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Old Belses
Farmstead (19th Century), Farmstead (Medieval)
Site Name Old Belses
Classification Farmstead (19th Century), Farmstead (Medieval)
Canmore ID 218155
Site Number NT52SE 47
NGR NT 56900 24864
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/218155
- Council Scottish Borders, The
- Parish Ancrum
- Former Region Borders
- Former District Roxburgh
- Former County Roxburghshire
NT52SE 47 56900 24864
The Object Name Book of the Ordnance Survey (ONB) describes 'Old Belses' as 'A two storey-house with garden and office house attached, is situated on the farm of Old Belses, the property of Sir George Douglas, Springwood Park near Kelso'.
Name Book 1858
Standing Building Recording (7 January 2011 - 8 January 2011)
NT 56900 24864 A standing building survey of Old Belses Farm was carried out in January 2011. The current informal layout of the farm differs from the formal arrangement depicted the 1st Edition OS map of 1859, which shows two courtyard steadings. Only the farmhouse remains of the more southerly of the two steadings; however, this building did not form part of the current survey, which examined the five buildings adjacent to the road. Building 1 a lofted cart-shed with date a stone of 1861, Building 2 a collection of animal sheds, Building 3 a stone-built barn (now a workshop), Building 4 a stone-built barn with outshot building, and Building 5 an animal shed with a date stone of 1866.
The survey determined that Old Belses Farm was first established during the first half of the 19th century. Building 1 is largely unaltered and Building 2 is attached to it. Building 3 was a byre with associated crew yard. Building 4 was originally a water mill that went out of use sometime during the late 19th century. Building 5 was part of a U-shaped range that was left upstanding during the construction of a modern tractor shed. Apart from Building 4, the steading buildings date to the second half of the 19th century.
Archive: RCAHMS. Reports: RCAHMS and Scottish Borders SMR
Funder: Mr Thomas Culverwell
CFA Archaeology Ltd, 2011
Information also reported in Oasis (cfaarcha1-95921) 1 September 2011
Sbc Note
Timothy Pont's map of Teviotdale (c. 1590) shows a farm then called 'Betel' in the general location of Old Belses. A large community is depicted at 'Belshaes' on Armstrong's map of Roxburghshire (1770) and by the time of the 1st Edition OS map (c. 1860) a number of buildings to the east of the present range, are shown.
Information from Scottish Borders Council Historic Environment Record
(n.d.)
