Archaeology Notes

Event ID 717282

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/717282

NT53SE 42 55433 30150

NT53SE 42.01 55437 30164 Churchyard centre

NMRS REFERENCE

(NT 5543 3014). Bowden Parish Church is on record as the property of Kelso Abbey before 1180; however, no trace of Romanesque work is to be found in the present building, which is mainly of the 17th century and later. In 1793 the church was said to be old, long and narrow, and in need of reparation (OSA 1893). A panel dated 1794, inserted into the S wall, evidently records the date of the repairs. The church was fully restored in 1909.

Its plan now includes an oblong nave with a N cross-aisle, the survivor of two 17th century transeptal aisles; a modern vestry parallel to the last and farther E; and a rectangular chancel at the E end elevated on a burial vault and contrived from what had been the retiring-room of a 17th century 'laird's loft'. During the restoration some evidence came to light showing that the nave had formerly been covered with a barrel-vault; this, taken in conjuction with a wide, obtusely pointed archway opening into the N cross-aisle, suggests that the N wall of the nave may date in part from the 15th century. The S wall and the chancel-opening are wholly modern, while the W gable and a doorway at the W end of the N wall date from the 17th century. The E end and the surviving cross-aisle are to be dated from 1644 and 1661 respectively. Some of the small headstones in the graveyard may date from before 1707, though the only legible ones are later.

RCAHMS 1956, visited 1945

EXTERNAL REFERENCE:

ORDNANCE SURVEY

This church is in use for public worship and is as described above.

Visited by OS (JLD) 21 February 1961.