Ancient Celtic Ecclesiastical Bell. By J. A. Smith. 191 



[This article has been reprinted by permission from the " Proceedings 

 of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland," vol. xvi., 1861-62, with Dr 

 Smith's sanction. I had forgotten, when corresponding with Dr Smith, 

 that there is another notice of this bell, with a different account of where 

 it was found, in the "Catalogue of Antiquities, etc., exhibited in the 

 Museum of the Archaeological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, 

 July 1856," p. 33. I extract what is said of it. " An Ancient Bell of iron, 

 dipped in brass, with which the entire surface was probably coated. Its 

 dimensions are almost the same as the Birnie bell ; the form and propor- 

 tions are identical with those of the Clog-rinny, or bell of St Ninian, (of 

 which a representation is given). This supplies an accurate notion of the 

 fashion of these early Christian relics. The example exhibited was found 

 at Hume Castle, near Kelso. Its previous history has not been ascer- 

 tained. — The Tweedside Antiquarian Society, Kelso.'" The Church of Home, 

 once a manorial church, and dedicated to St Nicholas, and at least as old 

 as the reign of Malcolm IV, when it was conferred by Earl Gospatrie on 

 the Monastery at Kelso, may, if this statement is to be depended on, 

 prefer a stronger claim to the ownership of this bell than Ednam. It was 

 certainly the belief in 1856 that the bell "was found at Hume Castle." 

 The parishes of Home and Ednam are adjacent. Mr Smith (who is still 

 alive) having antiquarian tastes, may have acquired it from the finder, 

 who sent it to him by a boy. — J. H.] 



