Iona Nunnery

 I did posts about Iona Abbey Part 1 and Part 2 in previous weeks. Today I'm covering the nearby nunnery.

The church.

The Augustinian nunnery on Iona was founded around the year 1200 by Ranald, Lord of the Isles. Even though it is a ruin, it is still one of the best preserved nunneries in Britain.

North Chapel exterior with its Irish style, triangular-headed window.

Click to enlarge.

It is believed that Iona's first nuns came from Ireland where Augustinian houses were customary.

The arcade in the nave of the church (above) was probably blocked up during renovations in the 1400s. It is believed that the nunnery was enlarged at this time. The west range of the cloister is completely gone and a road now runs through this area.

Refectory

The south range is the best preserved. It contained a large refectory (above) where the nuns ate meals.

North Chapel, the only intact part of the church.

Interior of chapel.

  The rib-vaulted ceiling in the small chapel at the north-east of the nunnery church.

Old door in the chapel. Notice the various types of masonry around it.

 The nunnery was laid out around a square cloister with the church along the north side and the other domestic buildings along the other sides.

What remains of the Cloister.

The church was constructed in the 1200s. It has hardly been changed from its original design. The north chapel has an Irish-style triangular-headed window and a rib-vaulted ceiling. This is the only intact part of the church. The chancel also had a rib-vaulted ceiling, a rare feature in West Highland medieval architecture.

St. Ronan's Church

Click to enlarge.

Peering through the window at the treasures locked within St. Ronan's Church.

Window of St. Ronan's Church.

Thanks for taking the tour of the Iona Nunnery with me!
Vonda

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Coming soon!

 I'm glad to have the cover of the French edition of My Wild Highlander (second in the series). The title has become Le Guerrier Indomptable (directly translated as The Indomitable Warrior.) It will be released in January in France and French-speaking parts of Europe. The first book in the series released last Friday. I love the cover and I'm glad they included Eilean Donan Castle on it. :)

The Kissing the Highlander anthology will contain five novellas set in different historical time periods, from medieval times through the 1600s. Standing stone circles feature in each novella. I'm happy to be a part of this anthology with these great authors and friends. My story is titled My Captive Highlander. It will be released in February.