Archaeology Notes

Event ID 729039

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/729039

NY07NW 3.00 03577 78233.

NY07NW 3.01 NY c.0360 7823 Old Parish Church

(NY 0360 7823) Church (NR) (Site of)

OS 6" map (1948)

This T-plan church (built 1782) occupies the W side of the enlarged burial-ground at Torthorwald. The site of the medieval parish church is probably indicated by a terrace, extending from the E wall of the present church, measuring about 20m from W to E by 8m transversely. The S side of the terrace is respected by a number of 18th-century gravestones and slabs, the earliest dated 1710, while only gravestones of 19th-century date impose upon the terrace itself.

In the W wall of the vestry, above the string-course, there is a medieval grave-slab bearing, in false relief, a floriated Latin cross: on the sinister side of the cross, there is, a double-edged sword with depressed quillons and segmented coped pommel, surmounted by a shield bearing a saltire and a chief; on the dexter side, there is an inscription which has been rendered unintelligible by re-cutting. The margin of the slab is decorated with a running scroll. Built into the N wall of the vestry, there is a small panel bearing, in relief, the letters WMH and the date 1644.

Visited by RCAHMS (IMS/PC), 29 September 1993.

Parish Church. White-painted T-plan kirk built in 1782, incorporating work of 1730; enlarged in 1791 and 1809.

J Gifford 1996.