Medieval Church, Bondington (Berwick upon Tweed)
Excavated plan of medieval church, Bondington. Photo by The Archaeological Practice, 1998.
In June 1998, during preparatory groundworks for a house at 21 Castle Terrace, a medieval church and graveyard was unexpectedly discovered. Emergency works over two to three weeks in July 1998, by The Archaeological Practice, established the part of the outline of an apsidal ended church and an associated graveyard which included several decorated grave slabs.
The plot contains about two thirds of the church, believed to date to c.1150, and which has been robbed of stone down to its first course, and in places to foundation level. It is apparent that there may be earlier phases to the building from the limited work done so far. The excavated area of the church is divided into four cells: an eastern apse, a central chancel, a western nave and an extension to the south of the nave forming a chapel or transept. The foundations of the nave are substantial, up to 1m deep.
The associated graveyard extended to the north, south and east, although its original extent to the west and east is uncertain. Burials are dense throughout the graveyard and was clearly in use over a prolonged period, but had certainly ceased to be in use after c.1350. The surface of the graveyard is largely intact and over 20 grave slabs sit in, or on, the surface. Earlier cist graves and uncoffined burials are visible to a depth of over 1m where the new house foundations have been cut. Several of the grave slabs exposed on the surface are ornately carved and all would seem to date to the 12th or 13th centuries, with some of the undecorated ones possibly of 14th century date.
It has been suggested that this might be the Church of St Mary the Virgin which lay within the parish of Bondington. If so, it was given by King David of Scotland to Durham in exchange for land at Melrose. (1)
The remains of a 12th century church located within the grounds of Nos 21 and 23 Castle Terrace. The site is thought to represent one of three churches abandoned in the area as part of the retreat within the town walls during the Anglo-Scottish wars of the 14th century. The Church of St Mary is believed to be the most likely candidate. The eastern 2/3 of the church were uncovered and partially excavated in 1998. The excavations revealed the eastern end of the nave, a rectangular chancel with an apsidal east end and a small chamber attached to the south-eastern corner of the nave. This chamber contained the foundations of a stone structure against the east wall and is thought to represent a small chapel with an east altar. It overlies part of the surrounding graveyard, indicating that it was built onto the church at a later date. The remains of at least 10 graves containing single and multiple burials were identified under the floor of the church. Scheduled. (2)
The excavations in 1998 were restricted to establishing the plan of the church and layout of the graveyard by clearing modern disturbance. Most of the topsoil had already been removed by building contractors. This removed early modern deposits but left medieval layers largely intact. The only damage was in the trenches cut for house foundations. The site had last been used as allotments. Excavation showed that there had been some plough damage across the site at some time as there were strike marks on some grave slabs, slight displacement of some slabs, and damage to the church.
It is suggested that the original plan of the church was three cells (aisleless nave, square chancel and eastern apse). Stylistically, it probably dates to between 1125 and 1175. There is no evidence that any phase of the cemetery pre-dates the church and are thought to be contemporary. The stone wall running down the centre of the nave may have been the base of a partially glazed timber feature. The square annexe at the eastern end of the south wall of the nave was a later addition, and was possibly an early form of chantry chapel.
Some 46 inhumations were identified. Twenty lay beneath in-situ grave markers and 26 were identified from gravecuts or partial or complete exposure of an articulated skeleton. No graveyard boundaries were found and it seems likely more burials lie outside the excavated area. The 20 grave markers lay in a cluster to the east and south of the church and ranged from plain mulitple stone covers to elaborately carved pieces with a range of ornate motifs. Some markers had head and foot stones. Only one slab had been distrubed by development on the site. Two cist burials were also found south of the church but there was no evidence of any associated surface grave markers, although they may have been of wood. Two inhumations in the graveyard were excavated as they were most at risk from further work and had already been badly damaged by new foundation cuts. The date of abandonment of the church probably lies in the later 13th century. This is supported by a burial, cut through a demolition layer, and radiocarbon dated to the very late 13th century. (3)(4)
Analysis of the excavated articulated skeletal material concludes that four adults are represented: three males and one female. The age at death ranges from early 20s to late 30s and possibly early 40s. These four individuals show a wide range of pathologies including degenerative joint disease affecting spinal and peripheral joints, dental disease, trauma, infection and skeletal abnormality.
The disarticulate bones represent the more partial remains of at least three and possibly four adults, including at least two males and one female. Also represented in the charnel are at least three infants, who all died at around birth, and at least five children. There was no evidence of any disease, trauma or abnormality in the juvenile bones. (5)
Discussion of historical and archaeological evidence relating to Bondington including its possible interpretation as a hospital, and the attribution of this site to St Lawrence. (6)
The Church is comprised of a series of elements, but clearly extends beyond the limits of the excavation work. The visible length of the church is 9.5m and internally 6.5m wide. The walls are 2.0m thick. Both the north and south walls had stagered internal faces suggesting rebuilding or benching around the church. The chancel was rectangular, before the very eastern end being apsidal with a series of four external pilaster buttresses. The remains are of a reduced structure of a Romanesque church and its surrounding graveyard. (7)
General association with medieval graveyard (HER 30178). (8)
The plot contains about two thirds of the church, believed to date to c.1150, and which has been robbed of stone down to its first course, and in places to foundation level. It is apparent that there may be earlier phases to the building from the limited work done so far. The excavated area of the church is divided into four cells: an eastern apse, a central chancel, a western nave and an extension to the south of the nave forming a chapel or transept. The foundations of the nave are substantial, up to 1m deep.
