Archaeology Notes

Event ID 701066

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/701066

NS44SW 7 41465 40770 (and NS 41463 40758 Glencairn Aisle)

(NS 4145 4076) St Maur's Parish Church (NAT) Glencairn Aisle (NR)

OS 6" map (1968)

Kilmaurs church was given to Kelso Abbey in 1170 (G Chalmers 1824). It was dedicated to St Mora or Maura of Little Cumbrae. In 1413, it was endowed as a college of secular canons. In 1600, James, seventh Earl of Glencairn, added an aisle to the building. In this part of the structure there is now a fine 17th century monument to William, ninth Earl of Glencairn, Lord Chancellor or Scotland (died 1464) and his countess. According to Dobie, the Glancairn Aisle, (on the S side of the present church, built in 1888) became roofless and neglected shortly after 1773.

H Scott 1920; I B Cowan and D E Easson 1976; G Hay 1957

Access was not obtained to the Glencairn Aisle. A sundial on the S corner of the SE gable of the Aisle is dated 1753, and a corbel on the N gable has the inscription 'Rd 1846' (the date of the restoration of the roof, etc). The building is of ashlar masonry, roofed and restored, and measures 7.5m by 7.0m.

In the NW re-entrant angle of the church is a stretch of wall 5.0m long, 1.0m high and protruding 0.1m, which is said by J R Tennant (on tour) to be the remains of the former church, but this cannot be confirmed as it has been re-pointed and does not appear exceptionally old.

"Site of Ch" is published at NS 4142 4071 on OS 6" 1938. The authority for this is unknown, and would appear to be erroneous.

Visited by OS (JLD) 31 July 1956

No change. The Aisle is in good repair.

Visited by OS (JRL) 24 August 1982