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Archaeology Notes
Event ID 708987
Category Descriptive Accounts
Type Archaeology Notes
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/708987
NS96NE 9.00 9899 6815
NS96NE 9.01 NS 9900 6814 Covenanter's Grave
(NS 9899 6815) Church (NR) (Rems of)
OS 1:10000 map (1973)
The ruin of the former parish church of Bathgate stands within the churchyard at Kirkton. It has been a single-chambered structure, measuring 91' x 19'6" within 3' - 4' thick walls. The masonry is mainly of rubble, but there is an admixture of ashlar, obviously the remains of a much earlier building, which has been so extensively patched that few details can now be traced. Now dilapidated and roofless, the W gable, which stands to its full height, is intaken internally and externally at wall-head level as is usual in early church building. The E gable, largely rebuilt, shows the lower part of a central buttress. The entrance is in the N wall through the remains of a late Transitional doorway, 7' wide, which has possible been rebuilt. At the E end of the N wall is a contemporary window with arched head, and there are traces of the priests' door.
The ONB (1854) and MacGibbon and Ross (1896) note the recumbent state of a priest lying within the church. It was dug up in the interior in 1852. The interior of the church is grass-covered, and various grave-slabs and mural tablets have been built into the walls.
The church was granted to Holyrood Abbey by Malcolm IV (1153-65) and subsequently given by them to Newbattle Abbey, confirmed in 1372. It was probably abandoned in 1739, when a new church was erected.
RCAHMS 1929, visited 1924; SDD List 1963
Visited by OS (JLD) 17 February 1953
The remains of this church are generally as described.
Visited by OS (BS) 9 August 1974
The walls of this roofless church were consolidated in 1846. Much of the masonry is no doubt medieval, but of features there are only the N door jambs with worn capitals of about 1200, and a small lancet window. The effigy of the priest noted above is of mid-13th century date.
C McWilliam 1978.
