east-lothian-1924/05-062

Transcription

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

Murray 1st Lord Elibank) and below the date
1625.
In the 18th century wings were added on the
north and east making the total area occupied
by the structure 46 feet from N. to S. by
92 3/4 from E. to W. ; the central portion of the
north façade containing the entrance is given a
slight projection to relieve the monotony of
the elevation. The additions contain the same
number of storeys as the original structure,
but the wall head on the south, where the
division between the original and later work is
most noticeable, is some 2 feet higher. Several
of the features of this later portion are well
designed, in particular a fine three-light classic
window in the south wall of a large apartment
on the second floor and the plaster panelling
in several apartments.
Over the porch of an adjoining dwelling is
built a carved stone from the old house bearing
a shield charged with a fetterlock and three
mullets on a chief, for Murray of Blackbarony.
Flanking the shield are the initials I M (John
Murray) in monogram. Above is a defective
motto on a label -

[Plan inserted]
FIG. 36. - Ballencrieff House (No. 5).

[DE]VM: TIME "Fear
God " and below
the shield is a date
somewhat defaced,
in which the second
figure, though re-
sembling a 9, must,
to suit the name,
be the old form of
5, giving 1586.
HISTORICAL NOTE. - John Murray of Black-
barony (Shire of Peebles) had a grant of lands
&c. in the royal domain of Ballencrieff with the
office of baillie in 1511. ¹ Sir John Murray of
Blackbarony was coroner of Peebles in 1595.
Sir Gideon Murray, father of the 1st Lord
Elibank, acquired the Ballencrieff lands from
his nephew in 1617, and these were thereupon
erected into the barony of Ballencrieff. ²

1 Reg. M. Sig. (1424 -1513) No. 3643.
2 Scots Peerage iii., p. 504.

v. S.W. 27 June 1912.

6. Ballencrieff Granary. - On the east of the
farm steading of Ballencrieff and 250 yards
south-south-west of the old mansion is a
building L-shaped on plan and two storeys in
height (fig. 37). The structure is built of rubble
with freestone dressings and the roof is pan-
tiled. The main block measures exteriorly 60
feet from west-south-west to east-north-east,
has a breadth of 22 feet 8 inches and contains
three apartments used as stables. The wing
measures 26 feet by 20 1/2 feet and is now occu-
pied as a dwelling. The doorways and windows,
several of which are built up, have a splay
wrought on the jambs and lintels. There has
been no internal com-
munication between

[Plan inserted]
FIG. 37 .- Ballencrieff Granary (No. 6).

the ground and the
upper floor ; access to
the latter has been
obtained from a
ladder. On the south
wall, above the door-
way of the upper
storey and below the
eaves, the stone
weather table above three corbels indicates the
former existence of a penthouse. Three of the
six skewputs have shields bearing arms:- N.E.
main block : Three cinquefoils below a star.
S.E. wing : A Greek or equal-armed cross.
mid skewput, west wall : A saltire.
There was an hospital at Ballencrieff in the
13th century, dedicated to St. Cuthbert. ¹ The
above mentioned structure, though dating from
the 16th century, is apparently one of the
buildings connected with it.

1 Calendar of Docts. ii. p. 227.

v. S.W. 27 June 1913.

7. Redhouse. - On a rocky knoll immediately
south of the road from Longniddry to Drem
and 1 1/4 miles E.N.E. of Longniddry Station,
the ruined mansion of Redhouse stands within
the walls of its park, which is now a market
garden. The house forms the northern side
of a quadrangular courtyard (fig. 38) that is
bounded on the east by a range of outbuilding
and on the south and west by boundary walls.
The courtyard is entered from the south (fig.
39) through a wide gateway (late 16th century),
with a semi-circular head round which returns
a roll-and-hollow moulding that continues down
the jambs ; the detail of the moulding in-

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