east-lothian-1924/05-218

Transcription

TRANENT.]-- INVENTORY OF MONUMENTS IN EAST LOTHIAN. --[WHITEKIRK.

MISCELLANEOUS.

196. Dovecot. - An oblong dovecot in three
tiers stands on a hillock beside the lane border-
ing the churchyard on the north. It is built of
rubble and has a timber and slated roof. Above
the entrance is a weather worn freestone panel
with an engrailed border, inscribed DAVID
SITOUN 1587; the date appears to have been
recut. A second panel on the tier above is
much later in character. It is also greatly
weathered, and of the inscription only
D E M E
I S S O B E L
H A M I L T O N
V N
I A
can be deciphered.
HISTORICAL NOTE. - This dovecot (colum-
barium prope templum de Tranent) is included in
the property belonging to John Seton baillie
of the vill of Tranent, to whom his son George
served heir in February 1585.1 "David
Seytoun in Tranent," also son of this John,
is witness to a bond of 1583 2 and another of
1589.3 He was Comptroller for James VI.4

1 Inquisit. Spec. Hadd. No. 398; 2 Reg.
P.C. iii. p. 637; 3 R.M.S. s.a. No. 1688;
4 Reg. P.C. v., p. 92(n).
ix. N.W. 6 April 1920.

197. Priest's Well. - Adjacent to the parish
church on the west is the Priest's Well. A
quaint smoking pipe of malleable iron and a
small flat glass bottle found in the well in 1851
are illustrated in The Family of Seton ii.,
p. 785.
i.x. N.W. 6 April 1920.

198. Architectural Details at Seton House. -
The 17th century rubble garden wall terminates
at the four angles in rounds or look-outs
averaging 131/2 feet in diameter and 121/2 feet in
height; on the south-west round a sundial,
formed from a skewback removed from the
collegiate church, is inset; the upper and under
surfaces being wrought as dials. Tracery details
from the church lie on the north terrace. Over
the stream and north-north-west of the house
are remains of 17th century buildings, appar-
ently a dam and sluice serving Seton mill; at

125

base remains of three massive piers or cut-
waters can be traced, while on the upper part
are windows of the period. On the left bank of
the stream south-west of the church are
remains of buildings known as the "priests'
houses," but the masonry is apparently of the
17th century; a few yards southward
traces of a large gateway c. 1620.
ix. N.W. 9 February 1923.

SITE.
The O.S. map indicates the following site:-
199. St. Germains Hospital, St. Germains
Lodge.
ix. N.W.
[illustration inserted]
FIG. 167.-Whitekirk (No. 200).

WHITEKIRK AND TYNNINGHAME.
ECCLESIASTICAL STRUCTURES.
200. Whitekirk Parish Church. - Situated
on rising ground about 33/4 miles north of East
Linton, this building (fig.166) was complete and
in use as the parish church until May 1914, when
it was destroyed by incendiaries. An influential
committee was formed for its restoration, and
subscriptions from the heritors and the public
were happily sufficient to enable the necessary
work to be effected. The description which
follows is of the building as it existed before
this reconstruction.
The church was dedicated in the name of the
Blessed Virgin and was originally built in the
15th century. The walls are of light red ashlar.
On plan (fig. 167) the building is cruciform and
comprises an unaisled nave, north and south
transepts and chancel. Above the crossing is a
massive square tower completed by a para-