caithness-1911/05_192

Transcription

[Page] 110 HISTORICAL MONUMENTS (SCOTLAND) COMMISSION.

PARISH OF REAY.

408. Market Cross, Reay. - On the S. of the road in the hamlet of
Reay there stands a rude cross (pl. XXXIX.), the upper arm of which
is awanting. In height it measures 4' 3" above ground, and in width
across the arms 1' 11". The shaft, which is cylindrical, measures
2' 9 1/2" in circumference. The arms are 9" in breadth at the intersec-
tion and diminish to 6" at their extremities. This is said to be the
Market Cross removed from Old Reay situated nearer the sea.
O.S.M., CAITH., x. Visited, 29th August 1910.

SITES.

409. Chapel and Graveyard, "Creagan a' Bheannaich." - At the
croft of Tigh a' Bheannaich, Shurrery, about 100 yards back from the
river, is a low stony mound from which a number of large stones
protrude through the turf. It is said to be the site of a graveyard,
and the name of the neighbouring croft suggests the site of a primitive
oratory or church.
O.S.M., CAITH., xvi. Visited, 11th August 1910.

410. Chapel, Isauld. - Among the sand dunes to the NE. of the
Isauld Burn, some 300 or 400 yards back from its mouth, are the
foundations of a structure which may be those of a chapel. The
remains are very slight.
O.S.M., CAITH., x. Visited, 16th September 1910.

The O.S. maps indicate sites as under :-

411. Chapel near Craigton. -- O.S.M., CAITH., iv.
412. Chapel 1/2 m. N. of Reay Church. -- O.S.M., CAITH., x.
413. "North Cairn," Lower Dounreay. -- O.S.M., CAITH., iv.
414. "Peas Cairn," Lower Dounreay. -- O.S.M., CAITH., iv.
415. Cairn near Bridge of Broubster. -- O.S.M., CAITH., x.
416. Tumulus near Bridge of Broubster. -- O.S.M., CAITH., x.
417. Standing-Stones about 1/2 m. E. of Upper Dounreay -- O.S.M., CAITH., x.

PARISH OF THURSO.

ECCLESIASTICAL STRUCTURES.

418. St Peter's Church, Thurso. - Situated in the old part of the
town of Thurso, and adjacent to the river, are the ruins of St Peter's
Church (figs, 22, 23, and 24). It is cruciform on plan, without aisles,
measuring externally some 79' from E. to W. by 82' from N. to S.
across the transepts. A plan made upwards of twenty years ago by
the Rev. Alexander Millar of the Free Church, Buckie, and here
reproduced (fig. 22), discloses at the E. end a low vaulted apsidal cell
about 19' long by 10' wide, placed in the centre line of the choir and
nave, which are about 23' wide. This cell is square on the outside,
and its walls measure from 3' 6" to 4' in thickness. It is lighted by
two small slits about 12" wide, one in the centre and the other in the
N. side, which pass straight through the wall without any check for
glass. On the S. face there is an opening which may have been a door.
Unfortunately the opening from the nave has been built up and access
is now unobtainable. Adjoining this cell-like structure on the S. side