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Gullane, Main Street, St Andrew's Church
Church (12th Century), War Memorial(S) (20th Century)
Site Name Gullane, Main Street, St Andrew's Church
Classification Church (12th Century), War Memorial(S) (20th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Old Church; Sandy Loan; St Andrew's Old Parish Church; War Memorials
Canmore ID 55081
Site Number NT48SE 6
NGR NT 48037 82708
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/55081
- Council East Lothian
- Parish Dirleton
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District East Lothian
- Former County East Lothian
NT48SE 6 48037 82708.
(NT 48037 82708) Church (NR) (rems of)
OS 6" map (1968)
St Andrew's Church dates from the second half of the 12th c with 13th c and 15th c alterations. The remains consist of a nave, 25' x 71', a chancel 21 1/2' x 37', and a N transept 21 1/4' x 20 1/2' which was added in the late 15th century. This was the original parish church (the parish anciently being called Golyn), and was in use until 1612 when it was moved to Dirleton.
A stone cresset and the arm of a free-standing cross, both found near this church, were donated to the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland [NMAS] in 1935-6.
RCAHMS 1924; W D Simpson 1948; NSA 1845 (J Ainslie); Proc Soc Antiq Scot 1936
This church, as described above is now roofless and ruinous. The average width of the walls is 0.9m. The W end of the building is represented by grassed-over mounds 1.0m in maximum height.
Visited by OS (RDL) 21 November 1962
No change to previous field report.
Visited by OS (SFS) 17 July 1975
Field Visit (9 July 1913)
The ruin of the old Parish Church of Gullane which was dedicated to St. Andrew lies within the churchyard on the north side of the village street. The structure dates from the second half of the 12th century and has been altered in the 13th and 15th centuries. It is oblong on plan (RCAHMS 1924, fig. 52), and has a long narrow nave, without aisles, that opened into a chancel of lesser width by an archway, which is now built up. At the eastern end of the nave a transept was added c. late 15th century projecting from the north wall and opening to the nave by an archway, since filled in, and with a comparatively modern doorway inserted in the infilling. Modern partitions divide the ruin into private burial places.
The chancel is square-ended and has been prolonged 17 feet from the length of 20 feet obtaining, as shewn by the window details, in the 13th century. The width is16 feet and the walls are 3 feet thick. In the north wall is an arched recess, 2 ½ feet high and 2 feet broad, now built up but possibly the remains of a sacrament house. In the south wall are two narrow 13th century lancet windows with pointed arched heads.
The chancel arch (RCAHMS 1924, fig. 53) is 8 feet wide and has two plain orders on the eastern face. To the nave the archivolt is enriched with the chevron ornament beneath a triple surfaced label. The jambs are square, and from each projects a semi-shaft terminating in multi-cubical capitals with cabled neckings. The rybats on the western side of the jamb are secondary.
The nave has been altered in post-Reformation times so as to leave no features of interest. The width is 19 feet and the length indeterminate.
The built-up archway to the transept is semicircular. The archivolt and jambs have chamfered edges and are separated by impost capitals. The transept has been lit from an arch-headed window in its north wall now built up.
The external dimensions are as under:
Nave: 25 feet wide with a present length of 71 feet.
Chancel: 21 ½ feet wide with a present length of 37 feet.
Transept: 21 ¼ feet wide with a present length of 20 ½ feet.
The structure is densely covered with ivy and is in a very ruinous and unsound condition.
FONT. Built into a wall on the left-hand side of the road leading to Dirleton is a roughly quadrangular stone 20 inches long with a centre bowl 7 inches in diameter, which is said to have been used as a baptismal font at this church (1);it is more probably a large cresset stone.
HISTORICAL NOTE. The church of St. Andrew at 'Golyn' in the diocese of St. Andrews was in existence before 1170, when its patronage was granted to the convent of Dryburgh on behalf of the church at Fidra (cf. RCAHMS 1924, No. 26). It was the ‘mother church’ of a chapel at Congleton and the chapel of ‘All Saints’ at Dirleton; and was formally dedicated by David de Bernham in 1242. By this bishop in the same year it was reduced from a rectory or parsonage to the grade of a vicarage served by one of the canons of Dryburgh with the assistance of a secular priest. The vicar was to receive 12 marks annually, the balance of income accruing to the general revenues of the abbey, then under a load of debt (mole debitorum). In 1290 the revenues of the church were valued for tithe at £48. The church also paid to the bishop of St. Andrews four marks yearly as 'procuration' or commuted visiting expenses and four marks as ‘ancient cain’ (pro antiquo cano) or food-rent. In the Dryburgh rental of 1560-70 the Kirk of 'Gulen' is set for £151. Its history throughoutis bound up with that of Dryburgh (2).
