Archaeology Notes

Event ID 722491

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/722491

NT64NW 7 63084 45734

(NT 6308 4573) Church (NR) (remains of) (NAT)

Bassendean Church (NR) Remains of (NAT)

OS 6-inch map, 1857

Bassendean church, dedicated to St Mary, is now roofless; it is a simple oblong on plan, measuring 54 1/2ft by about 20ft externally. The walls, about 3ft thick, have been brought to a level course at a height of about 12ft, and carefully pointed.

In the S wall are two flat-topped counter-splayed windows with mouldings on the inside, two niches for piscina and holy water stoup, and a doorway.

In the N wall, near the E end, is a plain aumbry with a check for a door. The broken remains of the plain font lie among loose stones and rubbish, and a number of grave- slabs have been used as building material, probably when the church was repaired in 1647. (J Ferguson 1892).

RCAHMS 1915.

The church belonged to Coldstream and appears to have been abandoned at the Reformation. It was again used for divine service from 1647-9, when a new church was built at Westruther, and this building was allowed to become ruinous. It is still used as a bural place by the family of Home of Bassendean

D MacGibbon and T Ross 1897.

This roofless church is as described by the previous authorities. The former graveyard (no gravestones are now apparent, OS surveyor {JFC} 23 February 1955) is enclosed by a grassy bank 0.8m in maximum external height, 0.3m high internally.

Visited by OS (EGC) 29 August 1963.

Although the church of Bassendean is on record at the end of the 12th century, the present remains are of 16th century date.

J Hardy 1882; J Robson 1896; Fasti Eccles Scot [H Scott ed.] 1917; I B Cowan 1967; RCAHMS 1980, visited 1979.

This church stands on a knoll within its oval burial-ground. The building has evidently been conserved (iron lintel-supports having been inserted above one window). A probable font, a tombstone or grave-slab of uncertain date, and several other architectural fragments lie scattered within the interior.

Visited by RCAHMS (RJCM, JRS), 30 September 1993.