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[Crown]
The Royal Commission
on the Ancient & Historical
Monuments of Scotland
[note]
416
R.T.
A1.1
INV(1) |
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[note]
A247
THE ROYAL COMMISSION
ON
THE ANCIENT AND HISTORICAL MONUMENTS
AND CONSTRUCTIONS OF SCOTLAND
_________________________
FIRST REPORT
AND
INVENTORY OF MONUMENTS AND
CONSTRUCTIONS
IN THE
COUNTY OF BERWICK
Presented to both House of Parliament by
Command of His Majesty
[coat of arms]
Oval Stamp - THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON ANCIENT MONUMENTS SCOTLAND
EDINBURGH:
PRINTED FOR HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE
By NEILL & CO., Limited, Bellevue
____
And to be purchased, either directly or through any Bookseller, from
OLIVER & BOYD, Edinburgh; or
WYMAN & SONS, Ltd., Fetter Lane, E.C.; and
32 Abingdon Street, Westminster, S.W.; or
E PONSONBY, 116 Grafton Street, Dublin.
___
1909
[Cd. 4770.]--Price 6d. |
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CONTENTS.
His Majesty's Commission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .iii
Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
List of Ancient and Historical Monuments and Con-
structions in the County of Berwick which the
Commissioners deem most worthy of Preservation . vii
Introduction to inventory of ancient and historical
monuments and constructions in the county of
Berwick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
List of parishes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xiv
Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xiv
Inventory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Indices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Map of the county of Berwick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . at end |
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COMMISSION.
EDWARD, R. & I.
OUR WILL AND PLEASURE IS THAT LETTERS PATENT be made
and passed under the Seal appointed by the Treaty of
Union to be kept and made use of in Scotland in the place
of the great Seal of Scotland, in words and to the effect
following:-
EDWARD THE SEVENTH, by the grace of God of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions
beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, to --
Our right trusty and well-beloved Councillor Sir Herbert Eustace
Maxwell, Baronet, Fellow of the Royal Society, President of the
Society of Antiquaries of Scotland;
Our trusty and well-beloved Charles John Guthrie, Esquire
(commonly called The Honourable Lord Guthrie), one of the Senators
of Our College of Justice in Scotland;
Our trusty and well-beloved Gerard Baldwin Brown, Esquire,
Master of Arts, Professor of Fine Art in the University of
Edinburgh;
Our trusty and well-beloved Thomas Hastie Bryce, Esquire,
Doctor of Medicine, Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh,
Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland;
Our trusty and well-beloved Francis Christian Buchanan, Esquire.
Our trusty and well-beloved William Thomas Oldrieve, Esquire,
Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, Principal Architect
and Surveyor in Scotland to the Commissioners of Our Works and
Public Buildings;
Our trusty and well-beloved Thomas Ross, Esquire, Fellow of the
Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. Greeting!
Whereas We have deemed it expedient that a Commission should
forthwith issue to make an inventory of the Ancient and Historical
Monuments and Constructions connected with or illustrative of the
contemporary culture, civilisation, and conditions of life of the people
in Scotland from the earliest times to the year 1707, such as --
1. Sepulchral cairns and other burial places.
2. Forts, camps, earthworks, brochs, crannogs, and other defensive
works, either overground or underground.
3. Stone circles and standing stones, and rock surfaces with
incised or other sculpturings.
4. Architectural structures, ecclesiastical and secular, whether
ruinous or in use, including sculptured or inscribed memorials.
And to specify those which see most worthy of preservation.
Now know ye that We, reposing great trust and confidence in
your knowledge, discretion, and ability, have nominated, constituted,
2000 -- Wt. 10090/124 -- 8/09. -- N. & Co., Ltd. |
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iv HISTORICAL MONUMENTS (SCOTLAND) COMMISSION.
and appointed, and do by these Presents nominate, constitute, and
appoint you, the said Sir Herbert Eustace Maxwell (Chairman),
Charles John Guthrie, Gerald Baldwin Brown, Thomas Hastie Bryce,
Francis Christian Buchanan, William Thomas Oldrieve, and Thomas
Ross to be Our Commissioners for the purposes of the said inquiry.
And for the better enabling you to carry out the purposes of this
Commission, We do by these Presents authorise you to call in the aid
and co-operation of owners of ancient monuments, inviting them to
assist you in furthering the objects of this Commission; and We do
further authorise and empower you to call before you such persons
as you may judge necessary by whom you may be the better informed
of the matters herein submitted for your consideration, and every
matter connected therewith, with power to invite the possessors of
such papers as you may deem it desirable to inspect to produce them
before you, and to inquire of and concerning the premises by all
other lawful ways and means whatsoever.
And We do further by these Presents authorise and empower
you, or any one or more of you, to visit and personally inspect such
places as you may deem expedient for the more effectual carrying
out of the purposes aforesaid.
And we do hereby direct that you, or any one or more of you,
may from time to time proceed in the execution of this Commission
and of every matter and thing herein contained.
And Our further Will and Pleasure is that you Our said Com-
missioners, or any three or more of you, do report to Us from time
to time in writing under your hands and seals all and every your
proceedings under and by virtue of these Presents.
