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Kelso, Springwood Park

Settlement (Medieval)

Site Name Kelso, Springwood Park

Classification Settlement (Medieval)

Canmore ID 58460

Site Number NT73SW 55

NGR NT 7207 3340

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/58460

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
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Administrative Areas

  • Council Scottish Borders, The
  • Parish Kelso
  • Former Region Borders
  • Former District Roxburgh
  • Former County Roxburghshire

Accessing Scotland's Past Project

Maxwell was a village that stood in the area now occupied by Springwood Park. Excavations in 1983 and 1985 revealed the remains of buildings, offering an insight into medieval life.

At least two adjacent properties were discovered. Initially, they seem to have comprised two separate buildings, with yards fronting onto what may have been a street. Subsequently, the space between the buildings was infilled by other structures creating a row of buildings.

Interpretation of the structures and the finds suggests Maxwell was largely a rural settlement even though it lay close to Roxburgh. The houses were probably thatched, single storey structures with cruck-framed roofs and 'wattle and daub' walls. On average they measured about 10m by 4m.

Text prepared by RCAHMS as part of the Accessing Scotland's Past project

Archaeology Notes

NT73SW 55 7207 3340

A row of three buildings, constructed in stone, have been recovered which face east-wards over the edge of the river terrace. There are traces of an earlier phase of occupation in the remains of two buildings which were gable-end on to the terrace, indicative perhaps of a replanning of the site. The size of the houses is about 12m by 6m, two of which have an area of cobble stones, delimited in one case by a kerb at one end which may have served as a byre.

The dating of the site to the 13th and 14th centuries depends upon the presence of large quantities of local White Gritty Ware and a long cross silver penny of Edward I (1282-9 issue) which was found amongst the rubble inside the southern most building.

R Grove 1985; P J Dixon 1985.

Activities

Field Visit (1982 - 1988)

The Manpower Services Commission funded Border Burghs Archaeology project (sponsored by Borders Architects Group) carried out excavations in the burghs of the region, created the Sites and Monuments Record for Borders Region and carried out field survey in support, including plane table surveys of selected sites under the direction of Dr Piers Dixon.

Sbc Note

Visibility: This site has been excavated.

Information from Scottish Borders Council

References

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