Archaeology Notes

Event ID 721014

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/721014

NT63SE 12 67233 31638

NMRS REFERENCE

Makerstoun House:

Makerstoun House, which is situated at the S extremity of the parish on the high left bank of the Tweed, has been rebuilt and wholly modernised with the exception of a single vaulted cellar at its SE corner. But even this compartment, which dates from the 16th century, has been altered by the shutting off of a passage along one side. The N front of the house is adorned with a modern battlement supported on double-membered moulded corbels of 16th-century type, evidently re-used.

Sundial:

A cubical sundial with three dial-faces, the central one showing two sets of initials, H M and B M, for Henry Makdougall of Makerstoun and Barbara, his wife and cousin, with the date 1684, projects from the SW. angle of the servants' quarters.

Historical Notes:

In 1373-4 Fergus Mcdowlle received a charter from Robert II of the whole barony of Malcarstona, which had belonged to his mother, Margaret Fraser. (Reg Magni Sig Reg Scot 1306-1424, 1956). In a charter of confirmation of 1381-3 (Reg Magni Sig Reg Scot 1306-1424) to his son Ughtred, the town or vill of Malcarston is mentioned. The estate remained with the Makdougall family until 1890, and the initials on the sundial are probably those of the contemporary laird and his wife. The vill of Malcarston figures again in a charter of 1430-I, (Reg Magni Sig Reg Scot 1424-1513, 1984), together with the cemetery and Church of St Peter of Makerstoun which stood in South Street. Some time in the 13th century the canons had granted the Corbets, then the proprietors, leave to have a chapel on their manor, and it is presumably this chapel which stood NW. of Makerstoun House (RCAHMS 1956, No.551), the site at the Home Farm (RCAHMS 1956, No.554) being that of the parish church. In 1548-9 (Hamilton Papers J Bain ed. 1892). Makerstoun was one of the houses appointed to watch the fords of Tweed.

RCAHMS 1956, visited 30 June 1933.

EXTERNAL REFERENCE:

ORDNANCE SURVEY

NT 6719 3161. Makerstoun House, as described above, has evidently been rebuilt using masonry from an earlier building; but no information was obtained for the date of this. The vaulted cellar in the SE corner is now used as a wine cellar (Information from Hon R M C Biddulph, Makerstoun House).

Visited by OS (WDJ), 18 September 1962.