Woodhead
Church (Period Unassigned)(Possible), Grave Slab(S) (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Woodhead
Classification Church (Period Unassigned)(Possible), Grave Slab(S) (Period Unassigned)
Alternative Name(s) Woodhead Farm
Canmore ID 65241
Site Number NX89NW 9
NGR NX 8477 9515
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/65241
- Council Dumfries And Galloway
- Parish Penpont
- Former Region Dumfries And Galloway
- Former District Nithsdale
- Former County Dumfries-shire
NX89NW 9 8477 9515.
(NX 8477 9515). The former existence of an early medieval church is indicated by the occurrence of 13th.c grave-covers on Woodhead farm, on a small, natural platform, half-way up a steep meadow, commanding a splendid view where air photographs reveal a sub-rectangular banked enclosure with a smaller similar enclosure, possibly a house, just beside it.
Two small grave-covers from the site are in Dumfries Museum. One, a 2' long slab bearing a Maltese cross and dagger, was donated by the farmer, Mr Davidson, by whose son it was ploughed up, along with several larger fragments which were left in the soil.
The proximity of this site to the apparently contemporary church at Penpont (NX89SW 6) is not readily explicable into early medieval times of a Dark Age foundation". The nearby name "Eccles" = "Church" may have some significance.
A E Truckell 1955; 1963; 1964
(A Ps show surface markings at NX 8477 9515 and others, perhaps of enclosures, extend over the area NX 8483 9514.)
Visible on air photographs (RAF.541.A.529: 3365-6).
(Undated) information in NMRS.
Nothing is visible in this area which is under crop, and no further stones have been uncovered by the farmer. He states that after ploughing in dry weather a near-circular soil mark is apparent.
Visited by OS (SFS) 5 June 1975.
