Trailtrow Chapel

NY17SE 12 15503 72236.

(NY 1550 7223) Trailtrow Chapel (NR) (Site of)

OS 1:10000 map (1973)

For Hoddom Castle and associated buildings, see NY17SE 1.00.

For (associated) Repentance Tower (NY 15496 72246), see NY17SE 2.

For hospital at Trailtrow (NY c. 148 718), see NY17SE 13.

Trailtrow Chapel stood a little W of Repentance Tower (NY17SE 2), on a lower level. It is said to have been demolished by John Maxwell, Lord Herries in the 16th century, to build Hoddom castle (NY17SE 1); he was then constrained to build Repentance Tower, which is still surrounded by the old burial ground. The chapelry of Trailtrow was annexed to Cummertrees in 1609 (G Chalmers 1890).

(See also NY17SE 13 for site of hospital)

W Johnstone 1898; N Tranter 1965 .

Trailflat (Glasgow, Nithsdale). Granted to Kelso by William de Carnato, c. 1180, this grant was confirmed by William the Lion (1165-1214) and to the uses of the abbey by Jocelin, bishop of Glasgow (1179 x 89). A vicarage had been erected before 1275, but this was apparently transitory, as both parsonage and vicarage teinds evidently lay with the abbey at the Reformation. Most of the revenues, however, appear to have been devoted to the use of the cell of Lesmahagow, the cure itself being served by a chaplain.

I B Cowan 1967.

The OS published siting falls just S of the tower, not W as stated by Johnstone. There is no surface evidence to corroborate either siting. The burial ground can still be seen at NY 1551 7223.

Visited by OS (RD) 23 October 1967

Encircling the site of Trailtrow Chapel are the stony remains of a wall up to 2.0m wide, with an entrance in the W. This wall may be associated with the chapel, or contemporary with Repentance Tower.

Revised at 1:2500.

Visited by OS (IA) 23 February 1973.

Nothing is visible of the chapel that probably stood on the high ground on the N side of the burial-ground, in the area now occupied on the E by the burial-enclosure of the Murrays of Murraythwaite and, in part on the W, by Repentance Tower (NY17SE 2); the probable site of the chapel measures about 22m from E to W by 9.5m transversely. A plaque records that the enclosure, being ruinous, was restored and considerably enlarged by John Murray of Murraythwaite in 1800. Beneath this plaque there is a lintel which bears a worn inscription apparently commemmorating George Murray.

Due W of the enclosure are three gravestones of the Blackstock family, the earliest commemmorating Robert Blackstock of Trailtrow who died 7 January 1716 aged 80 years.

The remaining funerary monuments, arranged roughly in family groups (principally the families of Rae, Hadden and Irving), are disposed on the S side of the burial-ground, the intervening area apparently being devoid of burials, this perhaps reflecting the presence of an expanse of rock outcrop (apparent beyond the wall of the burial-ground to the E). The majority of the gravestones are of 18th- and 19th-century ate, but there is at least one 17th-century grave-slab. The gravestone of Janet Rae, wife of George Douglas in Trailtrow, who died on 31 March 1739 aged 72 years, is noteworthy for its depiction, on the front, of Adam and Eve and the Tree of Knowledge, flanked by foliaceous stems.

Beyond the burial-ground, on the N, there is a curving enclosure-bank. This may be the perimeter of the original burial-ground or may be associated with the precincts of Repentance Tower; alternatively, it may be a more recent plantation boundary. A track, terraced into the slope, climbs the hill to the tower. Depressions on both sides of the bank, and within trees to the E of the Murray enclosure, are probably the result of quarrying.

Visited by RCAHMS (IMS), 11 October 1993.

(Listed with Repentance Tower). To the E of the tower (NY17SE 2), a burial enclosure, its walls built of rough ashlar. Above the corniced entrance, a stone with a worn inscription and, immediately on top of this, a stone that records that 'This burial place being in a ruinous state. was taken over rebuilt and considerably enlarged & heightened in the wall by John Murray of Murraythwaite 1800'. Beside this stone, an heraldic panel, probably 17th century. Immediately SW of this enclosure, a plain headstone commemorating Charles Murray (died 1776), 'A NATIVE OF AFRICA SERVANT TO MR. MURRAY OF MURRAYTHWAITE'. Some way to the S, the headstone of Wileam Ree (died 1740) decorated with an angel's head (the soul). To its SE, the headstone of William Irving (died 1741) carved with a skull and crossbones in high relief.

J Gifford 1996.

Listed as chapel and burial-ground.

RCAHMS 1997.