Channel Four picks on local women’s archaeological find

Mull’s lost chapel to be filmed for TV

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A TV archaeology programme is being shot on Mull this week, exploring the site of a possible lost early Christian chapel discovered by local volunteer history hunters Hylda Marsh and Bev Langhorn.

Mrs Marsh, of Baliscate House, Tobermory, and Mrs Langhorn, of Jubilee Terrace, Upper Tobermory, stumbled across the overgrown remains of the historic building in forest near Tobermory last year. They were taking part in the Scotland’s Rural Past (SRP) project, run by the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS).

The two women were thrilled when RCAHMS’s field investigation team confirmed that they had indeed found the ruins of what might be a chapel, possibly dating from between the 7th and 11th centuries.

Now Channel 4’s Time Team are there to explore further.

Several early Christian chapels are known on Mull, but this site had been completely forgotten – even its name was lost.

SRP manager Dr Tertia Barnett said: “This site has really captured the imagination of local people. Hylda and Bev wrote to Time Team about their discovery and their continued enthusiasm for the project has resulted in this unique chance to find out more.

“Everyone involved would be delighted if the Time Team excavation could confirm whether or not it is a chapel and provide evidence for the date of the structure.”

The building remains lie on a Forestry Commission site close to a deserted settlement, probably called Balisgate, believed to have been abandoned in the 18th century at the time when the town of Tobermory was developing.

During Time Team’s visit, SRP and RCAHMS staff and local volunteers will also be researching and recording the settlement site to find out more about who lived there and when it was occupied.