The Pre- Reformation Churches of Berwickshire. 105 



indications of vaulting having rested upon it, although it is of 

 the same height as the opposite wall. 



In the burjing-ground surrounding the church may be 

 observed several old grave stones; but the only one presenting 

 any visible features is a rudely sculptured slab representing a 

 human figure, with hands clasped across the breast and a sword 

 or dagger at the side. The others are almost entirely covered 

 by the soil ; and there is reason to believe that careful excavation 

 would bring to light not a few ancient monuments of great 

 interest. 



There was a leper hospital at Aldcambus, whose keeper 

 (custos) David, swore fealty to Edward I. at Berwick in 1296, 

 but its site cannot be traced.* 



COLDINGHAM. 



Before proceeding to describe tlie remains of the Priory of 

 Coldingham and of the earlier monastery on St. Abb's Head, 

 (the latter the Uris Coludi of Bede) it may be well to take a 

 rapid glance at the main events in their history. Those desirous 

 of fuller information on the subject may consult the Histories 

 of Mr Carr and Mr Hunter, Dr Eaine's North Durham, the 

 numerous notices in the Proceedings of the Club, especially Dr 

 Stuart's paper in Vol. v , the volume entitled 'The Correspon- 

 dence, Inventories, Account Rolls, and Law Proceedings of the 

 Priory of <\)ldingham,' published bytheSurtees Society, and Mr 

 Brockie's little compilation issued by Messrs Putherf urd, Kelso. 



It is not by any means a settled point whether the monastic 

 establishment on St. Abb's Head was actually founded by St. 

 Ebba, or whether she merely attached herself to one already 

 existing there. Bede in his 'Life of St. Cuthbert,' speaks of 

 her as the foundress and first abbess ; but others, with some 

 apparent probability, state that she took refuge in a monastery 

 which had been previously erected on the spot. This much, at 

 least, is certain, that about the middle of the 7th century, she 

 presided as abbess over a double convent, consisting of two 

 separate communities of men and women, on the rocky pro- 



* Chartulary of Coldingham, Nos. 59, 186. — Appendix to Raine's North 

 Durham ; Simpson's A rchseological Essays, Yol. ii., p. 6, where a Charter 

 of Confirmation by King William the Lion is quoted. A field on Redheugh 

 farm is called " the Spittal." 

 



