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Hume, Pest Knowe
Mound (Post Medieval), Plague Burial (17th Century)(Possible)
Site Name Hume, Pest Knowe
Classification Mound (Post Medieval), Plague Burial (17th Century)(Possible)
Canmore ID 58550
Site Number NT74SW 1
NGR NT 7004 4081
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/58550
- Council Scottish Borders, The
- Parish Hume
- Former Region Borders
- Former District Berwickshire
- Former County Berwickshire
NT74SW 1 7004 4081.
(NT 7004 4081) Pest Knowe (NR)
OS 6"map, Roxburghshire, 2nd ed.,(1909).
Pest Knowe: A small earthen mound in the SE corner of Hume churchyard, traditionally said to be the place where those who died of the plague which afflicted Hume in 1681 were buried. It was opened a few years ago by Lady John Scott, but there were no bones, nor any human remains discovered (Name Book 1858). It is suggested (F R Simpson 1872) that this mound is only a pile of earth, excavated from the foundations of the church, or the nearby burial vault. The date of the outbreak of plague is given as 1645 (G Murison ed. 1926).
RCAHMS 1915.
A tree-covered mound, 1.3m in maximum height. It is mutilated on the NE and SE by the churchyard wall. The presence of numerous rabbit burrows tends to support the theory that it is merely a pile of earth as mentioned by F R Simpson (1872).
Visited by OS(JFC) 24 January 1955.
Pest Knowe is generally as described in the previous field report. The mound is now used as a graveyard rubbish tip. No further information.
Resurveyed at 1:2500.
Visited by OS(RD) 20 July 1966.
Field Visit (23 October 1908)
181. Mound, Pest Knowe, Hume.
This is an artificial mound in the south-east corner of Hume churchyard which is said to have been erected over the remains of people who had died of plague. Excavation many years ago revealed no traces of sepulchral remains of any kind.
See Ber. Nat. Club, 1869-72, p. 311.
RCAHMS 1915, visited 23rd October 1908.
Sbc Note (15 April 2016)
Visibility: Standing structure or monument.
Information from Scottish Borders Council
