AN INTERESTING RUIN.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3689, 11 May 1883, Page 4

AN INTERESTING RUIN.

Dr. William Chambers i.s about to add another to his many public services, by restoriiig . an interesting piece of Norman architecture that has long stood in a dilapidated condition on the banks of Jtho Tweed, near Peebles. The relic in <piestiun is ,n tower that once formed part of tliu tower of St. Andrew, an edifice dating from the end of the twelfth century. It is Hituatcd within the jurisdiction of the heritors of Peebles, who readily assented to Dr Chambers' project for the preservation of an object he had known from boyhood. The carrying out of the work thus piously undertaken has been entrusted to Mr W. liny, architect, Edinburgh, who name has been so honorably associated with the restoration of St. Giles' Cnthodral, and under his direction operations will shortly bo commenced. The Church of St. Andrew, it may bo mentioned, was in use till the Reformation, when its handsome endowments were seized, with the result that the building soon afterwards was left to go to wreck. Latterly its remains have been known as a ruin in the centre of the churchyard, where tourist may admire the enormous strength of walls that have so long rrsistod the cJfects of wind and weather. Its outer aspect is that of a square mass, totally devoid of any picturesque feature. Its goneml height is -loft., and its walls 3-Affc. thick, the windows being only apertures unci the top useless. The interior, so

far as can be learned, consists of vaults, some of which have been made use of by tho local gravedigger. In the process of restoration the structure will undergo an almost complete, renewal of its interior. Tt is no part of Dr Chambers' plan to make any material alteration, on the exterior of the structure. It is too valuable as a relic of ancient art to be ruthlessly destroyed or interfered with ; and beyond the level!ing of the upper part of tho wall, and tho adding of two or three courses of masonry, which wiH be very carefully executedm old style, the fabric will remain very much as k"now stands. When tho operations shall have been finished, as they arc expected to be in tho course of the summer, the tower will be restored to the heritors, who will then take charge of its management in the public interest.