Monument record 170 - ST CIARAN'S CHURCH, LEWIS

NB14SE 3 18 42.

(NB 1877 4242) The pre-Reformation church of 'St. Kiaran in Liani-Shadir' is mentioned by Martin (M Martin 1934) , and is sited by OPS (OPS 1854) to the vicinity of Barvas, apparently'Cladh Mhiure' (NB35SE 7), but the fact that there is a holy well dedicated to St. Ciaran at Carloway, (see Official Guide to Stornoway 1932) and that 'Beannachadh Ciaraig' (NB 1877 4242), is in the vicinity, suggests that 'Liani-Shader' is, in fact, Laimishader (NB 183 424). 'Cnoc na Crois' (NB 1903 4234) may also have some bearing. 'Beannachadh Ciaraig' is oa heap of small stones on the place where a man is supposed to have been found dead. The oldest inhabitants of the parish state that as long as they can remember, it was customary for whoever passed the place to throw one or more stones on it (Name Book 1850).
Laimishader was described, in 1850, as being oa number of huts in ruins, which was at one time a village. There is only one house here at present (Name Book 1850).
The Ciaran commemorated in Scotland is probably Ciaran of Cluain Mac Nois who died in 549.
M Martin 1934; Name Book 1850; W J Watson 1926; Official Guide to Stornoway 1932.

At NB 1861 4246, beneath a crag and on the W side of a wall is a roughly circular setting of stones 3.2m in diameter internally. This is locally alleged to be the remains of St. Ciarnan's Church, the rest of it having been used to build the wall, but this is doubtful, it being now totally unlike the remains of a church, and is more likely to be associated with the surrounding cultivation. St. Ciarnan's Well is said to have been in the area centred NB 185 426, formerly a marshy area, now drained.
There is only one roofed building in Laimishader but there are several old house foundations and remains of extensive late cultivation. No trace of earlier settlement.
The tradition regarding Beannachadh Ciaraig is still known but the 'heap of stones' has been destroyed.
Visited by OS (R L) 18 June 1969.

The site of the Beannachadh is still known, as is the holy well. The church is believed to have been at the bottom of the path down to Laimisiadar from Borghaston. MML 21.9.99

The reputed location of this teampall was found as described by the OS, in the SMR and by McPhail… At the end of the road at Borghaston, there is a path over the hill and down a crag onto the Laimisaidar peninsula. At the foot of the crag is a nineteenth century field wall, built to define the eastern extent of the peninsual, which was part of the glebe of the minister for Carloway. The supposed teampall building is located at the foot of this wall, and Slighe Chiarain, and the wall overlies the eastern wall of the building. The teampall site is located at NB 18617 42443 on the west side of the field wall. It consists of two courses at most of a roughly circular building, 2.5m NS and 2m EW internally, 5m NS and 4m EW externally. Along the east side of the wall, at the end fo Slighe Chiarain, is the well, Tobar Chiarain at NB 18602 42588. The well is well-maintained, surrounded by a stone setting, and with a drinking cup next to it. To the north of the teampall site are piles of stones that could once have been further structures, but these are robbed out now. To the south and also the area around the teampall, there are indications of building and piles of stones, and suggestions of building platforms.
Barrowman 2005, 33

Martin Martin, 1695a, A Description of the Western Islands of Scotland c. 1695, 106 (Bibliographic reference). SWE5082.

OPS, 1854, Origines Parochiales Scotiae, map (Bibliographic reference). SWE9142.

W J Watson, 1926, The History of the Celtic Place-Names of Scotland: being the Rhind lectures on archaeology 1916, 278 13905 (Bibliographic reference). SWE7623.

Name Book (County), 1998, Name Books of the Ordnance Survey, Book No. 28, 36, 44, 78 (Unpublished document). SWE4254.

Rachel Barrowman, 2005, Lewis Coastal Chapel-sites Survey 2004/5 (Unpublished document). SWE41095.