east-lothian-1924/05-076

Transcription

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

The structure is densely covered with ivy and
is in a very ruinous and unsound condition.
FONT.-Built into a wall on the left-hand
side of the road leading to Dirleton is a roughly
quadrangular stone 20 inches long with a centre
bowl 7 inches in diameter, which is said to have
been used as a baptismal font at this church1;
it is more probably a large cresset stone.
HISTORICAL NOTE.-The church of St.
Andrew at ' Golyn ' in the diocese of St.
Andrews was in existence before 1170, when
its patronage was granted to the convent of
Dryburgh on behalf of the church at Fidra
(cf. No. 26). It was the ' mother church ' of
a chapel at Congleton and the chapel of " All
Saints " at Dirleton ; and was formerly
dedicated by David de Bernham in 1242.
By this bishop in the same year it was reduced
from a rectory or parsonage to the grade of a
vicarage served by one of the canons of Dry-
burgh with the assistance of a secular priest.
The vicar was to receive 12 marks annually,
the balance of income accruing to the general
revenues of the abbey, then under a load of
debt (mole debiitorum). In 1290 the revenues of
the church were valued for the tithe at £48. The
church also paid to the bishop of St. Andrews
four marks yearly as ' procuration ' or com-
muted visiting expenses and four marks as
"ancient cain" (pro antiquo cano) or food-rent.
In the Dryburgh rental of 1560-70 the Kirk of
'Gulen' is set for £151. Its history throughout
is bound up with that of Dryburgh.2
In 1612 by Act of Parliament the " Kirk of
Gulane " was translated to Dirleton on the
grounds that it was in a remote corner of the
parish and thus inconvenient and that church
and churchyard were being " continewallie
overblawin with sand." The stones and
timber were, if necessary, to be used in erecting
the new kirk at Dirleton.3

1 Proc. Soc. Ant. Scot. xxi., p. 377 (illus.) ;
2 Liber de Dryburgh passim ; Pontificale Ecc-
lesiæ S. Andreæ ; 3 Act. Parl. Scot. iv., p. 490 ;
cf. 1633 v., p. 106).

ii. S.W. 9 July 1913.

25. Parish Church, Dirleton.-Sometime
after 1612 (cf. No. 24 Historical Note) this
church was erected on a site north of the
village ; it is a long narrow structure with a

15

west tower and a south cross aisle, the latter
having been added in 1664. The north vestry,
east porch and the upper part of the tower are
[marginal note]
Two common gar-
goyels mark the
old level.
modern. The aisle is ashlar built, while the
other parts are of rubble. The former has
heavily rusticated pilasters with pedestals at
the southern angles ; on each pilaster are the
remains of a tablet sundial. The south gable
has a coarse Renaissance pediment with an
ensigned cartouche on the tympanum bearing
a saltire within a bordure charged with eight
thistle slips for James Maxwell Earl of Dirleton.
These arms are represented on the Renaissance
entrance in the east wall and again on the
archway between aisle and church, in the last
instance in association with a lozenge, also
ensigned, charged : A large crosspaté between
four smaller ones, presumably the arms of
Elizabeth Bousoyn (de Podolski?) Countess of
Dirleton. The south window of the aisle is a
late Gothic three-light window of unusually
good design and execution for the period.
Internally the church is plain and has been
modernised ; the lowest storey of the tower is
[marginal note]
The church tower is
used as a dovecot. For
this use see Coulton
The Medieval village,
p. 78.
vaulted and access is given to the bell chamber
above by a turret stair projecting from the
north wall.
MONUMENT.-Built into the [insert] abute of the [end insert] east gable of the
church is a Renaissance monument probably
[marginal note]
The Batrin inscrip-
tion is dated in one
place 1728 and in
another 172-.
of the early 18th century ; a cartouche on the
pediment is parted per pale and charged :
dexter, within a bordure indented on a fess
three cinquefoils (Heriot), and sinister, within
a bordure wavy a buckle between three boars'
heads erased (? for Ferguson).

ii. S.W. 14 November 1923.

26. St. Nicholas Chapel, Fidra.-Situated
on the east side of the Island of Fidra, above the
landing stage, are the remains of a church.
The structure is orientated and has been double
chambered, combining choir and sanctuary of
equal widths. The sanctuary has been some
19 feet long and separated by an arch 2 3/4 feet
thick from the choir, which was 39 1/4 feet in
length. The span of the structure is 20 1/2 feet.
The gables have been 3 feet and the lateral
walls 2 3/4 feet in thickness.
Only the north wall now remains ; the others
can be traced solely by foundations. The
former is some 12 to 15 feet in height and a
length of 44 feet is still standing. It is built