Archaeologists investigate medieval chapel in Edinburgh

Archaeologists have discovered a fragment of floor tile from high status medieval Scots and a circular, stone-lined well while searching in Edinburgh for the remains of a chapel built almost 500 years ago.

Extensive research suggests the chapel, built by Sir Simon Preston in 1518 and created to rest the “souls” of James III and IV, still lies beneath the "unassuming" buildings of Bridgend Farm.

A medieval church font was found by a former owner of the land, and an archaeological survey last year resulted in a Heritage Lottery Fund grant for a fuller investigation.

“The excavations unearthed clues which prove there was activity in the area at the time the chapel was constructed and in use,” said a spokesperson for Rubicon Heritage, who collaborated with an enthusiastic group of volunteers from the Greater Liberton Heritage Project.

“A fragment of possible medieval floor tile indicates a building of high status in the area – showing that it is not just a farm building.

“Pottery from one trench shows even earlier activity during the 13th and 14th centuries, demonstrating the area was utilised before the establishment of the chapel.

“One of the most exciting features discovered was located in Trench 2 – a circular stone-lined medieval well which could pre-date the chapel.”

The trenches have now been backfilled ahead of analysis work on the finds by experts, with the team hoping to conduct future excavations at the site.

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Why I Love Edinburgh Scotland

As many of you know medieval history, as well as the middle Ages, are both subjects that fascinate me. This time period is brimming with war, religious disputes, and men that fought with honor for their homeland on their own soil. For that reason, the city of Edinburgh is one of my favorite subjects, filled with stories and legends of some of the most well-known and infamous figures in history. What I wouldn’t give to live down one of those quaint side roads, maybe on the West End, in one of those lovely Edinburgh apartments overlooking the Edinburgh Haymarket Railway Station. To live on the sidelines of history has always been something that I have craved, and I’m jealous of the residents in Edinburgh that get to do this every day.

Edinburgh was well established by the 12th century, founded on the infamous castle rock, a 2 million year old geological formation. I had read about it previously in a geology class, which is where my interest started to peak. A town that was fixed upon a formation created by millions of years of glacial shifting is just too hard to fathom. Not to mention that Edinburgh castle sites up on the volcanic plug of castle rock and was the seat of the first Scottish Parliament around the middle of the 12th century.

Edinburgh flourished throughout the Renaissance period, both economically and culturally, producing some of the most famous figures in history. I’m familiar with the exploits of Mary Queen of Scots, the most talked about of the Scottish Monarchs. This is partly because of my love of Queen Elizabeth, whom Mary Queen of Scots tried to assassinate on three attempts. She was tried and executed for treason for her involvement in all three plots against her first cousin, Queen Elizabeth.

It would take me years to explain why I love every aspect of Edinburgh history. It could be the stories of Robert Wallace and Robert the Bruce, or maybe even the fact the English occupied Edinburgh Castle for over 10 years, up until it was made part of a dowry for Ermengarde de Beaumont, a woman chosen for King Henry.

I’m sure many of my readers are from Edinburgh, so why do you love it? What aspects of Edinburgh’s history do you appreciate the most?

Photography of Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland

I was pleasantly surprised to see that they had allowed photography Rosslyn Chapel, or rather, that the person that took all of these shots got away with it. As far as what I have read about the curators at this site, photography is no longer allowed inside. I will, however, take this moment to say I'm thrilled to see another side of it considering, everything I've seen thus far is from Wikipedia.

12th Century Templar at Rosslyn Chapel

The Master Mason

Rosslyn Chapel Roof

The Stained Glass Windows at Rosslyn Chapel

The Entrance of Rosslyn Chapel