Teampull Na Trionaid (Trinity Church) is a medieval monastery and college, founded and built during the 14th century and then reconstructed in the 16th century.
The church stands within an oval enclosure at Carinish and although its origins are uncertain it was possibly built c. 1200 AD on an earlier site. The roofless ruins are attributed by the book of the Clan Ranald to the Iona prioress, Beathag, daughter of Somerled. The chapel is reputed to have been enlarged in the late 14th century and was still in use up until the early 18th century. The burial ground is enclosed by a curvilinear, enclosing wall dating back to the 18th century.
The structural remains comprise of two chapels: the first is a large rectangular structure aligned east-west, with a smaller rectangular chapel (McVicar Chapel) situated on the north side. The two chapels are about 1.5m apart and are connected by a barrel-vaulted passage, which is bonded to either building. On the south side of the main chapel there is an adjoining structure that was constructed in the 18th century and known locally as the ‘enclosure’. Repairs had to be carried out in the early 19th century by Dr Alexander MacLeod after the west gable collapsed and further collapses have now left it in a precarious state, despite some repointing by volunteers in 1994-5.
Photo kindly supplied by Project Architect - Robin Kent.
Scope of Work
Pictured: Teampull Na Trionaid (Trinity Church). Photo kindly supplied by Project Architect - Robin Kent.
The work comprised of stabilisation and consolidation of the ruinous buildings, including removing route bearing vegetation, clearing loose stones on the passage to provide access, and the renewal of a sandstone doorway arch to introduce structural integrity under archaeological supervision.
The consolidation works consisted of a comprehensive deep packing and pointing using gauged hot mortars, rough racking of wall cores and additional soft topping onto the horizontal plane of the wall heads. We had to rebuild the fallen south wall after an archaeological recording and tying into side walls, whilst introducing stainless steel and stone stitching. Conservator repairs were also done to gravestones, involving straightening leaning gravestones, the refurbishment of plaques and repairing broken marble. We also repaired metal railings and supply chains, as well as de-rusting and re-decorating.
We also had to preserve the historic external harling and the internal plasters by injecting mortars into open voids. This also meant introducing lime mortar fllets for water shedding and protection properties.
Photo kindly supplied by Project Architect - Robin Kent.
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Challenges and Considerations
Pictured: Teampull Na Trionaid (Trinity Church). Photo kindly supplied by Project Architect - Robin Kent.
Key challenges were based around the logistics of working on the Uist Island, coupled with the ruins being 100m away from vehicular access. This meant all the materials had to be transported by tractor where possible, then hand transported. The Outer Hebridean weather was also a big challenge as the rain was often intense and turned the site into soft marsh terrain. Whilst we made the best of the long summer nights trying to complete the works within the lime season, when October arrived, and the maximum daylight hours were six, this proved a big challenge.
Photo kindly supplied by Project Architect - Robin Kent.
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Solutions to Problems
Pictured: Teampull Na Trionaid (Trinity Church). Photo kindly supplied by Project Architect - Robin Kent.
The success of the project was down to good mortar choices and well-trained staff that knew the key importance of doing a job correctly once and once only. It was key to ensure the protection was undertaken to the best practices with hessian and tarpaulins, all weighed down with sandbags, to ensure the protection stood up to extreme weathers. Local labour was also employed to ensure that the wall protection was maintained at all times.
Having a skilled team that were all capable of undertaking detailed stone cutting, building, pointing, rough raking and soft topping, whilst able to undertake the more sensitive conservator work ensured the client received value for money.
Photo kindly supplied by Project Architect - Robin Kent.
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