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Scarfskerry, Kirk o'Banks is a kirk o'banks, a distinctive form of ecclesiastical enclosure found in northern Scotland. Located in Caithness, this monument comprises a rectangular burial ground surrounded by a substantial earthen or stone bank, a defensive feature that also served to demarcate sacred space. The site is protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM2661.
The monument sits upon Middle Old Red Sandstone bedrock of Devonian age, comprising conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone. This geology has shaped both the landscape and the building materials available to its builders. Kirk o'banks were typically constructed from the medieval period onwards, combining practical and spiritual functions within a fortified enclosure.
These enclosed kirkyards remain important monuments to the religious and social organisation of rural northern Scotland. Scarfskerry's surviving earthwork demonstrates the enduring presence of organised Christian burial practice in Caithness, preserving evidence of settlement patterns and land use across centuries. The monument's physical fabric continues to reflect the medieval and early modern social landscape from which it emerged.
Scarfskerry,Kirk o'Banks is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM2661. View the official record →
Scarfskerry, Kirk o'Banks is a kirk o'banks, a distinctive form of ecclesiastical enclosure found in northern Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM2661.
Scarfskerry,Kirk o'Banks is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM2661.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Ham,chambered cairn 180m NW of,Brough (1.5 km), Mey Battery, battery 80m NE of Braes of Harrow (3.2 km), Earl's Cairn,chambered cairn N of Hollandmake,Inkstack (4.3 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Scarfskerry,Kirk o'Banks's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Scarfskerry,Kirk o'Banks stands on Middle Old Red Sandstone (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Middle Devonian. The rock here is conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone.