St Mary's Church (Ladykirk)
The St Mary's Church , also Ladykirk Parish Church is a church building of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland . It is located in the Scottish hamlet of Ladykirk in the Scottish Borders Council Area . In 1971 the structure was included in the Scottish monument lists in the highest monument category A.
history
It is possible that King James IV of Scotland had the church built after returning from a successful campaign against England in 1497. On the nearby Norham Bridge , Jacob is said to have fallen from his horse and, in gratitude for not drowning, ordered a church dedicated to Saint Mary . St Mary's Church is often identified with the Kirk of Steill , for which there are editions in the royal books in 1500, the year the church was built. Since skeletons were found in the ground below the building, it is assumed that there was a previous structure at the site.
description
St Mary's Church stands in the middle of the surrounding cemetery on the northwestern edge of the scattered settlement Ladykirk. The Tweed runs around 300 m to the south and marks the English-Scottish border at this point. On the opposite side is Norham Castle .
The late Gothic structure has only changed little over the centuries and is one of the few Gothic structures in Scotland that have largely been preserved in their original state. The single-nave church has a cruciform floor plan. It is unusual that not only the choir , but also the transept closes with apses . On the west side is a bell tower with a square floor plan. A flanking, round stair tower was obviously not completed until the 18th century.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
- ↑ a b c Entry on St Mary's Church in Canmore, the database of Historic Environment Scotland (English)
Web links
- Scotland's Churches Trust information
- Entry on St Mary's Church in Canmore, Historic Environment Scotland database
Coordinates: 55 ° 43 '20.1 " N , 2 ° 10' 43" W.