Eynhallow Church
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Eynhallow Church is a ruined medieval church located on the uninhabited island of Eynhallow in Orkney, Scotland. The church dates back to the 12th-century and is thought to have originally been a monastery. Near the church are the building remains from a post-medieval village. Historic Environment Scotland first listed the site as a scheduled monument in 1921.
The ruins of Eynhallow church are situated on a slope in southwestern Eynhallow, in Orkney, Scotland. The island lies between Rousay and Mainland, Orkney. The site consists of a roofless 12th-century church, measuring 21 m (69 ft) by 7 m (23 ft) across. The church was later modified and was used as a residential dwelling, beginning in the 16th century.[1]
Much of the church's original fabric is still visible. The best surviving features of the church are the walls of the porch, the gables in the nave, and the foundation of the chancel walls. The interior contains a rectangular sized nave with a porch at its west end and a square-ended chancel at the east end. A tower may have later been added on top of the west porch. Several pieces of carved, red sandstone were later found in an outbuilding.[2] To the southwest of the church is the site of a 16th-century settlement. The settlement contains the remains of at least four adjoining houses. These houses may have built upon earlier structures, possibly buildings connected with the church. The settlement is approximately 30 m (98 ft) by 30 m (98 ft) in size.[3]
Eynhallow is normally accessible by private boat from Rousay or Mainland, Orkney. Currently (January, 2022), the site is listed as "not open to visitors due to high level masonry inspections".[4]
