Cavers Auld Kirk, Hawick, Scottish Borders

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CAKH/01

CAVERS AULD KIRK, HAWICK, SCOTTISH BORDERS

ARCHAEOLOGICAL MONITORING

commissioned by Mr Andrew Dow on behalf of Mrs Jane Cox

15/00264/FUL

April 2016

CAVERS AULD KIRK, HAWICK, SCOTTISH BORDERS

ARCHAEOLOGICAL MONITORING

commissioned by Mr Andrew Dow on behalf of Mrs Jane Cox

15/00264/FUL

April 2016

HA JOB NO. CAKH/01 PROJECT MANAGER Edward Bailey NGR NT 5402 1650 AUTHOR Kirsty Dingwall

project info project PARISH Cavers FIELDWORK Kirsty Dingwall project team project LOCAL AUTHORITY Scottish Borders GRAPHICS Beata Wieczorek-Oleksy, Rafael Maya-Torcelly OASIS REF. headland1-219808 APPROVED BY Edward Bailey – Project Manager

SCOTLAND Headland Archaeology 13 Jane Street, Edinburgh EH6 5HE 0131 467 7705 scotland@headlandarchaeology.com www.headlandarchaeology.com

PROJECT SUMMARY

Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd undertook archaeological monitoring at Cavers Auld Kirk, Hawick, Scottish Borders on behalf of Andrew Dow and Mrs Jane Cox. The work was undertaken as part of a planning condition for construction of a therapy pool building in the grounds of the converted church at Cavers. An area 67.75m² was stripped of topsoil. Four graves were identified lying on an east-west alignment. Three appeared to be broadly contemporary and one was later, cutting through one of the earlier graves. Part of a fragmented and poorly preserved skull was seen within one of the earlier graves. Upon discovery, the graves were not excavated any further. The area was covered with geotextile and soil and the graves preserved in situ. CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION 1

2 ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND 1

3 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1

4 METHOD 1

5 RESULTS 1 5.1 GRAVES 2 5.2 PRESERVATION 2

6 DISCUSSION 2

7 REFERENCES 3

8 APPENDICES 4 APPENDIX 1 SITE REGISTERS 4 APPENDIX 2 DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND ENTRY 5 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ILLUS 1 SITE LOCATION VIII

ILLUS 2 GRAVES 1 TO 4 FROM N TO S, LOOKING N. THE FRAGMENTARY SKULL OF GRAVE 2 IS VISIBLE AT THE LEFT OF THE PICTURE 2 CAVERS AULD KIRK (CAKH/01) land adjacent to Cavers House Hawick Roxburghshire

0 200km 354000 354025 354050

615600

CAVERS AULD KIRK

A 615575 fragmented GR1 skull GR2

GR4 N GR3 0 2m scale 1:100 @ A4 Ordnance Survey © Crown copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Licence no. AL 100013329 no. Licence reserved. rights 2012. All copyright Survey © Crown Ordnance KEY trench location N graves 0 25m scale 1:500 @ A4 SCOTLAND 13 Jane Street Edinburgh EH6 5HE 0131 467 7705 www.headlandarchaeology.com ILLUS 1 Site location HEADLAND ARCHAEOLOGY (UK) LTD

CAVERS AULD KIRK, HAWICK, SCOTTISH BORDERS

ARCHAEOLOGICAL MONITORING

1 INTRODUCTION some 50m to the north-east. No significant archaeological deposits This report presents the results of archaeological monitoring at were encountered in the trenches. Cavers Auld Kirk, Hawick, Scottish Borders. Mrs Jane Cox has been granted planning permission (15/00264/FUL) by Scottish Borders Council to erect a therapy pool building in the grounds of the church, which has previously been converted into a dwelling. In order to 3 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES meet a condition of the planning consent Mrs Cox commissioned The archaeological monitoring was designed to mitigate any Headland Archaeology to carry out a programme of archaeological adverse impacts on sub-surface remains of archaeological interest work. This comprised monitoring of topsoil stripping and recording posed by the construction of the building. of the exposed archaeological deposits and surfaces. The resulting archive will be organised and deposited in the NMRS The area stripped of topsoil was 67.75m² in area, was rectangular in to facilitate access for future research and interpretation for public shape and lay to the north of the church building (ILLUS 1). benefit.

The monitoring was undertaken in accordance with a Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) produced by Headland Archaeology and approved by Scottish Borders Council Archaeologist prior to works 4 METHOD commencing. The monitoring took place on the 13th July 2015. Topsoil was removed over the construction footprint using a JCB 3CX excavator equipped with a flat bladed bucket.

