Archaeology Notes

Event ID 662242

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/662242

NH63SE 5 6578 3439.

Nothing remains of the old chapel at Midtown, but the name "Field of the Chapel", and a well close by called the "Priest's Well", and a broken stone which might have been a font.

Grave stones were seen when the ground was cultivated and marks of graves can still be seen.

ISSFC 1902

(NH 6585 3442) Old walling has been found in this area, and excavations are taking place to see if they are part of the chapel.

At the Mains of Bunachton (NH 6570 3488) and Midtown (N 6558 3466) are stones, both of which are claimed to be the font stone of the chapel. Informatiom from A L F Rivet (assistant archaeological officer) 3 May 1963; Information from E Meldrum to OS.

NH 65783439. Recent excavations at this site have revealed the outlines of rectangular building with slightly rounded ends. The building is oriented NE - SW and measures 11.0m. and 7.0m. The dry-stone walls are 1.0m. thick and faced with large stones set on end. The wall is best preserved on the SW and NW side where the inside height of the wall is 0.6m. There is a stone lined entrance 0.6m. wide in the middle of the SE side; a single stone blocks the inner end of the entrance passage. Inside the building in the SW half is a setting of stones embedded in the ground, not unlike a cist but probably bogus. The peculiar entrance and the cist like setting of stones seem out of place in this site.

From enquiries at Midtown, the name "Priest's Well" applies to a natural spring which issues from the base of an old stone wall at NH 6577 3436. There is a possible font stone at Midtown, between the house and the steading, being used as a drinking utensil for poultry. It could also be a mortar for pounding corn. No knowledge of a font stone was found at the Mains of Bunachton.

Surveyed at 1/2500.

Visited by OS (W D J) 9 September 1963.