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Red Kilns Cave

St Tear's Chapel, Ackergill, Noss Head, Caithness.

Cave marked on OS map.

Alternative Names: None recorded.

Notes: Red Kilns - A small round rocky promontory on the shore near the above, retaining the name from its probably been used as a Kelp Kiln. Property [c. 1871] of Sir George Dunbar, Hemprigs. &c. [ScotlandsPlaces]

Chapel of St Tears - The site of this Chapel is still visible on the ground, being markedly a rectangular furrow. Is on the west side of a small drain, dividing the arable fields & About 100 yards to the South of Red Kilns, also about 1/2 a mile to the East of Ackergill Tower. It was much resorted to as a place of penitential offering during the dark days of Papacy, and even after the introduction of the religion of liberation, into this distant part of the then benighted north, the deluded peasantry of the district would come and leave a meat of offering and drink offering for the propitiation of their Patron Saint. When they became somewhat more en lightened they found that the Saint did not accept their offering but that so soon as they turned their backs, a few greedy half starved mangy dogs who were watching their opportunity close by, voraciously pounced upon it and ate it up, even before the poor priest could claim it for himself. It is spoken of as having been the scene of an encounter between two hostile Chiefs resident in the County with their respective retainers, i.e. the Clans Keith & Gunn. The feud is said to have come to the sticking point by reason of the Keith's carrying off clandestinely a daughter of Gunn of Ulbster & Halberry well known throughout the county as the "fair Helen of Braemore". There was no method or means remaining of settling their differences but by an appeal to arms which in those semi-civilized days was the common and legal way of squaring accounts. A day was appointed for the combat and place of meeting mentioned which was to be near the Chapel in question, and with an equal number of followers. The Gunn's arrived first, being twelve souls in all, and were like true followers of their spiritual adviser kneeling at the foot of a wooden cross, when suddenly their opponents the Keith's were upon them with a double number of troopers, the Gunn's had barely time to rise from their prostrate position and take the defensive, when their hearts blood was flowing down the altar steps and pouring in a stream out at the door. They cut and slashed each other until there were left hewen to pieces. What of them remained in life gathered themselves together and escaped. It is currently reported that the Priest hid himself until the fray was ended, behind the only bush that was growing near, there being a few natural scrubs in those days, he emerged from his place of concealment as soon as things looked quiet and prescribed for the dying the last offices of the church. Luckily was he to Keep out of the way or in all likelihood he would have shared the same fate. [ScotlandsPlaces]