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Middle Hill, Resting House
Hospice (Modern)
Site Name Middle Hill, Resting House
Classification Hospice (Modern)
Alternative Name(s) Reshlaw, Clints
Canmore ID 54578
Site Number NT45SE 11
NGR NT 45117 52472
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/54578
- Council Scottish Borders, The
- Parish Channelkirk
- Former Region Borders
- Former District Ettrick And Lauderdale
- Former County Berwickshire
NT45SE 11 4512 5247
(NT 4512 5247) Resting House (NR) (remains of)
OS 6" map (1970)
Only a part of the vaulted lower storey of this building remains. The Statistical Account [OSA] (1794) states that it is commonly referred to as Resh Law or Restlaw Haw, and is traditionally said to have been where pilgrims passing between Edinburgh and Melrose stopped for refreshment (this tradition is repeated in the Ordnance Survey Name Book [ONB]).
The RCAHMS state that there is no authentic history regarding the building, which is called "Rashlaw House" on Armstrong's map (1771).
A Allen 1900; Name Book 1857; RCAHMS 1915
The Resting House was formerly a rectangular building measuring 8.0m x 6.0m, with a small addition, 5.0m x 4.0m attached to the SE wall. Only the SE wall is now standing, some 2.5m in height. The remainder of the walls are 0.4m in height and are now turf-covered. They are 1.0m thick. Judging from the SE wall, the interior of the building was barrel-vaulted.
Visited by OS (JD) 12 May 1955
No change to previous field report. This may have been a pele-tower.
Visited by OS (BS) 5 August 1975
This building may have been originally called "Rushylaw House". The idea of a "resting house" is perhaps influenced by the tradition that connected the "Girthgate" (see Lin 532) with Melrose Abbey.
R P Hardie 1942
'The remains of an ancient Inn...used at a former period by the monks of Melrose as a house of rest while journeying to and from Edinburgh and which devotees used in their pilgrimage to the Abbey of Melrose.'
Name Book 1854-62
One unroofed L-shaped building, annotated Resting House (in ruins), is depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Berwickshire 1854-62, sheet 13) and the current edition of the OS 1:10560 map (1970).
Information from RCAHMS (SAH) 20 September 2000.
Publication Account (1915)
36. ‘Resting-house’, near Clints.
Some ¾ mile south-east of Clints and about 300 yards to the north of the county boundary are the ruins of a building marked on the O.S. map ‘Resting House’. The original building, of which only a portion of the vaulted lower storey now remains, has been oblong on plan measuring internally 20 feet 9 inches by 14 feet, with walls from 2 feet 9 inches to 3 feet 6 inches in thickness. The entrance, defended by a bar - the slot for which is visible in the wall - is in the east wall and measures 5 feet 9 inches by 3 feet 1 inch. The vault was apparently a semicircular barrel-vault springing from a scarcement 3 feet 7 inches above the level of the door sill to a height of 11 feet. At the level of the door lintel a row of joist holes spaced some 5 feet apart indicates the existence of an intermediate floor, though of small dimensions, between the ground floor and the vault. Built of the local greywacke, the masonry is of a rude description. The lintel and one or two of the jambs tones of the door are the only pieces of freestone visible.
A smaller structure has subsequently been erected, abutting on the east wall, making the plan T-shaped. It measures internally14 feet 9 inches by 10 feet, with walls 2 feet 1 inch in thickness*.
Being close to the ‘Girthgate’, there is a tradition that this was the place where the monks and pilgrims rested for refreshment, but there is no authentic history regarding the building. On the map of 1771 showing the line of the Girthgate (fig. 15) it is designated ‘Rashlaw House’, which may be for Rush-law, from the coarse rush-like grass growing on the high moor or law.
See History of Channelkirk, p. 668 (illus.); Stat. Acct., xiii. p. 390.
RCAHMS 1915
OS Map: Ber., xiii. SW.
*From plan and particulars kindly supplied by Mr A. Webster Peacock, F.S.A. Scot., Architect, Edinburgh.
Sbc Note
Visibility: Upstanding building, which may not be intact.
Information from Scottish Borders Council
