EDINBURGH ARCHAEOLOGICAL FLELD SOCLETY

Geophysical survey at the site of Manuel ~Gnnerv -

Falkirk District
C

1. Summary

Magnetometry and area ground resistance measurements were made over an area of
100m by 100m in a field to the north east of the remaining section of the nunnery
church that stands beside the River Avon two miles to the south west of Linlithgow.
The remaining section of church wall is shown on the RCAHMS map NS97NE as
Antiquity NE 19. There is record of building in this field and the surveys were made
to inform an excavation that was made in parallel with the survey.

Resistive and magnetic printouts correlated well but neither showed outlines that
could be interpreted as the remains of rectangular buildings. Curving areas of
enhanced magnetic response are mostly related to matching areas of raised resistance
and could represent varying drainage channels in the drift geology. Linear high
resistances, that enter the area from the south west just to the north of the church wall,
were early candidates for excavation and were found to be cobbled surfaces and
probable wall footings. Relief plots of the resistance survey show rig and hrrow
cultivation over the whole area with hrrows curving to conform to the line of the
bank of the River Avon; this plot also shows a possible structure, at the north east
corner of the survey, that is adjacent to a spring. A magnetic anomaly line, that cuts
from the north west side of the survey to the middle of the south side is not matched
by a resistive feature and may be the infilled line of the leat fiom the Manual Burn
into the River Avon.

2. Introduction

The surveyed field lies on the left bank of the River Avon, which is flowing north east
towards Linlithgow Bridge, and the B835 road, which is running roughly parallel to it
on the north side. The field is flat from beside the river for over lOOm to the north and
then rises sharply to the B835 road suggesting a flood plain and river terrace. The
approximate centre of the surveyed area is at NGR NS 972 764. The south west
corner of the 100 by 100m area lies on the projected line of the east face of the church
wall on the edge of the small circular scheduled area. From this origin point the south
side of the lOOm square was set out on a bearing of 70 degrees (Grid) as near as
possible to the bank of the River Avon. The west side of the square was thus on 340
degrees and it was felt that this orientation should cover the area most likely to
contain remains. The cereal crop had just been harvested from the field and the
surveys were made over stubble commencing on 4 August 2007. Completion was
required within two weeks and this was achieved with the last survey session being
made on the 19 August. .
9

The Cistercian nunnery was founded prior to 1164 by King Malcolm IV and
dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The community never appears to have been large but,
being situated at the ford at which the Stirling to Edinburgh road crossed the River