The Pre- Reformation Churches of Berivickshire. 95 



building cannot now be ascertained. The nave has been about 

 75 feet long by 20 feet 6 inches wide, but none of its original 

 features are now visible. The belfry tower on the N. side was 

 a late addition. 



A holy well near the village, dedicated to St. Ebba, is still in 

 use. 



BUNKLE AND PRESTON. 



These, which originally formed two parishes, were united in 

 1718, and since that year the church at Preston has been used 

 only as a place of burial. A portion of the parish of Bunkle 

 was included in the bounds of the ancient " halidom " of 

 Coldinghamshire ; but the church itself, with that of Preston, 

 belonged to the Bishopric of Dunkehl.* 



Bunkle Church was repaired about the time of the annexa- 

 tion of Preston parish, but was almost entirely demolished about 

 a century afterwards, and the materials used in the erection of 

 the present church in 1820. Of the early structure nothing is 

 left, indeed, save the small semicuciilar Norman apse, which 

 stands a short distance to the south east of the modern building. 

 This is probably one of the earliest examples of medifeval 

 ecclesiastical architecture in Scotland. Mr Muir, no mean 

 authority, believes that it may date from even before the begin- 

 ning of the 12th century; and the excessive plainness — I had 

 almost said rudeness — of such features as it presents certainly 

 indicates great antiquity. Its dimensions are shown on the plan 

 (Fig. 1.) The arch which opened to the chancel is totally 

 devoid of ornament, being a plain semicircular-headed, square- 

 edged specimen, resting on slightly projecting imposts— 7 feet 

 4 inches above the level of the ground — square on the upper 

 edge, but chamfered on the lower. The north west corner has 

 evidently been repaired at a very recent date, and two stones 

 built into it, which were doubtless taken from some other part 

 of the ancient church, are marked with the zig-zag or chevron 

 ornament in its earliest and simplest form. On several stones 

 in the facing of the west wall, and on some of the voussoirs of 



* Theiiier, pp. 112, 116. Account of the State of Certain Parishes in 

 Scotland, 1627. Maitland Club. See also the Will of Gavin Douglas, 

 Bishop of Dnnkeld, quoted in the Bioorraphical Introduction to Mr Small's 

 Edition of his Works, vol. i., p, cxx. 



