Melrose Abbey, Tile Kiln

NT53SW 44 5273 3260.

(NT 5273 3260) Pile of Stones (NAT)

OS 6" map (1967)

The fine series of glazed floor tiles, in situ, at Melrose Abbey were undoubtedly made by the Cistercians. Milne (A Milne 1743) notes that "a little to the south of Darnick is a place called the Tile-house, where they made their tile, and a great deal of it is sometimes found there". A field called 'Tylehouse Park' appears on a manuscript plan of 1819, and on other documents held at Abbotsford.

When visited by a group from Glasgow University's Archaeology Department, no signs of claypits or tile fragments could be found, though clay, which could have been used for tile making is exposed in the banks of the stream which separates the field from Rhymer's Glen. It was also noticed that foundations were in fact present at the feature called 'Pile of Stones' by the OS, and it is suggested that these represent the remains of the 'Tile- house'.

It is hoped that an excavation will take place later in the year.

E Talbot 1976