Bastlefacts

Bankhead

Gatehouse Classification - Not available

Has been described as a Possible Other

There are earthwork remains

Name	Bankhead
Alternative Names	Chapel Of Watcarrick
Medieval County
Historic Country	Dumfriesshire
Modern Authority	Dumfries And Galloway
1974 Authority	Dumfries and Galloway
Civil Parish	Eskdalemuir

(NY 2526 9634) Chapel (NR) (site of) Earthwork (NR) (OS 6 map (1965))
The chapel of Watcarrick, the location of which is determined by the position of the old kirkyard, served the district of Upper Eskdale till the Reformation. Vestiges of the ancient chapel, mentioned in 1592, could be seen until near the close of the 18th century, but these have since disappeared (J and R Hyslop 1912). The burial ground, enclosed by a modern wall, occupies the interior of a rectangular earthwork, c.110' by 100', whose W side has been destroyed by the modern road. The ditch is 25' broad and 6' deep below the scarp; there is a counterscarp mound, sharply defined on S and E. There has been an entrance, 7-8' wide, almost in the centre of the E side. (RCAHMS 1920, visited 1912)
There is no trace of any chapel remains within the burial ground which contains stones dating to the begining of the 18th century. The earthwork is generally as described. The entrance is causewayed. Its size, shape and nature of construction indicate that it is the probable remains of a homestead moat. The relationship between the moat and the chapel cannot be determined. Surveyed at 1/2500. (Visited by OS (WDJ) 24 August 1962 and (IA) 9 October 1973)
No change to previous field report. (Visited by OS (MJF) 1 September 1978)
Watcarrick, Chapel, Burial-ground and Earthwork. There are no visible remains of the chapel of Watcarrick which is mentioned in 1305 and went out of use in 1722. The burial-ground in which the chapel stood lies within an earthwork measuring 29m square within double banks and a medial ditch. The earthwork is probably of medieval date but appears to be of secular character.
In the reign of David I (1124-53) the lands of Watcarrick and Tomleuchar were granted to Robert Avenel and by him to Melrose Abbey betwen 1153 and 1165. (RCAHMS 1980, visited June 1980

R B Armstrong 1883; J and R Hyslop 1912; I B Cowan 1967)
The visible remains of this monument are as previously described. Watcarrick was a grange of Melrose abbey, and it is probable that the earthwork within which the burial-ground stands is associated with the grange. (Visited by RCAHMS (PC), 30 July 1991)
This site is listed in an Atlas of Scottish History (McNeill and MacQueen 1996) as a moated site. (Information from RCAHMS (DE) September 1997)
Listed as moated site, chapel and burial-ground. (RCAHMS 1997) (Canmore)

Gatehouse Comments

Shown on Pont's map as on the east bank of the White Esk but the moated site is on the west bank.
The use of the interior of the moated site as a burial ground means any remains of the house within the moat will have been destroyed but entirely likely to be some form of 'pele'.

- Philip Davis

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)

67233

County Historic Environment Record

www.cumbria.gov.uk/planning-environment/countryside/historic-environment/HER.asp

OS Map Grid Reference	NY25269635
Latitude	55.25561
Longitude	-3.17736
Eastings	325265
Northings	596350

Length
Width
Dimensions Comment
Vault
Vault Comment
Orientation
Orientation Comment
Wall Thickness 1
Wall Thickness 2
Map	Blaeu, J., 1654, 'Evia et Escia Scotis, Evsdail et Eskdail' in_Theatrum Orbis Terrerum, sive Atlas Novus, Vol.5; Scotice et Hibernia_ (Amsterdam) Map online copy
Holder	See Beatty, John D. and Beaty, Leslie F., n.d., A Summary of Batie and Batison Families in Sixteenth Century Eskdale, Dumfriesshire, Scotlandonline copy Hyslop, J. and Hyslop, R., 1912, Langholm as it was: a history of Langholm and Eskdale from the earliest timesp. 294 online copy