The exposed surface was examined to identify any features cut into 2 ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND the natural subsoil. Where no archaeological features were seen to Historical references to a kirk at Cavers go back as far as the 11th be present, the natural subsoil was further excavated down to the century ad, although the existing structure dates largely to 1662, necessary formation level of the development. when the earlier church appears to have been remodelled and the northern and southern cross aisles added – the southern aisle was demolished in the 18th century following the Jacobite rebellion of 1745 (RCAHMS 1956: 99). The original kirk was superceded by a new 5 RESULTS parish church in the first half of the 19th century and following this The excavation area was located roughly 10m to the north of Cavers the building was used as a school and village hall. Auld Kirk. It measured 12.1m by 5.6m and sloped down slightly from south-west to north-east. Topsoil was a dark greyish-brown clayey ile Name: CAKH-01-Report-v03-indd.pdf

F In 2008, the building was converted into a dwelling, and a detailed silt (002), which was 0.05m thick at the south-west and up to 0.6m

historic building survey was undertaken. As part of these works, thick at the north-east. monitoring was also undertaken on three service trenches excavated on the northern side of the church. Within the topsoil of one of the The natural subsoil below the topsoil was an orangey-yellow boulder service trenches were recovered small fragments of bone, which clay with large amounts of fragmented stone throughout. were thought to be human in origin and were charnel – bone from previous burial which has been disturbed and incorporated into the The majority of the excavated area contained no archaeological overlying soil (Kimber 2008). remains. The shallow nature of the topsoil in the western half of

by Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd Archaeology Headland by the excavation and the presence of a battered bank to the north of

2016 An evaluation was undertaken on ground to the north-east of the the excavation area are indicators that this part of the site may have

1 CAVERS AULD KIRK, HAWICK, SCOTTISH BORDERS CAKH/01

ILLUS 2 Graves 1 to 4 from N to S, looking N. The fragmentary skull of Grave 2 is visible at the left of the picture

In the eastern corner of the excavation area, three grave cuts were grave was filled with an orangey-brown gritty silty clay (003) identified. These were all parallel with each other and aligned south- with frequent angular stone inclusions. At the western end of the south-west to north-north-east. A further possible grave cut was grave, the fragmentary remains of a crushed skull were visible. seen cutting through one of these. The fragmentary remains of a The condition of the visible bone was poor, with much of it very crushed skull were identified at the western extent of the central soft and few identifiable fragments apparent. No other bones grave of the three. No other human remains were visible. Following were visible on the surface of the grave. the discovery of the grave cuts, all work in the area was stopped to allow inspection by Scottish Borders Council Archaeology Officer. Grave 3 lay along the southern extent of the excavation area, Discussion took place between the Council representative, the extending beyond the limit of excavation to the south. To the contractor and Headland Archaeology and it was agreed that the east, it was truncated by a later grave (Grave 4), although it is design of the construction could be altered to ensure the graves did likely that it would have originally extended beyond the limit of not have to be disturbed any further. excavation. The recorded extents of the grave were 0.8m long by 0.5m wide. It was filled with an orangey-brown gritty silty clay (003), similar to Graves 1 and 2. There was no visible bone present 5.1 GRAVES along the length of the grave. Grave 1 was the northernmost of the group and extended beyond the limits of excavation to the east. Its visible extents Grave 4 cut through the eastern end of Grave 3 and extended within the excavation area were 1.64m long by 0.5m wide. The beyond the limits of excavation to the south and east. The grave grave was an elongated oval in plan, and was filled with an cut was sub-rectangular in plan (notably different from the orangey-brown gritty silty clay (003) with frequent angular stone elongated oval cuts of Graves 1–3) and measured 1m long by inclusions. No bone was visible on the surface of the grave and it 0.6m wide within the excavation area. The grave cut was filled was not excavated any further. with a dark brown gritty silty clay (004), softer in compaction to the fills of the three other graves. Patches of dark brown organic Grave 2 was the central of the three parallel graves. It was also material were apparent within the fill along the west and northern an elongated oval shape in plan, and extended beyond the side of the cut, and may represent decayed coffin material. No limits of excavation to the east. The grave cut narrowed to the bones were visible along the extent of the grave. east, suggesting its full length was not far beyond the edge of the excavation. It measured 2.2m long and 0.65m wide. The

2 HEADLAND ARCHAEOLOGY (UK) LTD

5.2 PRESERVATION Upon discovery, the graves were reported to Scottish Borders Council Archaeology Officer. He visited the site and it was agreed that further disturbance of the remains should be avoided. The design of the structure within this part of the construction footprint was altered to accommodate this, the graves were recorded in plan and covered over with geotextile and a thin layer of soil.

6 DISCUSSION The graves lie within the boundary of the graveyard of the original church. Whilst graves have not previously been found in this location, it confirms that the ground to the north of the church was also used for burial in the past, along with the other areas surrounding the structure.

