east-lothian-1924/05-078

Transcription

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

of igneous rock irregularly coursed with grey
sandstone dressings. In the north wall of the
sanctuary there is a lancet window 1 foot
4 inches wide with an obtusely pointed head
and semi-circular scoinson arch ; a splay is
wrought on the jambs. An aperture at the
western end appears to have been a round
arched north door. West of this is a small
roughly finished window. The structure prob-
ably dates from the early 13th century. From
the west end of the building other foundations
run in a southerly direction towards the creek.
HISTORICAL NOTE. - The church in Fidra or
" island of Elbotle " was dedicated to St.
Nicholas and served by the canons of Dryburgh.
In the reign of William the Lion (c. 1170)
William de Vaux (cf. No. 27) granted to it the
patronage of the church at Gullane, and the
grant was confirmed by his son John. A
later William c. 1220 made a grant to the
canons of the island itself, with land in the
" territory of Elbotyle " on the mainland
immediately opposite. Two canons were under-
stood to reside and celebrate on the island.
But about 1240 Alexander de Vaux " in con-
sideration of the imminent dangers of times
present and to come " released Dryburgh
from the necessity of maintaining that chantry
(illam cantariam) as hitherto on the island itself,
or of building or sending canons to live on it.
Instead a canon was to be provided at " Stod-
fald " on the mainland and another in Dry-
burgh to pray for the souls of this de Vaux'
ancestors and successors. ¹ It does not seem,
therefore, that the building was ever completed.

1 Liber de Dryburgh passim.

ii. N.W. 4 August 1913.

CASTELLATED AND DOMESTIC STRUCTURES.

27. Dirleton Castle. - This imposing ruin
is situated immediately east of the village green
of Dirleton within a walled pleasaunce and is
built on the crest of an outcrop of rock, which
rises sheer on the north, west and south to an
elevation of 100 feet above ordnance datum
and within 25 feet at most above the immediate
level but has a more gradual inclination on the
east. The rock summit is roughly quadri-
lateral, measuring 135 feet from north to south
by 115 feet from east to west, and has been
entirely enclosed by the building of a wall of
enceinte incorporated in structures on the
north, south and east (fig. 55).
OUTWORKS. - The southern face of the site,
in which is set the main entrance, is strength-
ened by a dry ditch 45 feet wide and in places
15 feet deep cut in part through the rock.
(fig. 56). This was spanned by a bridge, pro-
bably of wood, supported on stone piers, which
still remain in the ditch. Traces of a ditch some
30 feet wide are seen also at the north-eastern
angle of the site. On the west the rock is

[Plan inserted]
FIG. 56. - Dirleton Castle (No. 27).

sufficiently steep to make a further obstacle
unnecessary. On the east, where the rock has
an easy gradient, there is no trace of any
outwork, but it should be noted that the
lower 27 feet of the eastern wall contains no
openings except a small entrance built up in
the 15th century, if not earlier.
ENCLOSURE. - West of the castle there is an
area some 80 to 90 yards square, which is
enclosed by an earthen mound planted with
old yew trees - apparently a bowling green,
as in the similar case at Dunnottar Castle.
DOVECOT. - Some 30 yards north of the
[Marginal note] 42
castle is the dovecot, a 16th century structure,
incorporated in a modern boundary wall.
It is circular on plan, 21 feet in diameter and
some 25 feet high. The height externally is
divided into four tiers by horizontal string-
courses ; a moulded billet-course characteristic
of the period returns round the wall-head.
GATEWAY. - Immediately east of the dovecot
is a contemporary gateway with a semi-
circular head. It is 9 1/4 feet wide by 11 feet high;
a quirked edge-roll returns round the head and

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