Field Visit
Date 28 September 1993
Event ID 754569
Category Recording
Type Field Visit
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/754569
NY28SE 3.02 257 801
The following archiectural fragments and medieval grave-slabs are probably derived from the medieval parish church at Carruthers are incorporated into the walls of the burial-ground NY28SE 3.01:
(1) NY 2574 8017. At the SW angle of the original burial-ground, which was later extended to the W, there is a pier capital, probably of 12th or 13th century date, which is in re-use as a coping stone. The Capital has been inverted and the base of the shaft hollowed out for use as a bowl or, conceivably, a font, with a drain emitting from the base.
(2) NY 2576 8017. In re-use as a coping stone to the S wall of the burial-ground, 16.7m from the SW angle, there is a dressed sandstone block which measures 0.25m long, 0.23m wide and 0.16m thick and has probably formed the wall portion of a piscina. The main portion of the bowl has become detached and is no longer apparent. The interior of the surviving portion has been rebated for the bowl and a V-channelled groove to the rear has probably been the drain; the base is recessed and wrought with a rolled fillet.
(3) NY 2576 8017. In re-use as a coping stone 2.3m W of (2), there is a slab wrought on one side with a shallow hollow-roll moulding of width 8mm.
(4) NY 2576 8017. In re-use as a coping stone 7.3m from the SW angle of the burial-ground, there is a fragment of a medieval grave-slab which has been wrought with an 8mm chamfer.
(5) NY 2577 8019. Incorporated into the E wall of the burial-ground, 9.7m S of (6) and 0.35m above ground level, there is a sandstone slab which has been rebated on one edge and wrought with a 6mm quirked edge-roll on the other.
(6) NY 2577 8019. The gatepost on the S side of the entrance to the burial-ground is an exceptionally finely decorated medieval grave-slab 1.25m high by up to 0.44m wide at the base and 0.24m thick. It has been set in the ground to a depth of at least 0.45m and the top of the stone has been trimmed. The extant face is ornamented with a central stem bearing a formalised 'tree-of-life' motif, while the edge of the slab has a beaded margin bordered by an arcaded palmette motif.
(7) NY 2577 8019. A sizeable medieval grave-slab of red sandstone (0.55m wide and 0.1m thick) has been broken into at least five pieces and incorporated into the wall of the burial-ground alongside (6); two of the detached portions form the treads of a stile. The grave-slab, which is probably of late 12th or early 13th century date, bears the sharply-incised outline of a Maltese cross with a circular central boss and a long shaft; the arms and the shaft of the cross are enhanced by a second parallel line cut within the first.
(8) NY 2577 8020. An impressive medieval grave-slab, probably of 12th century date, has been set on its side at the base of the wall beside the N gatepost at the entrance to the burial-ground. Half of the slab is below ground level, but it measures 1.65m in length, 0.3m to 0.35m in width and 0.18m in thickness, and is wrought with the steeply-incised outline of a long-shafted Maltese cross. The shaft squared-off and lacks the usual stepped Calvary base.
(9) NY 2577 8018. This fragment of a medieval grave-slab is in re-use as a coping-stone in the E wall of the burial-ground to the S of the entrance. It has chamfered edges and bears, in low relief, the upper portion of a foliated eight-armed cross.
Visited by RCAHMS (IMS, PC, IF), 28 September 1993.
