| 028 Font
Stone, Kirkhope, Manor. |
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Description
The font stone, actually a re-worked base for a cross can be
found beside St Gordian's Cross on the hillside above Kirkhope
Burn. The cross-base, of grey sandstone, has been much damaged,
particularly the socket which has been enlarged, apparently by
battering, to form a rough basin with a notch for an overflow.
It measures 0.66m x 0.56m on plan and reaches 0.43m high.
Directions
Take the A72 west from Peebles and turn left for Kirkton Manor.
Continue following the minor road up Manor valley. Stop at the
bridge over Kirkhope Burn. Follow the farm track up the valley,
heading for Old Kirkhope. The stone can be seen in the walled
enclosure on the right.
Parking
Off road beside bridge over Kirkhope Burn.
Fieldnotes
The stone was only brought to the site in the 19th century and
once stood at the road junction between Hallyards and Manor
Kirk. Why it was moved is not known but is likely to have
some religious connection. It is also believed to have been the
pedestal for a boundary stone marking the meeting point of three
laird's lands and was thought to have stood at the foot of the
Glack Brae on the route of an ancient drove road that links to
the Thief's Road. A close study of the stone brought some
interesting thoughts to light. The recess on top of the stone
appears to have been created in two separate and distinct
stages. The first stage is the formation of a shallow bowl or
basin with a v-shaped notch in the rim to act as an outflow. The
second stage is where the bowl has been deepened by cutting a
straight sided pocket to take a cross-base. This would suggest
that the stone was originally use as a font for religious or
other ritual (pagan?) purposes then was later used as a
cross-base.
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