Rona, a remote Scottish island, is said to have been the residence of Saint Ronan, Abbot of Kingarth in Bute (died 737). A tiny early Christian oratory which may be as early as this date, built of unmortared stone, survives virtually complete on the island. The site of one of the most complete Early Celtic religious complexes in Scotland. North Rona was abandoned after the Viking raids, but resettled by a secular community in the 12th or 13th century. Disasters, such as the drowning of the island's entire male population, and starvation brought about by a plague of rats, resulted in only intermittent occupation during subsequent centuries; the last resident, Donald Macleod, left in 1844 . North Rona is now a National Nature Reserve with Sula Sgeir.

Sited on a terrace within a thick-walled, oval burial enclosure, Teampall Rònain was probably a hermitage offshoot from the church at Europie in Lewis. It is two-chambered, the almost subterranean corbelled eastern cell being the late 7th/early 8th century `oratory' of St. Ronan, beautifully constructed with inward-leaning walls bridged over with stone slabs, traces of lime mortar still clinging to the sides. On the west wall, a door with slit window above leads into the 12 th-century chapel, its west gable still standing to six or seven ft. A stone-paved doorway was uncovered by Dr. Frank Fraser Darling on the south wall during his repair works here in 1938. He also excavated the east end of the earlier structure, unearthing the base of a stone altar and wall niche. Numerous Early Christian and medieval incised cross slabs lie on the site.

References:

Comments

Your name



Details

Founded: 8th century
Category: Religious sites in United Kingdom

Rating

4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Sound Northerner (2 years ago)
Limited choices for food (no McDonald’s or Burger King) and distinct lack of vegan options. Made up for by the view of the sea and taste of grass
Ti m (3 years ago)
Simon Beckett brought me here.
Endaf R (3 years ago)
I'd rather Co Rona. Don't like the atmosphere with the locals here
Firuz Mehdiyev (5 years ago)
Very good,wonderful,and FANTASTIC ISLAND...
kenny taylor (6 years ago)
went with north coast sea tours on the midsummer two day camping trip from kylskue visiting the gannetries at sule stack and sule skerry overnight camping on north rona and a visit to the gannetry at sulesgeir great weekend for scenery and birdwatching its weather dependant and can be bumpy at times but nobody was seasick these fast ribs dont roll thoroughly enjoyed by everone .
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Site of the week

Château de Chantilly

The Château de Chantilly comprises two attached buildings: the Petit Château built around 1560 for Anne de Montmorency, and the Grand Château, which was destroyed during the French Revolution and rebuilt in the 1870s. Owned by the Institut de France, the château houses the Musée Condé. It is one of the finest art galleries in France and is open to the public.

The estate"s connection with the Montmorency family began in 1484. The first mansion (now replaced by the Grand Château) was built in 1528–1531 for the Constable Anne de Montmorency by Pierre Chambiges. The Petit Château was also built for him, around 1560, probably by Jean Bullant. In 1632, after the death of Henri II, it passed to the Grand Condé who inherited it through his mother, Charlotte Marguerite de Montmorency.

Several interesting pieces of history are associated with the château during the 17th century.