Hilton Church

Heritage listing

Date Added 11/08/2010 Type Ecclesiastical: burial ground, cemetery, graveyard; church Local Authority Scottish Borders Parish Whitsome NGR NT 87935 50696 Coordinates 387935, 650696 — The monument comprises the former parish church of Hilton and its burial ground, likely to be late medieval in origin. It is visible as a ruined building, the earthwork remains of the adjacent burial ground and at least 25 burial markers. The church was dedicated by Bishop de Bernham in 1243. It occupies the crest of a small hill at the W end of the hamlet of Hilton, approximately 85m above sea level. Preserved as turf-covered wall footings and a section of standing wall (at the church's E end), the remains of Hilton Church are surrounded by the overgrown burial ground. The church is aligned approximately ENE-WSW and measures around 15m ENE-WSW by around 7m transversely. The E gable survives, measuring around 2m in length, 1m thick and standing to around 10 courses high. The surrounding burial ground is irregularly-shaped and, although it does not have an obvious enclosure wall, the bank surrounding the site may represent the remains of one. Within the area numerous gravestones are visible. All visible gravestones appear to date from the 18th century although records indicate earlier examples may survive. The area to be scheduled is irregular on plan, bounded on the E, W and S by a post-and-wire fence and on the N by the base of the bank of the burial ground, to include the remains described. Specifically excluded are the above-ground elements of the post-and-wire fence marking the boundary and the above-ground elements of the telegraph pole in the NE corner, to allow for their maintenance.

From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.