A medieval monastery on Uist:
Teampull na Trionaid
Carinish, North Uist
Teampull na Trionaid is a medieval monastery and college at Carinish, North Uist, possibly founded around 1200 and traditionally attributed to Beathag, daughter of Somerled. The roofless ruins comprise two chapels joined by a barrel-vaulted passage. After further collapses had left the site in a precarious state, we stabilised and consolidated the remains under archaeological supervision.
The challenge
The ruins lie 100m from the nearest vehicle access, so materials went in by tractor where possible and then by hand. Intense Hebridean rain turned the site to marsh, and by October daylight was down to six hours, all within the narrow season for lime work.
Our solution
We removed root-bearing vegetation, renewed a sandstone doorway arch and rebuilt the fallen south wall after archaeological recording, tying it in with stainless steel and stone stitching. Walls were deep packed and pointed with gauged hot lime, wall cores rough racked and wall heads soft-topped. Historic harling and internal plaster were preserved by grouting voids and adding lime fillets to shed water. We also straightened and repaired gravestones and plaques and restored the metal railings. Work was protected with hessian and tarpaulins weighted with sandbags, maintained by locally employed labour.
“We wish again to emphasise our appreciation of the excellent work you have completed at Teampall na Trianaid. All reports coming to us about your work are very positive.”
William MacDonaldChairman, Teampall na Trianaid Conservation Association
Outcomes
Collapse halted
The fallen south wall was rebuilt and the remaining structure tied and consolidated.
Historic finishes saved
Surviving harling and internal plaster were consolidated rather than lost.
One versatile team
Masons able to cut, build, point, soft-top and carry out conservator work gave the client value for money on a remote site.
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