east-lothian-1924/05-225

Transcription

WHITEKIRK AND] -- INVENTORY OF MONUMENTS IN EAST LOTHIAN. -- [TYNNINGHAME.

the roof, is oblong on plan, and measures over
walls 66 feet from east to west and 19 feet from
north to south. On examination the western
portion proves to be older than its adjunct and
to have been the remains of a tower, which at
a later period was extended eastwards and
subsequently utilised for agricultural purposes
(fig. 171). Its south wall is only 2 1/3 feet-the
same thickness as the later walls, as against the
other walls which are 5 feet thick, suggesting
that this south wall was reconstructed when the
eastern portion was built, but on the other hand
it should be noticed that the original south-
west angle of the tower is clearly defined. Three
courses below the eaves on the south wall is a
panel containing an angle figure supporting a
shield charged apparently with a fess (for
Crawford : cf.

[illustration inserted]
FIG. 171.-" Tithe Barn,"
Whitekirk (No. 203).

p. 126), all very
much worn.
The north wall
projects 2 feet
3 inches from
the correspond-
ing wall of the
barn. The
crow-stepped
east and west
gables are con-
temporary and
receive a steeply
pitched roof covered with slate.
On the ground floor the two portions do not
communicate but have separate entrances in
the south wall. The western leads to an unlit
vaulted chamber, which measure 14 feet from
north to south and 12 feet from east to west ;
at the north end of the east wall a doorway
leads to a straight staircase within the thick-
ness of the north wall and may also have led
to the eastern portion of the structure. The
latter is now entered from a wide doorway and
is a long narrow space lit by windows in the
external walls. In its west wall is a wide
stone fireplace, which subsequently was con-
tracted by a stone partition, a remnant
evidently of a domestic structure which
occupied this portion of the site and was after-
wards adapted to the present arrangement.
The upper floors of the western portion are
thrown into the barn and are entered from a
forestair on the south. The older portion

131

appears to date from the 16th century and the
addition about a century later. No care is
taken to preserve the structure, which is still
used as a stable. The roof particularly calls
for repair.
HISTORICAL NOTE.-On this structure see
Whitekirk Art. No. 200. As there shown, we
have in the tower at least, part of the
castle built for himself by Oliver Sinclair,
after 1540, out of the pilgrim's houses. " A
castle of Oliver Sanckler's " was burnt by the
English in their invasion of Lothian in 1544.
Later, during the English occupation of
Haddington in 15481 they burnt in October
of that year, among other things, " a village
named the Longhoet Whyte Kirk belonging to
' Olivier Sainkle,' and his own house where
he lived."2

1 See Introd. p. xxx ; 2 Sa maison propre
ou qu'il se tenoit. Teulet Papiers d'Etat i.,
p. 197.

vi. N.W. 4 July 1913.

MISCELLANEOUS.

204. Cairn, Whitekirk Hill.-On the summit
of Whitekirk Hill, a plateau rising 100 feet
above the surrounding country and 200 feet
above sea-level, some 450 yards north-north-
west of Whitekirk Church, is a circular cairn of
stones overgrown with grass, 50 feet in diameter
and 6 feet in height.

vi. N.W. 21 June 1913.

205. Cairn, St. Baldreds Cradle, Tynemouth.-
On a promontory, which rises about 40 feet
above high water mark, some 700 yards north-
west of the mouth of the River Tyne and about
120 yards west of the rock known as St.
Baldred's Cradle, is a fine circular cairn of
stones, covered with a growth of grass, 60 feet
in diameter and rising to a height of 11 feet
above the surrounding level.

vi. N.E. 21 June 1913.

206. Standing Stone, Kirklandhill.-In a
cultivated field about 300 yards south-west of
Kirklandhill steading is a tall stone pillar,
11 feet high and 6 feet 9 inches in girth at the
base, which is almost rhomboidal on plan,