Scheduled monuments in Orkney

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File:ScotlandOrkneyIslands.svg

A scheduled monument in Scotland is a nationally important archaeological site or monument which is given legal protection by being placed on a list (or "schedule") maintained by Historic Environment Scotland. The aim of scheduling is to preserve the country's most significant sites and monuments as far as possible in the form in which they have been inherited.{{cite web|url=https://www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support/listing-scheduling-and-designations/scheduled-monuments/what-is-scheduling/|title=What is scheduling?|publisher=Historic Environment Scotland|accessdate=2 September 2017}}

The process of scheduling is governed by the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, which aims "to make provision for the investigation, preservation and recording of matters of archaeological or historical interest". The term "scheduled monument" can apply to the whole range of archaeological sites which have been deliberately constructed by human activity but are not always visible above ground. They range from prehistoric standing stones and burial sites, through Roman remains and medieval structures such as castles and monasteries, to later structures such as industrial sites and buildings constructed for the World Wars.

Some buildings or structures which were both scheduled and listed have had their listing designations removed to reduce the duplication.

In 2017 there were 8238 scheduled monuments in Scotland.

Notable Scheduled Monuments in the Orkney Islands

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 90%;width:100%;border:0px;text-align:left;line-height:150%;"

! Name

! Location

! class="unsortable"|Description

! Ref No

! class="unsortable"|Image

Castle Bloody chambered cairn

| Prehistoric feature on the island of Shapinsay

| {{Historic Environment Scotland|num=SM1325|short=yes}}

Cobbie Row's Castle

| Ruins of the oldest medieval castle in Scotland

| {{Historic Environment Scotland|num=SM9007979|short=yes}}

Dennis Head Old Beacon

| North Ronaldsay

| Oldest surviving lighthouse in Scotland

| {{Historic Environment Scotland|num=SM6596|short=yes}}

St Nicholas Church

| Remains of 12th-century round church

| {{Historic Environment Scotland|num=SM13379|short=yes}}

Earl's Palace, Birsay

| Ruined 16th-century palace

| {{Historic Environment Scotland|num=SM90033|short=yes}}

St Magnus Church, Egilsay

| Roofless medieval church and part of adjacent burial ground

| {{Historic Environment Scotland|num=SM90137|short=yes}}

Eynhallow Church

| Medieval church and later settlement

| {{Historic Environment Scotland|num=SM90144|short=yes}}

Bishop's Palace

| 12th century palace of the Bishop of Orkney

| {{Historic Environment Scotland|num=SM90193|short=yes}}

Earl's Palace, Kirkwall

| Ruined 17th-century Renaissance-style palace of Earl of Orkney

| {{Historic Environment Scotland|num=SM90194|short=yes}}

Knowe of Yarso Chambered Cairn

| Neolithic chambered burial cairn c.2900 BC

| {{Historic Environment Scotland|num=SM90198|short=yes}}

Noltland Castle

| Incomplete 16th century castle

| {{Historic Environment Scotland|num=SM90231|short=yes}}

Quoyness chambered cairn

| Neolithic chambered burial cairn on Els Ness

| {{Historic Environment Scotland|num=SM90243|short=yes}}

Rennibister Earth House

| Bay o' Firth, Orkney

| Souterrain accessed by hatch in modern roof

| {{Historic Environment Scotland|num=SM90245|short=yes}}

Stenness Standing Stones

| A stone circle, henge and all other remains

| {{Historic Environment Scotland|num=SM90285|short=yes}}

Taversöe Tuick Chambered Cairn

| Chambered cairn containing two levels of chamber

| {{Historic Environment Scotland|num=SM90297|short=yes}}

See also

List of Category A listed buildings in Orkney
Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site

References

{{reflist}}

{{Scheduled monuments in Scotland}}