LINTON CHURCH, Roxburghshire.
This church stands about six miles south from Kelso, and one mile and a-half from Morebattle. It occupies part of a sandy mound on which, at one time, there also stood the Castle of Linton. There was a church
Fig. 342.—Linton Church. Tympanum in Porch.
here at an early date, records of Linton Church being found as far back as 1127. It was then presented to the Monks of Kelso by Sir Richard Cumin for the salvation of the soul of Prince Henry, eldest son of David I. The lands of Linton soon after passed into the hands of the Somervilles, as the reward granted to William de Somerville for having destroyed a worm or dragon which had long been the terror of the neighbourhood. This exploit is traditionally commemorated in a sculpture in
Fig. 343.—Linton Church. View from South-East.
the tympanum of the doorway of the ancient church ([Fig. 342]), in which the knight is represented on horseback thrusting his spear into the mouth of the monster. It seems more likely, however, that the sculpture has rather an ecclesiastical connection, and may possibly represent St. George
Fig. 344.—Linton Church. Plan.
and the Dragon, being an allegorical representation of religion, or faith overcoming evil. Possibly, the existence of the sculpture may have given rise to the traditional account of it. In 1858, this sculpture was removed from the old doorway and inserted over the entrance to a new porch, then erected. The porch is seen in the sketch of the church. ([Fig. 343.]) This sculptured tympanum is remarkable as one of the few examples of sculpture in a similar position in Scotland.
There is also a Norman font connected with the church, which was long used in a blacksmith’s shop.
The walls of the church are old, but it has been almost entirely restored and renewed. ([Fig. 344.])