Archaeological Evaluation
Date 18 March 2020 - 28 July 2020
Event ID 1126997
Category Recording
Type Archaeological Evaluation
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1126997
NT 70609 27008 The former Eckford Parish Church is a Category B Listed Building (LB3840: Canmore ID: 58233), and sits near to the eastern bank of the River Teviot, approximately 1km to the N of the modern village of Eckford. The archaeological works associated with the planned development consisted of historic building recording (HBR) at the former parish church, and an evaluation of the Glebe (located to the W of the church graveyard) and took place on 19 March to 28 July 2020. A watching brief to monitor groundbreaking works associated with the insertion of services through the graveyard, and ground level alterations in the former church crypt will be carried out at a later date.
The HBR created a baseline record of the church and its architectural features, identifying five distinct units within the complex of buildings, some of which date to the original church construction in the 1660s, whilst other elements relate to later renovations, or more recent repair works. Over 140 architectural features were identified and recorded during the HBR, however several further features are likely present within the building, particularly within the main church building, but were not identifiable due to the extensive rendering on the exterior of the building, and plastering on the interior of the building. The evidence of a former church entrance at the eastern end of the south wall of the church was, for instance, only discernible in historic documents. Features or elements pertaining to an earlier structure or church on the site could not be identified.
The overall condition of the features recorded was generally good; however, there are areas of weathering to some of the stonework, and damage to the wooden framework of several windows, which will need repaired or replaced. Some loose stonework was also identified in the dormers of the windows on the S wall of the church, and the lintel stone of the vestibule entranceway is badly cracked. Archaeological evaluation in the glebe field was conducted to cover not less than 10% of the glebe field subject to development. Six trenches were excavated, with one containing features identified as being potentially archaeological. Trench 2 contained three possible features, however all three features appeared to be of either a more modern date, or not archaeologically significant. Two pits identified within the trench displayed characteristics of more modern features, and the fills of both pits suggest that these may have been modern dumps. A spread of stones identified at the N end of Trench 2 showed no structural, or drainage, characteristics and likely represented a more modern dump or spread of rubble material. No further features were identified across the remaining trenches, and therefore no features of archaeological significance were identified during the evaluation.
Archive: NRHE (intended)
Funder: Private individual
Ian Hill and Michelle Gamble – Heritage and Archaeological Research Practice (HARP)
(Source: DES Volume 21)
