Newsletter - Issue 148
Visit to Corstorphine Church
Several of us visited Corstorphine Church where we were given a
warm welcome and an extremely interesting guided tour around the
building.
A church was built on the site in 1128 but was replaced by another
in 1429 and later given collegiate status. Over the years it became
extremely dilapidated until it was extensively restored in the
early 20th century. This was done in a sensitive manner true to
the original design so that the church retains the aura of a medieval
building.
A western entrance porch joins a larger vestibule, which in turn
opens onto the crossing under the tower. On either side is a transept,
the south containing an early medieval baptismal font. Then there
is the nave with a northern aisle supported by pillars and arches.
To the east there is the chancel that used to contain the high
altar. North of this is a three storey building that used to be
used by the prebend. The main external feature is a tower supporting
an octagonal tower.
Proposed Trip to Haddington
We shall be visiting Haddington on Saturday, 19th June. This is
a lovely market town full of interesting historical sites. We shall
be starting our visit at Haddington Church, the largest medieval
parish church in Lothian. Arrangements have been made for a volunteer
to take us round.
On leaving the church we shall pass Haddington house, the home
of the Duke of Lauderdale, a scourge of the Covenanters during
the reign of Charles II. We then go across a 15th century bridge,
which still has the hook used on felons given a suspended sentence.
This will take us to St Martin's Church, originally part
of a convent. It has no roof but is otherwise in excellent condition.
The town was originally renowned for its many churches and religious
communities but most have disappeared without trace. It is ironic
that this centre of Catholicism should have been the home of the
young John Knox, although no one has found the actual house.
Excavation at Penicuik
Regular Sunday digs are now taking place at Castlehill on the estate
of Sir Robert Clerk at Penicuik. I would like to have said 'on
a motte and bailey site' but despite a 17 by 3 metre trench
on the top of the hill and investigation of stone revetting round
the north eastern end we have no finds to confirm the date of the
site.
The line of the stone revetment that starts from the north side
of the hill is lower down the slope than that which curves from
the south side northwards. We have not progressed far enough to
confirm fully that they contour round at different levels. It would
be an achievement if we could show that the upper one encircled
the motte and the lower one included the bailey. The erosion of
the sides of the promontory, which still slopes down to the burn
at an angle of nearly 40º, is such that I suspect a lot has
been lost, and old maps and the Ainslie plan would appear to confirm
this.
Within the trench we have found an area paved with sandstone slabs
and edged, at one side, with a stone curb. On extending the trench
to find the southern edge of the paving it stopped abruptly and
appears to have been robbed out.
The dig will continue until the end of July when, once again, the
shooting season will take precedence.
Shorewatch Members 'shorewalked' at Blackness on 7th
and 25th May. While not getting stuck in quicksand, they identified
the position and structure on many fish traps. The next walk is
planned for 6th July.
Dig at Dalmeny
The dig at Cobble Cottage field on the Dalmeny estate in conjunction with the University of Edinburgh Archaeological Department is likely to take place in August but precise timing depends on when the current cereal crop is harvested. Test pits will be dug in areas where our fieldwalking of five (!!) years ago produced most lithics. There is a possibility that a Mesolithic site to match that found in our Cramond dig exists on the west side of the River Almond.