Dr. R. Hood on Coldingham Priory. 255 



on his Plan, an aisle similar to that on the north of the choir 

 had existed on the south side, as I recollect its foundation 

 having been dug out many years ago, for stones to be used for 

 some purpose or other. The original south wall would most 

 likely be arched similar to the side aisle communicating with 

 the transept. Home, the then proprietor of Coldinghamlaw, 

 rebuilt the front wall, and a gable and steeple were added to the 

 east end. 



Such is the church Grose, in his ' Antiquities/ pictures. 

 Early in this century the Heritors found it necessary to remove 

 the roof, which was flat and covered with lead, and to substi- 

 tute a raised slate one instead; but, several years anterior to 

 this, they, for the accommodation of the parishioners, had 

 to erect a gallery along the end and north walls, which very 

 much hid the fine ancient structure. In this state the church 

 remained until a year or two ago, when the Heritors applied to 

 the Commissioners of Woods and Forests, who agreed to restore 

 the old walls ; and the Heritors have removed the galleries and 

 re-seated the area. They have also removed the steeple and 

 west gable, and rebuilt the last in uniformity with the north and 

 east walls, with most extraordinary success ; having also pierced 

 the front wall with lancet- shaped windows, redressed the outside, 

 and added a neat porch, with belfry, which altogether give the 

 church a handsome appearance. 



As is the case with all ancient buildings, the debris had accu- 

 mulated to a great extent around the exterior walls, and this has 

 also been removed, and the churchyard levelled. The oldest 

 legible grave-stone dates from 1628, and there are several a few 

 years only later; that of John Paxton is 1661. He was the 

 lineal descendant of the De Paxtons, who, after various confisca- 

 tions and restorations, finally settled at Auchencrew, where the 

 last male heir, Robert, died, in 1722. His tombstone is still very 

 perfect. He left two daughters, one of whom was my grand- 

 mother. But a much more ancient burying-ground is that of 

 the Crows, although the memorial stones, if any ever existed, 

 have all been destroyed, except that of the Netherbyres family, 

 which is of late date. The Crow family were the original Au- 

 chencrows, and, from the name, must have been a Gaelic tribe ; 

 the meaning of audi being ' field/ and en 'of/ so that they were 

 the Crows ; or as they long spelled, and if we take the bird's 

 own way of pronouncing ( Craw/ the Craws of Crawsfield. 

 Nesbit, in his ' Heraldry/ states, that they were an ancient 

 family, and figures three crows on their shield. Their burial- 

 place seems to have been in the south transept, near to the 

 nave, and below the arch, which has been noticed as still stand- 

 ing. My brother, William Hood, the proprietor of Sunnyside, 