And for your assistance in the execution of these Presents, We
do hereby nominate and appoint Our trusty and well-beloved
Alexander Ormiston Curle, Esquire, Writer to the Signet, one of the
Secretaries of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, to be Secretary
to this Our Commission.
And We ordain the said Letters Patent to be extended in the
most ample form, and to pass the Seal aforesaid per saltum, without
passing anyother Seal or Register. For doing whereof these Presents
shall be to the Director of Our Chancery for writing the same, and to
the Keeper of the said Seal for causing the same to be appended
thereto a sufficient Warrant.
Given at Our Court at Buckingham Palace the seventh day of
February 1908, in the eighth year of Our Reign.
By His Majesty's Command
[Signed] JOHN SINCLAIR. |
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FIRST REPORT
OF THE
ROYAL COMMISSION ON THE ANCIENT AND
HISTORICAL MONUMENTS OF SCOTLAND.
TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY.
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY, --
We, your Majesty's Commissioners, appointed to make an
Inventory of the Ancient and Historical Monments and Constrc-
tions connected with or illustrative of the contemporary culture,
civilisation, and conditions of life of the people of Scotland from the
earliest times to the year 1707, and to specify those which seem most
worthy of preservation, respectfully beg leave to certify to your Majesty
that meetings of the Commissioners have been held on 26th February
and 4th October 1908, and on 8th February and 15th March 1909.
In order to carry out mosr effectually your Majesty's intentions, your
Commissioners resolved at their first meeting that the Inventory
should be framed upon a topographical basis. It was further decided
to take advantage of the notification of antiquities made on the maps
of the Ordnance Survey, and from these to prepare preliminary lists
according to counties and parishes for the purpose of distribution to
the ministers of the Gospel, schoolmaster, and such other individuals
as might be able to supplement these lists from local knowledge.
It was also consdiered essential that the Secretary should visit each
county in turn, with the object of personally inspecting each monu-
ment so as to satisfy your Commissioners as to its true character and
condition.
In accordance with the foregoing scheme, lists of monuments in
each parish have now been prepared for distribution.
The monuments in the county of berwick have been visited, and
a complete Inventory showing the situation and characteristics of
each, along with a bibliography, a reference to the Ordnance Survey
sheet (6-inch scale) on which it is noted, and the date on which it
was visited, has been compiled and is annexed to this Report. Your
Commissioners consider that to render the Inventory of practical
utility these details are essential. The number of objects noticed is
260, of which 70, it is believed, have not previously been described.
There is also appended a list of monuments and constructions in the
county which to your Commissioners seem most worthy of preserva-
tion. These it has been deemed advisable to divide into two classes,
specifying, in the one class, those which appear to be specially in need
or protection, and, in the other, those worthy of preservation but not |
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vi HISTORICAL MONUMENTS (SCOTLAND) COMMISSION.
in imminent risk of demolition or decay. It has not been considered
necessary to furnish the Inventory with illustrations or plans, as
these already exist in the case of almost all monuments, etc., of
importance in Berwickshire, and are referred to in the Inventory.
Your Commissioners propose in the current year to review the
monuments in the county of Sutherland, and also, if possible, those
in the county of Caithness, and lists have been distributed and other
preparations made with that object.
It is very gratifying to your Commissioners to state that your
Majesty’s Commission has everywhere been fully appreciated and
favourably received, and that the greatest assistance has been given to
your Commissioners in carrying out the work with which you have
entrusted them. The fact that the Corporation of Edinburgh have
recently caused to be compiled and have published an Inventory of
the older structures in the central part of the Old Town is an
encouraging action that merits record. In the court of the year various
cases in which interesting monuments were threatened with injury
or destruction have been brought informally to the notice of your
Commissioners, and it is gratifying to record that representations
made by your Commissioners have met with consideration from
proprietors and others interested.
Your Commissioners desire to make grateful acknowledgment of
the manner in which the work has been facilitated by the clergy and
schoolmasters of Berwickshire. Special thanks are due also to the
Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, whose Council has placed the
valuable archaeological library of the Society at your Commissioners'
disposal and furnished them with a complete set of the Society’s
Proceedings, thereby enabling your Commissioners to avoid much
expense in the purchase of books, etc. Many Fellows of the Society,
also, have rendered valuable assistance individually, all of which
your Commissioners humbly submit to your Majesty’s gracious
consideration.
Your Commissioners cannot conclude this their first Report
without making cordial acknowledgment of the degree in which their
labours have been facilitated by the unremitting energy and special
knowledge of their Secretary, Mr A. O. Curle. They feel that
without the assistance of one so well skilled in archaeology they
could not have accomplished nearly so much as they have done.
L.S.
HERBERT MAXWELL. FRANCIS C. BUCHANAN.
CHARLES J. GUTHRIE. W. T. OLDRIEVE.
G. BALDWIN BROWN. THOMAS ROSS.
THOMAS H. BRYCE. ALEXANDER. O. CURL, Secretary.
June 1909. |
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