136 Restoration ofJedhwrgJi Abbey. By Jas. Watson. 



edifice. The little chapel south, of the choir is interesting as 

 showing a curious combination of the Decorated style with the 

 Early Norman. The groined roof is partly of the one style and 

 partly of the other, and is the result of partial restoration. 



Perhaps it may be well to correct an error which has been 

 prevalent, to the effect that this chapel was formerly used as the 

 Jedburgh Grammar School, and that in it Thomson, author of 

 " The Seasons," and other celebrated individuals, received the 

 rudiments of their education. There can be no doubt whatever 

 that the school was in close proximity to the chapel, either inside 

 or immediately outside of the Abbey, as we learn from a report 

 anent the condition of the crown arch of the tower which fell 

 in 1743, that the arch was ruinous and dangerous " especially 

 the south-east part thereof which lies next to the Grammar 

 School," whereby the said school was in the greatest danger. 

 But several entries in local records in reference to the repairing, 

 &c., of the school previous to this date are such as to make it abso- 

 lutely certain that the current tradition is incorrect. The school is 

 spoken of as having chimneys, and as being thatched with broom, 

 conditions that could hardly apply to this chapel. The school 

 was removed in 1751. 



We remember a number of years ago pointing out to the Eev. 

 Canon GreenweU, of Durham, a curiously carved stone built in 

 as a lintel above the south chapel, which he at once pronounced 

 to be part of an Anglo-Saxon cross belonging to the 9th century. 

 The late Marquis of Lothian was communicated with on the sub- 

 ject, and his Lordship caused it to be taken out so that it might 

 be seen to better advantage. The carving represents a tree, the 

 branches of which form circles, and in these are two birds and 

 several nondescript animals ; three of them are shown as eating 

 the fruit of the tree, and one gnawing a branch. Two of the 

 animals of a dragon-like form are imperfect in consequence of 

 the stone having been broken towards the top. This stone, 

 along with two others, apparently of the same period, that were 

 built into the bell cots at the top of the tower, are figured in 

 Stuart's "Sculptured Stones of Scotland." In this work Mr 

 Stuart says — "At the church of Norham, which Egred built, 

 there were many crosses of Anglo-Saxon character. The cross 

 at Jedburgh seems undoubtedly to be of the same period, and 

 must be classed with similar remains found at Abercorn, Norham, 

 Coldingham, Lindisfame, Jarrow, and Hexham, all sites of 



