Following the launch of trove.scot in February 2025 we are now planning the retiral of some of our webservices. Canmore will be switched off on 24th June 2025. Information about the closure can be found on the HES website: Retiral of HES web services | Historic Environment Scotland
North Berwick Harbour
Hospital (Medieval)
Site Name North Berwick Harbour
Classification Hospital (Medieval)
Canmore ID 56600
Site Number NT58NE 21
NGR NT 5538 8559
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/56600
- Council East Lothian
- Parish North Berwick
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District East Lothian
- Former County East Lothian
NT58NE 21 5538 8559.
A hospital for poor people and pilgrims was founded at North Berwick before 1154 by Duncan, Fourth Earl of Fife. The land of the hospital was confirmed to North Berwick priory by Malcolm, Earl of Fife, before 1199 and by William I about 1213. It is not mentioned thereafter.
Swan states that no reference has been found in local records or writs as to the position of this hospital, but the most probable site was that now occupied by the granaries on the east side of the roadway, because it was near the harbour, where the pilgrims landed and embarked, and it adjoined the church.
I B Cowan and D E Easson 1976; D B Swan 1929
The granaries are at NT 5538 8559. There are no remains of the hospital to be seen. No further information was found.
Visited by OS (DT) 29 August 1962
As stated by Swan, this hospice is likely to have stood close to the church and the harbour. In a drawing of North Berwick made by Col. Hutton in the 18th century (now in the National Library of Scotland), there can be seen just to the NW of the old church (NT58NE 3) three blocks of masonry, which, in the opinion of the late Dr J S Richardson, may have been the last remains of the hospice. (This would agree with the site given by OS (DT)).
W M Ferrier 1980
Publication Account (1981)
Tradition maintains that there was a hospital at North Berwick from the latter half of the twelfth century, but this is not to be confused with one first mentioned in 1541/2, which passed to the patronage of the Lauders of the Bass at the Reformation (Cowan, 1976, 186; RCAM, 1924, 58).
Information from ‘Historic North Berwick: The Archaeological Implications of Development’ (1981).
Field Visit (18 February 1996)
A hospital was founded before 1154 for poor people and pilgrims. This is its likely location next to the church and near the harbour. This site was later occupied by granaries. There are no visible remains of this building.
Site recorded by GUARD during the Coastal Assessment Survey for Historic Scotland, 'The Firth of Forth from Dunbar to the Coast of Fife' 18th February 1996.
Field Visit (1997 - 2001)
Derek Hall managed an Historic Scotland funded project to record medieval hospital sites in Scotland. Gazetteers were produced for each regional council area between 1997 and 2001 with an overall review in 2001.
