Field Visit
Date 15 September 2009
Event ID 959608
Category Recording
Type Field Visit
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/959608
The upper terrace is supported on the south side by a 6m-high battered retaining wall. The wall appears to be in sound condition, although the top course of the low parapet is missing. A continuation of the wall extends north from in front of the east elevation of the east pavilion. Parts of this wall have been consolidated. There is a row of three windows in the north end of this part of the wall. Below the terrace, there is a bath-house built into the middle of the retaining wall. It is heavily overgrown and examination of the structure and condition was limited. Most of the structure is set back behind the face of the wall, under the terrace. The curved front of the bath-house extends 2m from the face of the retaining wall. A central door is flanked by a window at either side. The room extends 5m back beyond the wall. Inside there is a rectangular chamber with an apse at either end. In the rear apse is a round ashlar bath, 3m in diameter and 1.2m deep, under a segmental arch. This has a fluted console keystone like those on the pavilions. A rectangular chute in the ceiling above the bath was formerly accessible from the terrace, where it is known as the well. Stone benches line the east and west walls of the chamber, each with a niche above. The walls are finished with a smooth render. No fittings remain, but there is the scar of a tap at the centre of the apse, over the bath. Another arch divides the chamber from the apsidal entrance porch. The bath-house is not present in Slezer’s engraving of 1680. Outside, there is another overgrown doorway leading to a side chamber immediately west of the bath-house. This chamber could not be examined because of its overgrown state.
There is a large crack in the half dome over the outer apse of the entrance. The adjoining chamber is suffering from the growth of woody plants. The state of the upper masonry of the bath-house is unknown. It is likely that the thick undergrowth on parts of the terrace walls could be causing damage to the masonry, but this could not be quantified. The nature and condition of the covering of the well is unknown.
Archaeological Services Durham University, 15 September 2009. OASIS-id: archaeol3-64466
