33021: CARNISH, LEWIS – NUNNERY? (Undated)

Summary:

NUNNERY? (Undated)
Reference to possible nunnery, reference to church of St Pharear in Kaerness

Location:

NB 03 32

Full description:

NB03SW 7 03 32.

A cloister for black nuns was founded at Carnish dependant on the monastery at Harris (NG08SW 7) (C MacKenzie 1792). Neither of these is mentioned by Easson. This may be the same as ‘the church of Saint Pharaer in Kaerness’ mentioned by Martin, although OPS states that
this is a reference to ‘Tigh nan Coulleachan Dubha’ (NA92SE 3)
C MacKenzie 1792; D E Easson 1957; M Martin 1934; Orig Paroch Scot 1854.

No further information
Visited by OS (R L) 28 June 1969.

References:

Origines parochiales Scotiae: the antiquities ecclesiastical and territorial of the parishes of Scotland, Publisher: Bannatyne Club, Origines Parochiales Scotiae. Part No 2. 386
Medieval religious houses in Scotland: with an appendix on the houses in the Isle of Man, Publisher: Longmans Green, Medieval Religious Houses in Scotland.
Martin Martin. 1695. A description of the Western Islands of Scotland circa 1695, Editor: Macleod, D J (ed,), Publisher: Eneas Mackay, A Description of the Western Islands of Scotland c. 1695. 106
1792. ‘An account of fome remains of antiquity in the island of Lewis, one of the Hebrides’, Archaeol Scot. Part No 1. 291

Acknowledgement:

Information provided by Western Isles Council Sites & Monuments Record, January 2006.