Springwood House, St Thomas' Chapel

Writing in 1838, the minister of Kelso noted that a small chapel or oratory had stood in 'Chapel Park', which lay about 200m south of Teviot Bridge.

Dedicated to St Thomas, the chapel was possibly founded by Herbert de Maccuswell in the twelfth century. Little more is known of the church but it was probably affiliated to Kelso Abbey in some way.

Herbert's father Maccus appears to have been an important figure in the reigns of Malcolm IV, Alexander I and David I. Maccus witnessed the signing of the original charter founding Selkirk Abbey and received land on the southern banks of the River Tweed, taking in the area of Springwood Park, modern Maxwellheugh, and Pinnacle Hill. The village on his land came to be known as 'Maccusvill' or 'Maccuswell', and ultimately Maxwell.

Text prepared by RCAHMS as part of the Accessing Scotland's Past project

NT73SW 15 7194 3327

(NT 7195 3327) Chapel (NR) (Site of).

OS 6" map, (1938).

Within 'Chapel Park', east of Springwood House, is the site of a chapel supposed to have been dedicated to St Thomas. It was founded by Herbert de Maxwell or Maccusirel, who lived during the reign of David I and Malcolm IV (12th century).

Name Book 1858.

Scanty remains of an oratory dedicated to St Thomas.

New Statistical Account (NSA) 1845.

No remains exist here.

Visited by OS (RDL), 2 December 1963.