east-lothian-1924/05-158

Transcription

ORMISTON.] -- INVENTORY OF MONUMENTS IN EAST LOTHIAN. -- [ORMISTON.

mullets ; flanked by the initials A.S. for Alison
Sandilands, mother of Alexander Cockburn.
The enclosure measures 16 feet 2 inches from
east to west and 12 feet 9 inches from north to
south within walls which vary in thickness
from 2 feet 6 inches to 3 feet 3 inches ; the
north wall extends 3 feet and the south wall
14 feet west of the cross wall. In the south
wall at its intersection by the cross wall is a
doorway formed by a pointed arch 6 1/2 feet
wide and 10 feet 7 inches high. The arch is in
two orders, the outer plane, the inner splayed.
The details of the building indicate its erection
in the 13th century.
HISTORICAL NOTE.-Early in the 13th cen-
tury the church of St. Giles at Ormiston
(Sancti Egidii de Ormystoun) was conferred by
the bishop of St. Andrews on the church and
hospital at Soutra.1 A charter to the Soutra
house by " Radulph lord of Cranystoun " bears
among its witnesses the name of " Giles (Egid-
ius) lord of Ormystoun."2 With all other
churches belonging to Soutra it was in 1462
transferred to Trinity College, Edinburgh,
founded by Mary of Gueldres,3 and the one
prebendary there was known as " of Ormiston,"
though the rectorial revenues were divided
between him and three other prebendaries.
The revenues of Trinity College were in 1612
conferred by James VI. upon the city of
Edinburgh.4

1 Reg. Cart. Domus de Soltre No. 18 ;
2 Ib. No. 50. Cf. the case of Alexander Martin
and St. Martin's, Haddington, Art. No. 69 ;
3 Reg. Eccl. S.T. de Edinb. No. 2 ; 4 R.M.S.
s.a. No. 736.

xiv. N.W. 17 June 1913.

CASTELLATED AND DOMESTIC STRUCTURES.

131. 17th Century Structure, Ormiston Hall.-
Immediately east of Ormiston Church is a
group of two storeyed buildings tenanted by
the estate employees. The north-eastern of
the structures (fig. 120) dates from the 17th cen-
tury and is L-shaped on plan with the re-
entering angle facing south. The larger wing
on the north-east is 47 1/4 feet long by 25 3/4 feet
wide exteriorly and contains on the ground floor
two inter-communicating vaulted cellars. The
shorter wing projects 20 feet from the lateral
wall and is 27 feet wide. It contains an ir-

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regularly shaped apartment, so formed by the
intrusion of the staircase. In the south-east
wall of this wing is the entrance, which has a
round head moulded, as are the jambs, with a
quirked edge-roll. Adjoining the lesser wing
and communicating with it is another structure,
which has a vaulted cellar on the ground floor.
HISTORICAL NOTE.-Early in the 17th cen-
tury the barony of Ormiston was possessed by
Sir John Cockburn, Lord Justice-Clerk and a
judge of Session, whose son served heir of line
in 1629 (Inq. Spec. Hadd. No. 126). On the
Cockburns of Ormiston see Introd. p. xx.

xiv. N.W. (unnoted). 17 June 1913.

132. House o' Muir.-One and a half miles
south of Ormiston village, at the junction of
three bye-roads,

[illustration inserted]
FIG. 120.-Ormiston (No. 131).

is a dwelling of
one storey dating
from the 17th cen-
tury. It is oblong
on plan and meas-
ures 17 feet 8
inches by 48 feet
over walls 2 1/2 feet
thick. The walls
are roughcast, the
roof is pantiled. The main features of
interest are the sundial on one of the gable
skews and the large ingle projecting from one
of the lateral walls, which is still in use and
contains a modern range. A window in the
ingle breast is built up, a second at one side
still remains.
HISTORICAL NOTE.-"Murhouse " was one
of the properties conferred by Alexander
Lindsay of Ormiston upon his daughter and
heir when she married John Cockburn (cf.
Introd. p. xx). It was still part of the barony
of Ormiston in the early 16th century (R.M.S.
(1509) No. 3278).

xiv. N.W. 17 June 1913.

DEFENSIVE CONSTRUCTION.

133. Hill Fort, Dodridge Law.-Round the
summit of Dodridge Law, a small hill rising
barely 700 feet above sea level, are very faint
traces of fortification, the site being cultivated
ground. To the south of the summit a mound
broadens out to a width of 40 feet and rises

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Douglas Montgomery

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