east-lothian-1924/05-103

Transcription

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

feet broad rising 9 inches above outside and 6
inches above inside level. In the centre of
the wall round the eastern end and south-
eastern corner, and at the south-western
corner, large stones are to be seen. About
100 yards to the east and some 10 feet lower
is a circular hollow 10 feet in diameter and 6
inches in depth, the debris which has been
thrown out to the south-east forming a bank
18 inches in height.

xvi. S.W. (Unnoted). 1 July 1913.

SITES.

The O.S. maps indicate the following sites:-

58. Bara Church, Linplum x. S.E.

59. Bara Graveyard, Linplum x. S.E.

60. " Linplum," Linplum x. S.E.

61. " Grange " N.E. of Garvald xi. S.W.

62. Cairn, S.E. of Garvald xi. S.W.

63. Fort, near Carfrae xvi. N.W.

GLADSMUIR.

ECCLESIASTICAL STRUCTURES.

64. Old Parish Church, Gladsmuir.-The
ruins of the former parish church of Gladsmuir
lie to the north of its successor, within a grave-
yard on the north side of the Edinburgh to
Haddington highway, 3 miles west of the Rail-
way Station at Haddington. The Statistical
Account says that "the church of Gladsmuir was
built by Baillie of Lamington, in the year 1695,
and the parish was then formed by annexations
from the contiguous parishes, Tranent, Had-
dington and Aberlady."1
On plan the building is an oblong. On the
north wall a transeptal aisle opens into the
church by a wide archway with semicircular
head ; the arrises are chamfered and spring
from a simply moulded impost. Two of the
voussoirs project inwards in an unusual manner.
Joist holes in the lateral walls indicate the
position of lofts at the east and west ends of
the church and at the north end of the aisle.
The entrance of the church is in the south wall
and of the aisle in its east wall. Three windows
in the south wall and one in the north wall

37

lit the interior, and there are windows in the
gables above the floor level of the lofts. These
windows are lintelled and have apparently been
provided with outer shutters.
The skew of the west gable is crow-stepped
and is surmounted by a late 17th century
belfry.
The south wall is imperfect, but the other
walls are fairly complete to the wall head some
12 feet above the ground.
From east to west the building measures
externally 71 feet by 25 feet 9 inches ; the
aisle is 24 feet broad and projects 24 feet from
the north wall. The walls are 2 feet 10 inches
thick.
SUNDIAL.-On the south-west angle of the
building is a two-faced sundial dated 1700.
SOCKET-STONE.(?)-On the west side of the
entrance to the churchyard is a regular block
of freestone 2 feet 9 inches by 2 feet 4 inches,
in which an oblong cavity, measuring 1 foot
3 inches by 10 inches, is hollowed out to a
depth of 4 inches. The workmanship is crude.

1 Vol. vii., p. 312.

ix. N.E. 19 May 1913.

65. "John Knox's" Kirk.-Within the gar-
den adjoining Longniddry House, 1/4 of a mile
south-west of Longniddry Station, is a frag-
ment of building of indeterminate age, which is
locally known as "John Knox's Church" and is
so noted on the O.S. map. The building has
been rectangular on plan and oriented; 31 feet
of the north wall, which is 2 3/4 feet in thickness,
remains to a height of 9 feet, as well as several
courses of the west gable return. There are
the jambs of a doorway on the north wall and,
adjoining the doorway, traces of a small
window, which may have had an arched head.
The masonry is of light coloured rubble.
Chalmers writes that this chapel " is popu-
larly called John Knox's Kirk,"1 and this seems
to be the earliest allusion to this idea. M'Crie
expands in the statement that Knox catechised
his youthful pupils " publicly in a chapel at
Longniddrie, in which he also read, at stated
times, a chapter of the Bible accompanied by
explanatory remarks. The memory of this fact
has been preserved by tradition, and the chapel,
the ruins of which are still apparent, is popu-
larly called John Knox's Kirk."2 He refers to