east-lothian-1924/05-129

Transcription

NORTH BERWICK.] INVENTORY OF MONUMENTS IN EAST LOTHIAN. [NORTH BERWICK.

MISCELLANEOUS.

99. Standing Stone, Standing Stone Farm.-
In the stack-yard at Standing Stone Farm is
a fine tall four-sided monolith 9 feet 2 inches in
height above ground on the west, the sides
measuring 2 feet 3 inches, 2 feet 3 inches,
2 feet 8 inches and 2 feet 5 inches in breadth
respectively.

xi. N.W. 28 May 1913.

SITES.

The O.S. maps indicate the following sites:-

100. Morham Castle, S. of the Church near
Mill Bridge. x. S.E.

101. Morham Village, S. of the Church near
Mill Bridge. x. S.E.

NORTH BERWICK.

ECCLESIASTICAL STRUCTURES.

102. Old Parish Church, North Berwick.-
Within the churchyard are the ruins of this
structure consisting of an orientated oblong
nave with a central western tower. The church
resembles that of the neighbouring parish of
Prestonkirk and was altered and enlarged about
the same time, viz.:-1770; but the original
building appears, from the Kirk Session records,
to have been begun in May 1659; on the south-
east corner is the date 1660. Operations were
delayed at first by a difference of opinion as to
whether the old kirk, still structurally in good
condition, should be repaired or a new one
erected. But by 1656 the old kirk was in
"totall ruine and decay," and the new building
on a new site had to be undertaken, which,
owing to financial difficulties with the heritors
was not completed till 1664. Cf. The Auld
Kirks of North Berwick, by D. B. Swan.

ii. S.E. 23 July 1913.

103. St. Andrews Church, North Berwick.-
This church stood near the harbour in the en-
closure now occupied by the Coastguard Station.
The only portion remaining is a small one-
storeyed vaulted structure built of rubble,
which once projected from the south wall of the
church. It is oblong on plan, measures 19 feet
from north to south and 18 feet from east to

57

west, and has a central buttress which projects
2 feet 9 inches from each of the lateral walls.
In the south gable there is a doorway 3 feet 2
inches wide with a semi-circular head, on which
a bold quirked edge-roll moulding returns and
continues down the jambs. On the north
gable the opening has been widened. The
original west jamb is in situ and shows that
this doorway also had a semi-circular head.
The mouldings are work of the 16th century.
In the north-west angle a fireplace has been
inserted, and in the east jamb of the south
doorway there is a stone basin. Two fragments
of a grave slab c. 13th century are preserved
within the structure, while a third fragment
has been built into the coping of the boundary
wall of the swimming pool.
HISTORICAL NOTE.-One of the witnesses to
a charter by Duncan, Earl of Fife (ante 1177)
is Richard, chaplain of St. Andrew of North
Berwick. A charter from Malcolm, Earl of
Fife (d. 1228) grants several churches to the
nuns of North Berwick, among which is " the
church of Norberwic with the land of the
same church and with the tithes, offerings and
all other rights justly pertaining to the said
church." Witness to a charter of Confirmation
by William, bishop of St. Andrews (1202-1239),
of the grant of a church in Fife to the nuns is
Hugh, " chaplain vicar of Nordberwick." In
1529 the Pope confirmed a grant to the nuns of
" Northberwyk " of the perpetual vicarage of
the church of North Berwick, the nuns to
present a suitable chaplain who should have
" the cure of the souls of the parishioners of
the same church and pay him a stipend." In
1497 the baillies and community of N.
Berwick granted to William of Carrick, in-
dweller in the Mains of Tantallon, the right to
erect an alter to " our Lady of Peace " in
St. Ninian's aisle, to the building of which he
had also made a contribution. The alter had
already been erected. The " aisle " must have
been a transeptal one on the north from the
nave, as the new alter was to stand between
that of St. Ninian and the north gable of the
aisle.1
In 1690 John Inglis was returned owner of
" the island of Longbelland " with the patron-
age of the chaplainries or altarages called Lady
Altar, Rood Altar and St. Sebastian's Altar
within the parish church of North Berwick.2

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Douglas Montgomery

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