St Andrew's Old Kirk

Heritage listing

Date Added 15/04/1999 Supplementary Information Updated 30/07/2021 Type Ecclesiastical: church Local Authority East Lothian Parish North Berwick NGR NT 55402 85564 Coordinates 355402, 685564 — The monument consists of the remains of the original parish church of North Berwick, thought to have been built in the 12th century, although the dedication of the site to St. Andrew may date from an earlier century. The church is located in the harbour area of North Berwick. It was excavated by the late Dr R.S. Richardson in 1951. Indication of the existence of a church here is given prior to 1177 in a charter by Duncan, Earl of Fife, which was witnessed by Richard, chaplain of St. Andrew of North Berwick. Originally the church was a simple rectangle consisting of a nave, choir and presbytery. The church was widened in later years, arcading replacing the original side walls creating N and S aisles and small projecting transept aisles. A W tower and a S projecting porch, were added in the 15th century. The only substantial portion of the church surviving is the S porch, although much of the ground-plan survives as foundations varying in height from about 0.2m to 1.4m. The base of a large stone font lies near the W end. Most of the surrounding graveyard and the E end of the church has been eroded away by the sea. The remains of the church measure about 22m E-W by about 15.5 m N-S overall. The S porch (protected beneath a modern slate roof) is rectangular, gabled with a vaulted ceiling. It has central buttresses on its E and W walls. It measures about 5.6m E-W by 3.8m N-S. A segmental-headed entrance with a bold quirked edge-roll moulding survives in the S gable. The opening in the N gable has been enlarged from its original arched form and a lintel inserted. In the interior NW angl

From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.