 he levied a tribute of rings from Caithness. so that
these ornaments must have been in common use in the 13th century"
The fact of these rings being found in cists point to one of two conclusions - either that
they were buried with the dead - or that they were concealed in the consecrated
ground for better security - 5 of the rings are in the Antiquarian Museum
of Edinburgh - and 3 in the Thurso Museum
[Signed] George Hobson. C.A. [Civilian Assistant]
These rings are said to
have been ornaments for wrists
viz. ''Wrist Bands''
[Initialled] R.H.
[Signed M, Banks C,A [Civilian Assistant]
Transcriber's notes
Words lost in fold of page.Transcribers who have contributed to this page.
Moira L- Moderator, David Glass
Location information for this page.
Linked mapsheets.
