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Swinton Parish Church And Churchyard
Architectural Fragment (Medieval), Burial Ground (18th Century), Church (18th Century), Churchyard (18th Century), Gate (18th Century), Gate Pier (18th Century), Inscribed Stone (17th Century), Inscribed Stone (16th Century), Inscribed Stone (13th Century)(Possible), Bell (15th Century)
Site Name Swinton Parish Church And Churchyard
Classification Architectural Fragment (Medieval), Burial Ground (18th Century), Church (18th Century), Churchyard (18th Century), Gate (18th Century), Gate Pier (18th Century), Inscribed Stone (17th Century), Inscribed Stone (16th Century), Inscribed Stone (13th Century)(Possible), Bell (15th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Swinton Church
Canmore ID 59567
Site Number NT84NW 3
NGR NT 83878 47647
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/59567
- Council Scottish Borders, The
- Parish Swinton
- Former Region Borders
- Former District Berwickshire
- Former County Berwickshire
Swinton Parish Church was built after 1100, but of this early church only fragments of the east, south and west walls can still be identified amongst the later fabric.
The church was first significantly altered in 1593, and it is thought that the pulpit was moved at this time to its present location in the south wall. An inscription in the west porch commemorates this phase of rebuilding.
In 1782, an aisle was added. Known as the 'Feuar's Aisle', it provided seating for 25 of Swinton's feu-holders, the names of whom are recorded in an inscription within the church.
Further alterations in 1796 and 1800 were followed by major rebuilding work in 1837. The laird's loft, which allowed the local landowners, the Swintons, to sit apart from the rest of the congregation, may date from this period, though its origins may be earlier.
By the 1900s, the church was becoming increasingly dilapidated, and in 1910 the architect Sir Robert Lorimer was employed to carry out repairs. At this time, the walls were raised, the church was re-roofed and re-floored, and new fittings added.
Throughout much of its history, the church has enjoyed a close association with the Swinton family, who were the local landowners. Heraldic panels displaying the Swinton coat-of-arms, which features three boars' heads, have been built into the fabric of the walls, and within the church there is an effigy of a knight named Sir Alan Swinton. This is said to be twelfth century in origin, but stylistic details suggest a later, sixteenth- or seventeenth-century date. The Swinton family continued to act as benefactors into the twentieth century, when they donated a carved wooden pulpit at the time of the 1910 restoration.
A fifteenth-century bell survives at Swinton. This is known locally as the 'Flodden Bell', and is said to have rung the death knell for those Scots who fell at the Battle of Flodden in 1513.
Text prepared by RCAHMS as part of the Accessing Scotland's Past project
NT84NW 3 83878 47647
NT84NW 36 83831 47621 Manse
(NT 83878 47647) Swinton parish church, dedicated to St Mary, and on record in 1150, was held by Coldingham Priory. The present structure was erected in 1729, incorporating fragments of the medieval church in its E, S and W walls. An aisle was added in 1782, and further alterations made in 1792, 1800 and 1909. Its bell is dated 1499.
Fasti Eccles Scot, H Scott et al ed. 1917; RCAHMS 1915, visited 1914; G Hay 1957; RCAHMS 1980, visited 1978; J Ferguson 1892; I B Cowan 1967.
Field Visit (April 1914)
279. Swinton Church.
The church of Swinton is situated at the east end of Swinton village, has been frequently altered and repaired, and no architectural features worthy of note remain.
Recumbent Effigy.
Placed within a semicircular niche or recess at the side of the pulpit, near the middle of the south wall of the church, is a rudely executed full-length effigy. The work is extremely crude, and the figure holds between the hands resting on the breast what is clearly a book bound in boards. There is a slab at the back of the recess bearing a curious representation of the Swinton arms and the legend, HIC IACET ALANUS SVINTONVS MILES DE EODEM. This is believed to be the tomb of Sir Alan Swinton of that ilk, who died about the year 1200. The reference may be to Sir Alan Swinton, but ‘Swintonus’ is a false form, and certainly not contemporary with any Alan on record. The lettering also is late. Similarly, the effigy has no real connection with the person named in the inscription. The arms display the crest of the chained boar, but the crest is not known in Scotland before late in the last quarter of the 14th century, while the boar and the boars' heads are all contourné, that is, heraldically turned in the wrong direction. All the details suggest that this work as it stands is to be attributed to the same period as other heraldic panels about the church - the end of the 16th or the first part of the 17th century.
Bell.
In the church tower is a 15th-century bell (fig. 148) of Low Country origin. The bell measures 14 inches in height, 39 inches in circumference at the top and 22 inches at the foot, and is inscribed MARIA EST NOMEN MEUM 1499. It has no initial cross, but the inscription is preceded instead by small fleurs-de-lis upon what seems to be a short fillet. Some of the letters are Lombardic and some Roman, and the date is in Arabic numerals.
See Scottish Historical Review, viii. p. 327.
Inscribed Panel.
Built into the wall, over the doorway within the porch on the south side, is a panel inscribed MAK . NO . IELA Y . TO TVRN TO THE LORD / (A)NNO . 1593.
Heraldic Panels.
Over the window in the east gable is a panel containing a shield bearing the Swinton arms: A chevron between three boars' heads erased; above the shield are the letters s A S and beneath are M H and the date 1636. Above the door on the south side giving entrance from the outside stair to the loft is a triangular slab within mouldings bearing the Swinton arms.
Built into the south wall of the Swinton burial aisle is another panel having carved on it a boar chained above three boars' heads, and, over all, the letters S A S and D M H.
Antiquaries, xxix. p. 342 (illus.); Ber. Nat. Club, 1890-91, p. 164; The Swintons of that llk (illus.), passim.
RCAHMS 1915, visited April 1914.
OS Map: Ber., xxiii. N.W.
Sbc Note (15 April 2016)
Visibility: Standing structure or monument.
Information from Scottish Borders Council
