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Parish of Jedburgh County of Roxburgh

formed part of Bongate Cross or the ancient Market Cross of Jedburgh. The fact of its being covered with indistinct hieroglyphicks may in some measure support the character assumed by Lord Campbell. Vide "Runic Monument" Parish of Ruthwell Name Book. It may however be remarked that this stone has been removed from its original site in Jedburgh, previous to which circumstances it had never been recognised as a Runic Altar. This district was thickly studded with Towers the remains and sites which have been shown. The Parish originally possessed two Castles Jedburgh and Ferniehirst, the former of which has entirely disappeared its Site being now occupied by the Jail a castellated and handsome structure which still retains the name of its predecessor - remains still exist of Ferniehirst and form part of the modern house called, from that circumstance Ferniehirst Castle. After the demolition of Jedburgh Castle, the town was defended by six bastel houses or towers the sites of which have been shown. The grand antiquity of the Parish is Jedburgh Abbey which is completely described in the following quotation from the New Statl Acct [Statistical Account]. This venerable structure stands on the south side of the Town on the declining bank of the river which winds past it in front, washing some remnants of its outworks. The Chapter house Cloisters and other appendages have perished and nothing remains but the Church which in the form of a cross, extends from East to West 230 feet. The choir is much dilapidated leaving marks of great antiquity. The two lower stories consist of massive pillars and semicircular arches with the diagonal or zigzag mouldings of Saxon architecture whilst the upper windows and some other parts are Gothic evidently added at a more recent period. The north transept is entire, presenting traceried Gothic windows especially one of great size and beauty. The south transept has disappeared. Above the intersection of the transeys with the nave and choir, a large square Tower rises on four pillars rises to the height of 100 feet, surmounted by a projecting battlement and crowned with turrets pinnacles. The nave measuring 130 feet long presents on each side three tiers or arches;the first opening into the aisle consists of pointed arches, deeply recessed, and richly moulded; supported by clustered columns with scupltured capitals; the second which opened into the galleries, consists of beautiful moulded semicircular arches with two pointed arches inserted in each; and the third of elegant pointed windows.- The lofty western gable possesses a Norman door of uncommon beauty the archway exhibiting a profusion of ornamented mouldings supported by slender pillars to the depth of 7 1/2 feet. Above it is a large window with a semicircular arch flanked by small black pointed arches in long slender shafts and this is surmounted by a beautiful St Catherine's Wheel. On the south side of the Choir, there is a Chapel which was once appropriated to the use of the Grammar School" Part of it is now occupied as the Parish Church - of late years the walls have undergone considerable repairs. The foundations of a very ancient Chapel are yet visible near Old Jedworth at the North of the Southern division. This Parish was formerly celebrated for its vast forest of natural wood, the remains of which were rapaciously cut down during the last century. A few large trees