545 



On a Sculptured Stone at Innerleithen. With a Plate. 



This stone wMcL. has perhaps been the shaft of an ancient cross, 

 is preserved hy Mr Eobert Mathison, builder, Innerleithen, and 

 has been erected on a pedestal in his garden. Its character is 

 sufficiently obvious from the figure in the Plate, which was drawn 

 by Mr Mathison. It is an equi-sided quadrilateral column of a 

 fine grained white sandstone, such as does not occur in the vicin- 

 ity. The incised sculpturing is of Celtic design, being almost a 

 repetition of what is called the "Spectacle Ornament," and is 

 repeated on all the four sides. It is extremely interesting as be- 

 ing perhaps one of the few examples remaining of the former 

 influence of the Columban or Kentigerian Ohuj-ch in the district ; 

 of which, it may be mentioned, there is another instance in the 

 fragments of a sandstone lona cross, which were turned up, when 

 a new church was erected at Borthwick in Mid-Lothian. Mr 

 Mathison supplies the following history, of the stone :--"It was 

 found in the foundation of the old Parish Church of Innerleithen, 

 in 1871, during the process of its demolition. It formed part of 

 the lowest course of mason work of the south side wall, and was 

 near the position of the pulpit. In all my researches I have not 

 been able to arrive at a satisfactory or conclusive opinion as to 

 the quarry, or even the locality, from - which the stone has been 

 got. It is certainly beyond all doubt that it is not a stone native 

 to this county. — This old church stood in the church-yard near 

 to the present manse, which is about three-fourths of a mile from 

 the centre of the burgh. About a quarter of a mile to the north 

 of this old church once stood the parish church of older date. 

 This church, like its successor, was demolished, and probably 

 from it this old relic was brought. This reference is justified by 

 the fact, that many fragments of old tomb-stones formed part of 

 the structure last demolished, 



** This church of oldest date, ' said to be dedicated to St. Calix- 

 tus is mentioned for the first time in authentic record in the reign 

 of Malcolm the Maiden, about the year 1159, in connection with 

 a very interesting cu'cumstance. An illegitimate son of the mon- 

 arch, who derived his surname from his effeminate countenance, 

 had been hunting in the neighbourhood of Innerleithen, and was 

 attempting to cross the Tweed on his return home to the castle of 

 Traquair, where he was at the time residing. The river being 

 in high flood, he was carried down by the stream and was 



