Photograph by Douglas Hourston

St Tredwell's Chapel

This is a renowned Orkney pilgrimage-centre, standing on a conical mound on a small peninsula in St Tredwell's Loch. The remains of the late medieval walls can be seen; deliberately built over Iron Age remains, including an underground tunnel leading to a circular building or broch. The thick walls of the chapel and records of tracery work indicate an important and well-founded establishment.

St Tredwell or Triduana is associated as a 'holy virgin' with St Boniface in a medieval account of the mission invited by King Nechtan.  Legend has it that Nechtan fell in love with Triduana and praised her beautiful eyes. She responded by plucking them out and sending them to him skewered on a twig. Miraculous cures are associated with St Tredwell, particularly in those suffering from eye afflictions.  Pilgrims travelled to Papay from all of Orkney and the north seeking a cure.The chapel site is reputed to be her burial place, indeed a female skeleton was reported to have been discovered in 1880 during excavations.