Berwick upon Tweed is a walled town and the medieval parish of Bondington is known to have existed outside of it. Records indicate that there were two churches in the parish.
No systematic archaeological study of the area has been done, but individual work in the area has revealed the foundations of an apsidal chancelled 12th century church with graveyard, skeletal remains with 13th-14th century pottery and a carved stone thought to be pre-Conquest.
The Berwick History society and the Borders Archeological society together with the Castlegate Residents Association (CARA) have been collaborating to investigate and promote the heritage of the area.
An 1976 aerial photograph showed parchmarks, indicating possible foundations of the nunnery of St.Leonards, which once stood on this site.
In summer 2003 the project held an open weekend which attracted over 800 visitors. The date was set to coincide with the commemorations of the Battle of Halidon Hill, during which the nunnery was destroyed.
Three proprietary archeological trenches were dug and trench B proved to be most successful with the uncovering of the foundations of the nunnery. The group also incorporated a children's excavation of archeological finds, which proved to be a very popular and successful aspect of the day.
The group is now putting together a draft report, which will be displayed in Berwick for public consultation before publication. They are also producing a CD for local schools and for those in the Borders along the river Berwick, whose communities have been so bound to Berwick from the time of the medieval trading routes.
