Monument record 1 - SULA SGEIR

HW63SW 1 621 305.

(Area: HW 621 305) 'On a small semi-insulated spot, closely surrounded by rocks, marked "Sgeir an Teamphill" in the Ordance map, there is a low rugged building with rounded corners and curved roof, called "Tigh Beannaichte" (Blessed House), internally 14 feet long, and 8 feet wide at the middle and 6 feet 4 inches at the ends. Within, the walls, rising with a curve towards each other, are roofed with heavy slabs laid horizontally across. Outside, also, the walls and roof are curved and covered over with loose stones and turf. The doorway, a rude flat- headed aperture with inclining jambs, 3 ft 5 in in height 16 in wide at the top and 22 in at bottom, is on the south-west. Eastward of it there is a small square-shaped niche, and near to the north end of the west wall there is another of the same form. The only window is a small one in the east end, under which is the altar sone, 2 ft 8 in. in length, raised on a low dais or foot-pace flanked by thin slabs set upon edge.' T S Muir 1885.

In recent years the east wall has been breached and a crude excavation occupies the site of the altar on Muir's plan, making the prospect of establishing the true nature of the building more remote.
H C Nisbet 1958.

T S Muir, 1885, Ecclesiological notes on some of the Islands of Scotland, 98-9 Plan, 97; Illust, 98 (Bibliographic reference). SWE5959.

H C Nisbet, 1958, Discovery and Excavation, Scotland, 38 (Bibliographic reference). SWE9278.