east-lothian-1924/05-071

Transcription

ATHELSTANEFORD.] -- INVENTORY OF MONUMENTS IN EAST LOTHIAN. -- [BOLTON.

the rock to form a triangular enclosure, in
which there are several hollows of irregular
shape. A roadway carried slantingly up the
scarp on the south-west to the terrace may
have formed the entrance to the fort, but it is
impossible to say whether this is of ancient
or comparatively recent date. Rising from the
terrace on the southern side a slight gully in
the rocks gives access to the summit and there
are slight signs of building at this part.
On the northern side of the top of the rock
is a small cave, which the people of the locality
associate with the name of Wallace.

v. S.W. (Unnoted). 31 May 1913.

MISCELLANEOUS.

16. Cross Shaft, The Boar Stone, Prora .- At
the farm steading of Prora is a broken cross
shaft of sandstone, which originally stood in a
field some 700 yards south-east of the steading
and was known as the Boar Stone, the site
being marked on the O.S. map. As it interfered
with agricultural operations, it was removed
many years ago to its present site. The stone,
which is broken across both ends, is of rectan-
gular section with chamfered edges and tapers
towards the top. It measures 5 feet 11 inches
in length, 14 ins. in breadth and 11 1/2 inches
in thickness at the lower end but 11 1/2 inches
in breadth and 7 1/4 inches in thickness at the
upper end.

v. N.E. 23 April 1915.

17. Standing Stone, Muirhouses. - On the
summit of a low, broad ridge in a cultivated
field on the farm of Muirhouses, 250 yards west
of the steading and about 160 feet above sea-
level, is a massive boulder of irregular shape set
on end. It measures 4 feet 5 inches in height,
11 feet in girth at the base, 11 feet 8 inches
in girth half way up, and 4 feet 8 inches across
its eastern aspect.

v. S.E. 3 June 1913.

18. Standing Stone, Muirhouses. - Some 800
yards south of Muirhouses steading, on the
crest of a low ridge, about 150 feet above sea-
level, in a field within sight of and about 700
yards from the last mentioned standing stone
(No. 17), is a stone pillar of regular breadth,
slanting towards the north at an angle of 33°.
It measures 4 feet 6 inches in length and
9 feet 3 inches in girth about the middle, and
has been packed round the base with small
boulders.

v. S.E. 3 June 1913.

SITE.

The O.S. map indicates the following site :-

19. Graveyard, St. John's Chapel Drem. -
v. N.W.

BOLTON.

CASTELLATED AND DOMESTIC STRUCTURE.

20. Pilmuir House. - This 17th century
dwelling (fig. 49), situated at the western
extremity of the parish, 1 1/4 miles N.N.E. of
the village of East Salton, is an example of
domestic architecture of that period and is
particularly interesting in its retention of
contemporary features.
The structure, two storeys and an attic and
garret in height, is built on a simple plan
(fig. 51), consisting of a main block running
east-north-east and west-south-west and a
smaller wing projecting on the north, which
houses a spacious spiral staircase with a bed-
room overhead. The exterior is unpretentious,
having walls of rubble coated with rough cast,
yet the crow-stepped gables and dormer pedi-
ments, the steeply pitched roof and the turret
stair corbelled out over the west re-entering
angle, give individuality and character to the
building.
The original entrance, now utilised as a
kitchen entrance, is in the projecting wing
and communicates immediately through the
stair well with the basement chambers. This
entrance has a moulded architrave, over which
is set a panel bearing in monogram the initials
W C for William Cairns and A B for Agnes
Brown his wife. ¹ Below the monogram is a
shield parted per pale ; dexter, within a bordure
three martlets close (Cairns) ; sinister, a dagger
or knife fessways between three boars' heads
erased (Broun of Blackburn bore a dagger in
bend, in chief a boar's head erased.) The date
1624 is inscribed in relief below the shield.

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