Oldhamstocks Parish Church, Oldhamstocks

The building comprises a burial ground associated with Oldhamstocks Parish Church, featuring a 16th-century aisle adjoined to a church constructed in 1701. The church itself is built upon the foundations of a circa 14th-century church. The medieval aisle is constructed of rectangular coursed red sandstone blocks, while the main church body is harled with ashlar margins.

The Hepburn Aisle, located at the east end, is gabled with a low, broad doorway to the south, framed by a blocked roll-moulded surround and a boarded door with iron fittings. A reticulated traceried, three-light pointed arch window sits on the east gable, flanked by heraldic panels. The panel to the south displays initials “TH” and “MS” and is dated 1581; both panels were relocated from the remains of Blackcastle in the mid to later 19th century. The aisle features a moulded cornice, ashlar coped skews, onion finials on the skewputts, and a thistle finial at the apex. It is roofed with stone slabs.

The south elevation of the church has four bays, with two pointed arch windows featuring intersecting glazing patterns centrally located, and tall lancets in the outer bays. A piend-roofed porch was added in the later 19th century between the left windows. A former doorway with an ashlar surround is blocked between the right windows. A possible 16th-century ashlar sundial, sloping in form with a stone gnomon, is set at the west end of the south elevation. The north elevation features a projecting central gabled jamb, with a tall, pedimented doorway on the east return, complete with a panelled door, a fan square, a four-pane fanlight, and an armorial in the pediment. A tall lancet flanks the doorway to the left, with two further tall lancets on the west return. Nave walls are blank and flank the northern elevation.

The west gable incorporates an advanced tower with set-offs; a doorway is set within a raised surround at the base, and a narrow slit window is positioned in the upper stage. A later 18th-century ashlar bellcote spirelet and weathervane are situated on the moulded cornice of the tower. The lancet windows feature a horizontal-pane glazing pattern. Ashlar coped skews and a cross finial to the main east gable are also present. The church is roofed with grey slates.

Internally, the church was restored in 1907 and 1925-7, during which it was re-oriented to face east and a chancel arch was added. Plaster was removed from the nave, revealing boarding to dado level. A coombed timber ceiling covers the nave, while a pointed stone barrel vault defines the chancel within the Hepburn Aisle. A blocked doorway is present at the west end of the tower. Segmental heads are found on the embrasures, with a segmental arch leading into the north jamb, supported by round piers attached to ingoes. The segmental chancel arch is surrounded by ashlar with chamfered arrises, and stained glass is set in the chancel lights. A commemorative panel, dedicated to the restoration by Richard Hunter in memory of Sir James Miller of Manderston, is also present. Furnishings are of a Lorimeresque style, dating to circa 1930.

The burial ground is enclosed by rubble coped rubble walls with simple wrought-iron gates. A selection of fine 17th and 18th-century gravestones, many weathered, are present, including two dedicated to the Broadwood family, known for their piano-making business in London.

A watch house, dated 1824, is situated within the south boundary wall. This small, single-chambered structure is built of droved ashlar with a raised base course and eaves course. It features a doorway at the east end and pedimented gables to the east and west, with a weathered plaque within the east pediment. A pointed arch window with intersecting glazing is centrally located on the north side. Ashlar coped skews, grey slates, and a stack by the west gable complete the exterior, alongside a simple chimneypiece inside at the west end.