Archaeology Notes

Event ID 822031

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/822031

NT73SW 17 7238 3370.

(NT 7238 3370) St Michael's Church (NR) (Site of) Burial Ground (NR)

OS 6" map, (1938).

Date of erection and demolition unknown, though the cemetery still remains to indicate where it stood.

New Statistical Account (NSA) 1845.

Maxwell Church, situated near the present Maxwellheugh, was given to Kelso Abbey by Herbert de Maxwell in the reign of David I (1124-53)

G Watson 1907.

Mr Laing, Border Union Agricultural Society, 30 The Square, Kelso, said that the burial ground was completely removed in 1960 during improvements to the showground wherein it stood. No trace is left of either church or graveyard.

Revised at 1/2500.

Visited by OS (RDL) 2 December 1963.

NT 724 336 A development was proposed in the vicinity of the site of St Michael's Church and burial ground (NMRS NT73SW 17) immediately to the S of the confluence of the rivers Tweed and Teviot in Kelso. This church was given to the monks of Kelso Abbey in the 12th century. The remains of the church and burial ground were demolished around 1960 during improvements to the showground of Springwood Park. No surface traces of the site now remain. Deep deposits of alluvial silt were discovered during the excavation. Soft sand was discovered underlying the silt at a depth of 1.1m. No features of anthropogenic origin were discovered during the evaluation.

Remains of the church may still survive within the development area, possibly below the existing storage building closer to the presumed site of the church.

Report to be lodged with the NMRS.

Sponsor: Roger G Dodd & Company.

K Cameron 2001