In 1612 by Act of Parliament the ‘Kirk of Gulane’ was translated to Dirleton on the grounds that it was in a remote corner of the parish and thus inconvenient and that church and churchyard were being ‘continewallie overblawin with sand’. The stones and timber were, if necessary, to be used in erecting the new kirk at Dirleton (3).
RCAHMS 1924, visited 9 July 1913.
(1) Proc. Soc. Ant. Scot. xxi., p. 377 (illus.); (2) Liber de Dryburgh passim; Pontificale Ecclesice S. Andrece; (3) Act. Parl. Scot. iv., p. 490 ; cf. 1633 v., p. 106.
Standing Building Recording (March 2010 - July 2010)
NT 48037 82708 A detailed documentary research programme and a photographic, drawn and written survey of the exterior and interior of the kirk were carried out March–July 2010 prior to consolidation works. It is a typical two-cell kirk dating from the 12th century and the large Romanesque chevron-detailed arch in the original nave is its most distinct feature. The kirk underwent a number of alterations and rebuilds during the
300 years following its construction. These alterations were at least in part in response to the ongoing rise in the ground level, which was a major factor in the relocation of worship in the area to Dirleton. The kirk was abandoned early in the 17th century and left to decay. However, the keen interest of local residents has led to a programme of recording and consolidation which aims to preserve and celebrate this important site.
Archive: RCAHMS (intended)
Funder: East Lothian Council
Diana Sproat – AOC Archaeology Group
Conservation (16 March 2010 - 19 March 2010)
St Andrews kirk is a typical two-cell kirk dating from the 12th century, its large 'Romanesque' chevron-detailed arch in the original nave being the most distinct feature within the building, clearly dating the kirk to this period. Throughout the following 300 years, the kirk then went on to experience a number of alterations, changes, new openings and rebuilds, not least due to the ever increasing ground level which was a major factor in the relocation of worship in the area to Dirleton. Abandoned since the early 17th century, the kirk has been more or less left to become a ruin, covered in thick ivy. However, its position within its own large graveyard and its location as a monument visible to all entering the town to the west, along with the keen interest of the residents of the locality, has brought into being an interest to consolidate and celebrate this important site through a period of recording and conservation and consolidation. A detailed programme of historical research and survey was undertaken prior to the conservation element of the project.
Information from Oasis (aocarcha1-78919) 16 January 2013
Archaeological Evaluation (December 2013)
NT 48029 82700 In December 2013 East Lothian Council Amenity Services constructed free standing steps to allow pedestrian access into the church. The work consisted of the excavation of a 1.9 x 1.4m area to a depth of 0.38m. Gravel and some of the excavated topsoil was deposited into the trench to form bedding for the steps. An investigation consisting of the removal of the topsoil and gravel, and recording of the exposed stratigraphy was carried out on the 17 March 2014. A 0.28m deep topsoil of dark brown sandy silt was recorded overlying a light brown silty sand
subsoil. The subsoil was only exposed at the N end of the trench, the lower step. Both the topsoil and subsoil contained small fragments of bone and small stones. A number of disarticulated human bones were recovered
from the redeposited topsoil and reburied.
Archive: RCAHMS
Funder: East Lothian Council
Elizabeth Jones - East Lothian Council Archaeology Service
(Source: DES)
Watching Brief (17 March 2014)
In March 2014 East Lothian Council Archaeology Service undertook an archaeological investigation (clean and record) at St Andrew's Kirk, Gullane.
An area 1.9m (N-S) by 1.4m had been excavated in front of the doorway to a maximum depth of 0.38m. Gravel and some of the excavated topsoil had been deposited into the trench to form the bedding for the steps. The archaeological investigation removed the re-deposited topsoil and gravel in order to record the stratigraphy exposed in the excavation of the trench. This revealed topsoil of dark brown sandy silt up to 0.28m deep over light brown silty sand subsoil. The subsoil was only exposed at the north end of the trench, the lower step. Both the topsoil and subsoil contained small fragments of bone and small stones. A number of disarticulated bones were recovered from the re-deposited topsoil and were reburied. No archaeological deposits had been disturbed by the works.
Information from OASIS ID: eastloth3-175673 (Elizabeth Jones) 2014
Dictionary of Scottish Architects (People)
Dictionary of Scottish Architects (People)
East Lothian Historic Environment Record
Dictionary of Scottish Architects (Building)
Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register
Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register
