Lincluden Parish Church Geophysical Survey

Date May 2022 - July 2022

Event ID 1161352

Category Project

Type Project

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1161352

NX 96640 77911 A geophysical survey was undertaken at Lincluden Collegiate Church in May and July 2022. This survey forms part of a programme of research to increase the understanding of the Church and the wider landscape.

Gradiometry, resistance, and ground penetrating radar (GPR) survey were undertaken over open areas surrounding the church. GPR transects were attempted across the Motte in the SE of the site. Unfortunately, the area was too overgrown with trees, brambles, and other vegetation for survey to be undertaken.

The area of the postulated W and N ranges is generally quiet in all data sets. However, a well-defined area of elevated resistance has been detected which may be associated with the cloister. Some additional weak trends in the resistance and gradiometer data may be associated with possible remnants of former ranges but they are very ephemeral and not indicative of structural remains and the lack of associated magnetic response suggests that, if ranges did exist in this area, they have been almost entirely robbed.

In the SW of the site both the resistance and the GPR surveys have detected a concentration of rectilinear anomalies that suggest potential structural remains. These are aligned SW/NE and respect, and appear to be associated with, a low bank thought to cover substantial wall footings, although the origin of the bank is unknown. In the GPR data, a linear anomaly on the same alignment extends northeastward into the knot garden at the same depth. The response suggests a possible track or boundary, which terminates at the original break of slope in the NE of the knot garden.

A variety of responses has been detected within the knot garden by the resistance and GPR surveys. Many of these appear to be associated with the original topographic change in the NE of the site before the area was built up and extended to form the ground the knot garden sits on. In the S of the knot garden a curving response has been noted which could, tentatively, be associated with the Motte, which lies immediately to the S.

Archive: Rose Geophysical Consultants Funder: Historic Environment Scotland

Susan Ovenden – Rose Geophysical Consultants

(Source: DES Volume 23)