The graves were not marked in any way, which may point to an earlier date. This is further supported by the shape of Grave 1–3. The oval shape of the cut indicates the bodies were not interred within coffins, and more likely in simple shrouds. That at least two phases of burial were presented is indicated by Grave 4 which cuts through Grave 3. The presence of decayed organic matter in Grave 4 may point to the presence of a coffin.

Given the limited nature of the investigation, dating the burials based on their shape and the presence or absence of a coffin is not possible. Whilst simple cut graves do tend to be earlier, they can be used up until the modern period in certain locations, with only notable individuals deemed significant enough to merit a coffin or gravestone. As such the crossover between the two types of graves spans several hundred during the medieval and post-medieval period. The graves could date to either of these two periods.

7 REFERENCES Jones, E 2006 Cavers, by Hawick, Scottish Borders. Archaeological Evaluation unpublished client report

Kimber, M 2008 The Auld Kirk, Cavers: Historic Building Survey and Archaeological Monitoring unpublished client report ile Name: CAKH-01-Report-v03-indd.pdf F

by Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd Archaeology Headland by 2016

3 CAVERS AULD KIRK, HAWICK, SCOTTISH BORDERS CAKH/01

8 APPENDICES

A ppeNDIX 1 SITE REGISTERS

Appendix 1.1 Context register

CONTEXT DESCRIPTION

001 Natural subsoil. Orangey-yellow boulder clay with abundant inclusions of fragemented stone.

002 Topsoil. Dark greyish-brown clayey silt.

003 Orangey-brown gritty silty clay filling Graves 1, 2 and 3.

004 Soft dark brown gritty silty clay filling Grave 4. Contains small patches of decayed organic material.

Appendix 1.2 Photographic register

PHOTO DIRECTION DESCRIPTION

001 N Construction footprint, initial topsoil strip

002 NE Construction footprint, prior to strip

003 N Graves 1–4, from south

004 N Graves 1–4, from south

005 N Graves 1–4, from south

006 S Grave 2 with crushed skull visible

007 S Detail of skull in Grave 2

008 S Detail of skull in Grave 2

009 NE Area of Graves being covered in geotextile

010 N Geotextile with covering of soil

Appendix 1.3 Drawing register

DRW PLAN SCALE DESCRIPTION

001 Y 1:50 Plan of Graves 1–4

4 HEADLAND ARCHAEOLOGY (UK) LTD

Appendix 1.4

A ppeNDIX 2 DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND ENTRY

LOCAL AUTHORITY: Scottish Borders

PROJECT TITLE/SITE NAME: Cavers Auld Kirk, Hawick, Scottish Borders

PROJECT CODE: CAKH15

PARISH: Cavers

NAME OF CONTRIBUTOR: Kirsty Dingwall

NAME OF ORGANISATION: Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd

TYPE(S) OF PROJECT: Watching Brief

NMRS NO(S): NT51NW 7

SITE/MONUMENT TYPE(S): Church and graveyard

SIGNIFICANT FINDS: –

NGR (2 LETTERS, 8 OR 10 FIGURES) NT 54025 15582

START DATE (THIS SEASON) 13/08/15

END DATE (THIS SEASON) 13/08/15

PREVIOUS WORK (INCL. DES REF.) DES 2006, 141

MAIN (NARRATIVE) DESCRIPTION:

(MAY INCLUDE INFORMATION FROM OTHER FIELDS)

Archaeological monitoring was undertaken as part of a planning condition for construction of a therapy pool building in the grounds of the converted church at Cavers. An area 67.75m² was stripped of topsoil. Four graves were identified lying on an east-west alignment. Three appeared to be broadly contemporary and one was later, cutting through one of the earlier graves. Part of a fragmented and poorly preserved skull was seen within one of the earlier graves. Upon discovery, the graves were not excavated any further. The area was covered with geotextile and soil and the graves preserved in situ.

PROPOSED FUTURE WORK: No

CAPTION(S) FOR ILLUSTRS: –

SPONSOR OR FUNDING BODY: Mrs Jane Cox

ADDRESS OF MAIN CONTRIBUTOR: Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd, 13 Jane Street, Edinburgh. EH6 5HE

EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected]

ARCHIVE LOCATION (INTENDED/DEPOSITED) NMRS ile Name: CAKH-01-Report-v03-indd.pdf F

by Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd Archaeology Headland by 2016

SOUTH & EAST MIDLANDS & WEST NORTH SCOTLAND Headland Archaeology Headland Archaeology Headland Archaeology Headland Archaeology Building 68C, Wrest Park, Silsoe Unit 1, Clearview Court, Twyford Road Unit 16, Hillside, Beeston Road 13 Jane Street Bedfordshire MK45 4HS Hereford HR2 6JR Leeds LS11 8ND Edinburgh EH6 5HE 01525 861 578 01432 364 901 0113 387 6430 0131 467 7705 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]