Collaboration between two of Kintyre鈥檚 charitable organisations and 小黄片app and Bute Council is securing the future of medieval sites on the peninsula.
This is an example of how partnership working between communities and council can draw down additional funding to support projects that are important to the people living in 小黄片app and Bute.
Supported by the Council鈥檚 community development team, Laggan Opportunity and Amenity Fund (LOAF) and Killean and Kilchenzie Churches Preservation Association (KKCPA) together secured grants totalling 拢40,000 from Historic Environment Scotland and the National Heritage Lottery Fund as well as from local charitable groups.
This joint funding will be used to complete emergency works at medieval church sites at Kilkivan, Killean and Kilchenzie.
The three ancient buildings are of enormous historic significance nationwide, having been built when Kintyre was still part of the Kingdom of the Isles.
The elaborate unique architecture of the east end of St John Church at Killean is of particular importance. The churches at Kilchenzie and Kilkivan were named after saints Kenneth and Kevin respectively, associated with the cult of St Columba. The churches became important burial places for local people of the time and each one is fortunate to have some of the most important 14th and 15th century carved graveslabs in Scotland. Their intricate carvings are grouped as West Highland School, and reflect the Celtic and Viking cultural association.
Over the next few years, working closely with the Council who own the sites, the groups aim to secure more funding to make these medieval sites safe and create a Heritage Trail in Kintyre. This will let locals and visitors to Kintyre enjoy and learn more of Kintyre鈥檚 ancient past.
If you are a group or organisation and you feel you would benefit from support from our community development team, please email: communitydevelopment@argyll-bute.gov.uk.
The project so far
At Kilkivan, the eight medieval carvings depict a range of characters, from a mediaeval knight in full body armour, to an abbot delivering a mass. At some time in the past, the stones were removed from their original position and laid in a line along what had been the east wall of the church. Since the 1960s, the effect of weathering, exacerbated by acid rain, has had a profound effect on the mediaeval slabs. The emergency grants, provided by Historic Environment Scotland and the Heritage Fund, have facilitated the stabilization of the south wall of the church and the removal of the graveslabs to Edinburgh where it is hoped that the stone conservator can return them to their former glory, after which they will be brought back to Kilkivan and displayed in a suitable shelter.鈥
Several years of ivy overgrowth has resulted in additional damage to the ancient walls of the church at Killean. It is now impossible to view the intricate carvings on the east gable wall windows. The emergency grant has enabled temporary bracing to be placed at the most vulnerable areas. A topographical scan of the structure has also been undertaken, which will assist in a much larger, 3 year, project to consolidate the ruins and the 14 medieval graveslabs contained within the 鈥楲argie Vault.鈥
At Kilchenzie, it was necessary to use specialist limecrete bags to shore up some 鈥榲oids鈥 found in the crumbling walls and lay at least one of the 7 medieval graveslabs flat to prevent it from cracking.鈥
Again, these temporary measures were funded by the emergency grant, and now put all three churchyards in a good position to move forward together with a large grant application to various funding bodies for the money needed to consolidate and stabilize the ancient walls, and also to provide a safe space in which to display the wonderful collection of grave slabs.
Additional funding for the project came from: Campbeltown 小黄片app Windfarm Fund, West Kintyre 小黄片app Windfarm Trust, Tangy Windfarm Fund, Drumlemble Hall Fund, and Machrihanish 小黄片app Airbase Charitable fund.
