Site type CROSS(S), FONT
Canmore ID 53254
Site Number NT35NE 3
NGR NT 368 596
Council MIDLOTHIAN
Parish BORTHWICK
Former Region LOTHIAN
Former District MIDLOTHIAN
Former County MIDLOTHIAN

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Archaeological Notes

NT35NE 3 368 596

Fragments of at least three Early Christian cross-shafts are known from Borthwick.
(i) The first (Royal Museum of Scotland IB 146), which bears relief carvings of two beasts and a debased key-pattern, was first published in 1889. At one time its provenance was thought to be the churchyard, but it should perhaps be identified as the stone discovered in 1886 immediately NW of the castle, which was noted on the second edition of the OS 6-inch map (NT 3697 5974 - see NT35NE 11).
(ii) The other two fragments, which are now built into the wall of Crookston House (NT 4254 5163), are thought to come from Borthwick Church, both are sculptured in relief with interlace and borders of cable moulding.
Also at Crookston House are a 15th century font and a heraldic panel, reputedly from Borthwick Parish Church.
J Anderson 1889; J R Allen and J Anderson 1903; OS 6" map, Edinburgh, 2nd ed. (1908), sheet 14; RCAHMS 1929; C L Curle 1940; RCAHMS 1988

Allen and Anderson, J R and J (1903) The early Christian monuments of Scotland: a classified illustrated descriptive list of the monuments with an analysis of their symbolism and ornamentation, Edinburgh
Page(s): Pt.3, 421-3 Held at RCAHMS G.1.11.ALL

Anderson, J (1889c) 'Notices of some undescribed sculptured stones and fragments in different parts of Scotland', Proc Soc Antiq Scot, vol.23
Page(s): 351

Curle, C L (1940) 'The chronology of the early christian monuments of Scotland', Proc Soc Antiq Scot, vol.74
Page(s): 111