Gigha auction funding boost for island’s ‘Heritage Henchmen’

The fundraiser was held in aid of a heritage project that began three years ago, when a number of community volunteers came together to carry out some conservation work on Kilchattan Chapel, a 13th century religious site on the Isle of Gigha.

Led by Archaeology Scotland, the team got to work on this Scheduled Monument, by cleaning gravestones, cutting back vegetation, and sprucing up the site to reveal intricate carvings depicting occupations, decoration and fascinating stories that had been lost to the humble bramble. 

The site is a popular one among both visitors and residents, and now has its own special information leaflet thanks to a keen community volunteer. 

The group, affectionately named the ‘Heritage Henchmen’, are now wishing to take this one step further by delving deeper into the site’s history and embarking on a new conservation project. 

Along with a local archaeologist and the children of Gigha Primary School, they are aiming to remove the topsoil of the chapel to identify the most important and interesting gravestones in the hope of creating better interpretation of this fascinating site and making the stones permanently visible for all to enjoy. 

The auction raised enough money – £1,262 and a bit more – to employ an archaeologist to help the group carry out the work safely, for both the site and those working to protect it. 

The ‘Heritage Henchmen’ say they are “immeasurably grateful” to the local community for choosing this project to fundraise for, and to the Gigha Community Fund for making this project possible.