Ancrum-Spittal, eccl., Crailing

Grid reference

NT 647 246 (accurate position)

Six-figure easting & northing

364700 624600

Latitude

55.513871682609455

Longitude

-2.55905800078818

Altitude (metres)

65

County

Roxburghshire

Nearby places

Ancrum, parish (1.62 miles)

Nisbet, former parish, Crailing (1.75 miles)

Crailing, parish (2.12 miles)

Jedburgh Abbey, Jedburgh (2.61 miles)

Jedburgh, parish (2.61 miles)

Object Classification

Ecclesiastical

Is linear feature?

No

Notes

The NGR is for the site of Ancrum-Spittal, and also for the remains of a chapel and burial ground on the site, all presumably linked to Ancrum-Spittal, though NMRS treats them separately. They are all now on the grounds of Monteviot House. See NMRS entries for more details. Ancrum-Spittal appears to have been a hospital in the 16th century, though when it was founded is not clear. On this, see the fairly full record in Cowan and Easson, p. 169. In 16th-17th century Spittal was clearly also a settlement. This is the Spittal mentioned as incorporated, along with Nisbet, in the parish of Crailing when it was amalgamated in 1606 x 1612 (OPS i, 387 notes 'kirks of Craling, Nisbet and Spittell'). It seems unlikely that Spittal was ever a separate parish. It may have been part of Ancrum parish prior to that date (hence the name), though OPS etc say otherwise. Note Ancrum House is just across the border which Ancrum-Spittal lies on--it runs up the Marble Burn, which is the edge of the Monteviot House policies. The NMRS note that "Innes (OPS 1851), however, says that, previous to its amalgamation with Crailing in 1606 (D E Easson 1957), Spittal formed part of Jedburgh parish and was served by a chaplain." This is incorrect. What OPS says is that these kirks were all served from Jedburgh abbey, supplying a variety of evidence to support this. One further correction should be to the Edinburgh DDSMS, who consistently class places for issue of charters etc. at Ancrum as being a "Hospital". Almost certainly any such transactions said to be at Ancrum were at Ancrum church itself, not at Ancrum-Spittal; this is especially so since most such transactions pre-date the recorded existence of the hospital here.

http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/

Relationships with other parishes

Within Crailing, parish