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MEMMER KIRK

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Alleged medieval chapel; excavation suggested a 14th century date and that the remains are those of a shieling. This site is traditionally the site of the chapel of Memmer Kirk, but excavation has proved it to be a C14th shieling. (For the chapel see NT91SW12).

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(NT 92171233) Memmer Kirk. (GT) (Remains of) (1)

Chapel at Memmer Kirk (2)

"Provision for religious ministration to the summer population had
been made by the abbot and convent who built a humble and
unpretentious chapel at the place still known as Memmerkirk, traces
of which may still be discerned". (3)

It is supposed that there was a chapel for the use of the servants of
Newminster Abbey at Memmerkirk in the wild shielings of Kidland, but
no pre-reformation references to this chapel have been discovered. The name first appears in records in 1650. Bishop Chandler in 1736 noted remains of an old chapel at Mimer or Member Kirk. The site of the chapel is still exactly as it was when John Hodgson visited it in 1825 and found rough mounds marking the outline of a building 42 feet
by 9 feet, divided into three compartments. He noticed a modern sheep
stell there, and some foundations within it. 'No present apperance
of anything like a chapel or church here, not a hewn stone.' (b) He
added that Mr Smart of Trewhitt had said there was a 'font stone' on
the site 40 years earlier.

The traces are situated on a small flat triangular space where the
Yoke and Sting burns join at the bottom of a deep grassy glen. (4)

A series of ruined walls, composed of blocks of porphyry, the remains
of Memmerkirk. The full length of the foundations is 48 feet east to
west by 15-1/2 feet north to south, divided into three compartments,
that on the west being 12 by 15-1/2 feet, the centre one 16 by
15-1/2 feet, and the east one 20 by 15-1/2 feet. On the north side
are traces of an aisle the whole length having a central width of
13-1/2 feet. The orientation of the building is inclined rather to
the north-east. A circular rampart surrounds it on the north and
north-east while the steep banks of the streams form a natural
protection on the other sides. (5)

On excavation, the four corners of the building were laid bare,
giving it measurements of 48 feet by 15 ft externally. The west wall
is 4 feet thick, the side walls 3-1/2 feet thick. The interior must
then have been 40 feet by 8 feet. Foundation corners of a partition
were uncovered also jambs in the south wall close to its east end.
Stone flooring was uncovered in two parts of the building, that in
the eastern portion at a slightly higher level. Nowhere was stone
found except the rough unpolished blocks of the district.
Across the Sting burn south from the kirk, a few paces up
Milkhope rig, is a fine spring of water. It has been irregularily
built in a semi-circular form. (6)

The remains are correctly described by authorities (4) and (5). The
foundations are represented by stony bank 2.0 m to 3.0 m wide with a
maximum height of 0.5 m. The only apparent entrance is on the
south-east side, giving access to the central of the three
compartments. Fragmentary banks to the north of the foundation and in
the vicinity of the modern sheep stall presumably represent the
'circular rampart' referred to by authority (5). A small rectangular
foundation with stony banks 1.5 m wide and 0.3 m high and mutilated
by the modern track is situated a little south of the main steading
and just across the Sting Burn.

The identification of these remains as those of a chapel must be
considered very doubtful. They have every appearance of a small
cottage with its associated garth. Other similar foundations have
been located further south down the Yoke Burn Valley.

No further information was discovered regarding the font referred to
by authority (3).

A spring in the hillside a little south of the remains (authority 5
refers) has a few stones built around it but shows no traces of
antiquity. (7)

Excavations in 1962 revealed a long, narrow and very roughly
constructed building, which, from sherds found in the core of one of
its external walls, dated from some time in the 14th century or
later. No evidence was found to support the idea that the building
was ever a medieval chapel. Not only was none of the finds of
religious significance, but the building itself possessed none of the
characteristics of a chapel. It was orientated 55 degrees east of north, there was no ashlar or mortar in any of its walls, it contained a hearth which would suggest domestic use, and it was small.

The building was probably a herdsman's long house occupied only
during the summer months between the 14th and early 16th centuries.
It is conjectured that in the late 17th century the building was
re-used as a meeting place for dissenters. Such an interpretation
would explain the presence of 17th century sherds and clay tobacco
pipe fragments, and the persistent tradition of religious activity
recorded by 18th century and later writers. (8)

The foundations of the building, as revealed by excavation, are
visible amid a dense covering of couch grass. The only other obvious
feature remaining is the earth and stone bank extending in a
north-westerly direction from the N corner of the building.
Resurveyed at 6" scale.

All remains of the steading to the S. of the main feature and the
a stream to the south-east. (10)

The turf-covered remains of a sub-divided building about
15.0m NE/SW by 5.0m, much as described by authorities 7, 8, and 9 and
planned by 7. It is not a chapel and is most probably a house as
suggested similar to those further south by the side of Yoke Burn.
Part of the SE wall of the building to the S is still evident though
encroached on by the Forestry road to the NW. There are no
foundations to be seen inside the sheep stell.

Surveyed at 1:10 000. (10)

NT 922 124. Memmerkirk Chapel. Scheduled No ND/391. (11)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" 1925

( 2) Archaeologia Aeliana : or miscellaneous tracts relating to antiquity

4th Series 1939 (R N Hadcock) 16 Page(s)182

( 3a) General reference

Newminster Chartulary

( 3) Archaeologia Aeliana : or miscellaneous tracts relating to antiquity

3rd Series 1912 (J C Hodgson) 8 Page(s)25-6

( 4b) General reference

Hodgson's Notebooks

( 4) edited by Madeleine Hope Dodds 1940 A history of Northumberland, volume fifteen : the parish of Simonburn, the parish of Rothbury, the parish of Alwinton

A history of Northumberland15 vols (1893-1940) 1940 (Ed M Hope Dodds) vol.15 Page(s)416-7

( 5) General reference

Upper Coquetdale 1903 pp42-3 (D D Dixon)

( 6) Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne

2nd Series 1887-8 3 Page(s)113-5

( 7) Field Investigators Comments

F1 EG 13-MAY-57

( 8) Archaeologia Aeliana : or miscellaneous tracts relating to antiquity

4th Ser 1963 41 Page(s)45-61

( 9) Field Investigators Comments

F2 DS 23-JUL-69

( 10) Field Investigators Comments

F3 ISS 13-MAY-76

( 11) General reference

English Heritage SAM List Northumbs March 1994 4

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