Archaeology Notes

Event ID 701259

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/701259

NS36SE 10 37555 60112

(NS 3755 6010) Collegiate Church (NR)

(rems of) (NAT)

OS 6" map (1969)

For Castle Semple (house) and associated buildings, see NS36SE 9.00.

Castle Semple Collegiate Church (S Piggott and W D Simpson 1970) is a rectangular structure with an apsidal E end and a square tower projecting from the W gable. Now roofless, the rubble walls stand entire to the wallhead, 15ft 6ins high. The building measures 71ft 6ins by 24ft 3ins. The collegiate church was founded in 1504 by John, Lord Semple, who was killed at Flodden in 1513. The apse was added to contain a monument to his memory. The interior is divided into three private burial places by two modern walls. MacGibbon and Ross note a carved stone, apparently a cross-socket, which may have been used as a font, standing within the church.

D MacGibbon and T Ross 1897; H Scott 1950; I B Cowan and D E Easson 1976.

The ruins of this church survive to eaves level, though roofless and with the interior gutted. Most of the window openings and doorways remain, but further doors and windows have been added and probably mark an intermediate use as farm buildings before the interior was used as a burial ground.

Visited by OS (WW) 28 July 1955.