Memmerkirk Chapel (Alwinton)
(NT 92171233) Memmer Kirk. (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 irregularly built in a semi-circular form. (6)
The remains are correctly described by authorities (4) and (5). The foundations are represented by stony bank 2m to 3m wide with a maximum height of 0.5m. 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 1.5m wide and 0.3m 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 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 north corner of the building. Resurveyed at 6 inch scale.
All remains of the steading to the south of the main feature and the Sting Burn, noted by FI, have been destroyed by road widening. (9)
The turf-covered remains of a sub-divided building about 15m NE/SW by 5m, 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 to those further south by the side of Yoke Burn. Part of the south east wall of the building to the south is still evident though encroached on by the Forestry road to the north west. There are no foundations to be seen inside the sheep stell. Surveyed at 1:10000. (10)
Supposed chapel, 14th to 17th century. (11)
Summary of above and other sources. (12)
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 irregularly built in a semi-circular form. (6)
The remains are correctly described by authorities (4) and (5). The foundations are represented by stony bank 2m to 3m wide with a maximum height of 0.5m. 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 1.5m wide and 0.3m 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
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 north corner of the building. Resurveyed at 6 inch scale.
All remains of the steading to the south of the main feature and the Sting Burn, noted by FI, have been destroyed by road widening. (9)
The turf-covered remains of a sub-divided building about 15m NE/SW by 5m, 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 to those further south by the side of Yoke Burn. Part of the south east wall of the building to the south is still evident though encroached on by the Forestry road to the north west. There are no foundations to be seen inside the sheep stell. Surveyed at 1:10000. (10)
Supposed chapel, 14th to 17th century. (11)
Summary of above and other sources. (12)
N1319
EXCAVATION, Excavation at Memmerkirk Chapel 1889; FERGUSON, -
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1957; E Geary
EXCAVATION, Excavation at Memmer Kirk 1962; HARBOTTLE, B
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1969; D Smith
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1976; I S Sainsbury
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1957; E Geary
EXCAVATION, Excavation at Memmer Kirk 1962; HARBOTTLE, B
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1969; D Smith
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1976; I S Sainsbury
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