east-lothian-1924/05-089

Transcription

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

Cf. Proc. Soc. Ant. Scot., xxxvi., p. 654,
xlii., p. 308 ff.

ii. S.W. and ii. N.W. 13 November 1913.

MISCELLANEOUS.

32. "Castle Tarbet," Fidra.-A rocky arm
projects towards the south-east of the island
from which it is separated at high tide. It
terminates in a flat-topped columnar rock,
which rises some 40 feet above the high water
level. A rough track leads round the south
face of this rock and winds up to the summit on
the east. Along the one side of this track, as
it mounts to the summit, are the remains of a
mortar-built wall, which has probably formed
a parapet. On the summit there are no visible
remains of buildings, though there are sugges-
tions of foundations. Cf. Introd. p. xli.

ii. N.W. 4 August 1913.

33. Cave, Fidra.-On the south face of
the rock some distance above high water mark
and on the level of the path is a small cave or
rock shelter with a comparatively modern wall
of dry masonry loosely built across the mouth
of it. In the interior there is over 2 feet depth
of soil on the floor immixed with refuse, and
more than a foot down a thick deposit of shells
and burnt earth. From a slight excavation
there were recovered three small fragments
of green glazed pottery belonging to two
different vessels and apparently mediæval.

ii. N.W. 4 August 1913.

34. Armorial Bearings, &c., Congalton.-
In the north wall of the barn at Congalton
Gardens, which are one mile in a direct line
north-west of East Fortune station, a late
armorial panel is inserted. It is 21 inches broad
and 25 inches high. The shield is treated per
pale ? and charged with dexter, in what corre-
sponds to the first quarter, a bend flanked on
the sinister side by a label of three points above
a diapered fess between two cotises compony,
with the same device repeated below, where
however the bend lies between the label and the
fess; and sinister, on a saltire an escutcheon
bearing within a bordure a lion rampant and
surmounted by a crown above a griffin rampart.

25

This appears to be, on the dexter, a careless
[marginal note]
Bannatyne's [Nimnide]
p. 359.
version of the arms of Congalton of that ilk,
which were, Quarterly, 1st and 4th, argent a
bend gules and over all a " lambel of three
points sable " (Douglas), 2nd and 3rd, argent
a fess sable between two cotises compony azure
and sable (or argent and azure-Nesbit). The
griffin is probably for Lauder, as Robert
Congalton, who was concerned as a Jacobite
in the Fifteen, married a daughter of Sir John
Lauder of Fountainhall. The shield is sur-
mounted by a helm and mantling ; over all is
a scroll bearing the Congalton motto "(Magn)a
in parvo."
Elsewhere in the neighbouring walls are
architectural details from the old house of
Congalton, which has disappeared. These
fragments date from the late 16th or early
17th century. One of these is a waterspout
or gargoyle, which is suggestive of a tower,
while a scrolled skewput gives evidence of a
17th century addition.
DOVECOT.-South of the gardens is a dovecot
c. 16th century, which is circular on plan and
has a diameter of 15 feet. It is built of rubble
and has been harled ; the upper portion is
not original and is furnished with a curious
capping surmounted by a flêche of brick and
timber.
On the Congaltons of Congalton see Introd.
p. xxiv.
v. N.E. 29 May 1920.

SITE.

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

35. Tumulus, at the cross-roads about 1/4
N. of Fenton Barns. v. N.W.

DUNBAR.

CASTELLATED AND MUNICIPAL STRUCTURES.

36 Dunbar Castle.-On a very bold and
exposed site, adjoining the new harbour to the
north of the town, the fragmentary remains of
Dunbar Castle are scattered over a rock
standing 80 feet above the sea, which
surrounds the site on three sides to-day and
originally cut it off almost entirely from the
mainland. On the east a large freestanding
mass, naturally cleft, is made continuous by