The associated graveyard extended to the north, south and east, although its original extent to the west and east is uncertain. Burials are dense throughout the graveyard and was clearly in use over a prolonged period, but had certainly ceased to be in use after c.1350. The surface of the graveyard is largely intact and over 20 grave slabs sit in, or on, the surface. Earlier cist graves and uncoffined burials are visible to a depth of over 1m where the new house foundations have been cut. Several of the grave slabs exposed on the surface are ornately carved and all would seem to date to the 12th or 13th centuries, with some of the undecorated ones possibly of 14th century date.
It has been suggested that this might be the Church of St Mary the Virgin which lay within the parish of Bondington. If so, it was given by King David of Scotland to Durham in exchange for land at Melrose. (1)
The remains of a 12th century church located within the grounds of Nos 21 and 23 Castle Terrace. The site is thought to represent one of three churches abandoned in the area as part of the retreat within the town walls during the Anglo-Scottish wars of the 14th century. The Church of St Mary is believed to be the most likely candidate. The eastern 2/3 of the church were uncovered and partially excavated in 1998. The excavations revealed the eastern end of the nave, a rectangular chancel with an apsidal east end and a small chamber attached to the south-eastern corner of the nave. This chamber contained the foundations of a stone structure against the east wall and is thought to represent a small chapel with an east altar. It overlies part of the surrounding graveyard, indicating that it was built onto the church at a later date. The remains of at least 10 graves containing single and multiple burials were identified under the floor of the church. Scheduled. (2)
The excavations in 1998 were restricted to establishing the plan of the church and layout of the graveyard by clearing modern disturbance. Most of the topsoil had already been removed by building contractors. This removed early modern deposits but left medieval layers largely intact. The only damage was in the trenches cut for house foundations. The site had last been used as allotments. Excavation showed that there had been some plough damage across the site at some time as there were strike marks on some grave slabs, slight displacement of some slabs, and damage to the church.
It is suggested that the original plan of the church was three cells (aisleless nave, square chancel and eastern apse). Stylistically, it probably dates to between 1125 and 1175. There is no evidence that any phase of the cemetery pre-dates the church and are thought to be contemporary. The stone wall running down the centre of the nave may have been the base of a partially glazed timber feature. The square annexe at the eastern end of the south wall of the nave was a later addition, and was possibly an early form of chantry chapel.
Some 46 inhumations were identified. Twenty lay beneath in-situ grave markers and 26 were identified from gravecuts or partial or complete exposure of an articulated skeleton. No graveyard boundaries were found and it seems likely more burials lie outside the excavated area. The 20 grave markers lay in a cluster to the east and south of the church and ranged from plain mulitple stone covers to elaborately carved pieces with a range of ornate motifs. Some markers had head and foot stones. Only one slab had been distrubed by development on the site. Two cist burials were also found south of the church but there was no evidence of any associated surface grave markers, although they may have been of wood. Two inhumations in the graveyard were excavated as they were most at risk from further work and had already been badly damaged by new foundation cuts. The date of abandonment of the church probably lies in the later 13th century. This is supported by a burial, cut through a demolition layer, and radiocarbon dated to the very late 13th century. (3)(4)
Analysis of the excavated articulated skeletal material concludes that four adults are represented: three males and one female. The age at death ranges from early 20s to late 30s and possibly early 40s. These four individuals show a wide range of pathologies including degenerative joint disease affecting spinal and peripheral joints, dental disease, trauma, infection and skeletal abnormality.
The disarticulate bones represent the more partial remains of at least three and possibly four adults, including at least two males and one female. Also represented in the charnel are at least three infants, who all died at around birth, and at least five children. There was no evidence of any disease, trauma or abnormality in the juvenile bones. (5)
Discussion of historical and archaeological evidence relating to Bondington including its possible interpretation as a hospital, and the attribution of this site to St Lawrence. (6)
The Church is comprised of a series of elements, but clearly extends beyond the limits of the excavation work. The visible length of the church is 9.5m and internally 6.5m wide. The walls are 2.0m thick. Both the north and south walls had stagered internal faces suggesting rebuilding or benching around the church. The chancel was rectangular, before the very eastern end being apsidal with a series of four external pilaster buttresses. The remains are of a reduced structure of a Romanesque church and its surrounding graveyard. (7)
General association with medieval graveyard (HER 30178). (8)
N2714
EVALUATION, 21 Castle Terrace, Berwick-upon-Tweed 1998; THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL PRACTICE
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Please note that this information has been compiled from a number of different sources. Durham County Council and Northumberland County Council can accept no responsibility for any inaccuracy contained therein. If you wish to use/copy any of the images, please ensure that you read the Copyright information provided.