The ruins of a 16th C Laird's house stand on high ground overlooking the beach at Auldhame. It is traditionally said to be the site of St. Baldred's house. The buildings are in a very poor state of repair and are vulnerable to further structural collapse and to vandalism. The building is visible on 1946 and later AP's (B108 5273-4 15/4/46, B17 7285-7 15/4/46, OS/62/33 168-9 1/5/62).The survey noted surface spreads of midden surrounding the building and the uneven ground surface is suggestive of buried remains. Human remains, possibly part of a early cemetery, were excavated by MoW in the 1950's, in advance of the construction of an Admiralty Radar Station (now demolished).While the visible remains lie well over 100m from HWM, it is probable that associated structures/deposits may extend to within the coastal zone. A programme of archaeological assessment and architectural consolidation is urgently required.
ShoreUPDATE: 29/03/2014
Ruinous structure in thick vegetation as described. The remains of a 17th century plaster frieze showing a hunting scene are still just visible but extremely vulnerable.
Location
360230.00
684620.00
27700
56.0527763
-2.6401067
Submitted photographs
Image
Date
Caption
User
29/03/2014
from plate in An Old Kirk Chronicle, Edinburgh, 1893
joannahambly
29/03/2014
Close-up of plaster frieze
training1
29/03/2014
Inside wall of first floor where plaster hunting frieze is located
training1
29/03/2014
Looking up chimney in barrel vaulted room
training1
29/03/2014
Closer view of oven
training1
29/03/2014
Oven in southeast corner of barrel vaulted room
training1
29/03/2014
Ground floor with barrel vaulting, probably kitchen, looking SE
training1
29/03/2014
Northwest corner of House, showing location in relation to coast edge, looking SE
training1
29/03/2014
Front view of House taken from top of coastal slope, looking west
training1
Submitted updates
Update id
Date
User
1638
29/03/2014
training1
Tidal state
Mid
Site located?
Yes
Proximity to coast edge
11-50m
Coastally eroding?
not eroding
Threats
vegetation growth; structural damage/decay
Visibility above ground
Highly visible (substantial remains)
Access
accessible - difficult terrain
Local knowledge
is well known; is well visited; has local associations/history
Description
The ruins of a 16th C Laird's house stand on high ground overlooking the beach at Auldhame. It is traditionally said to be the site of St. Baldred's house. The buildings are in a very poor state of repair and are vulnerable to further structural collapse and to vandalism. The building is visible on 1946 and later AP's (B108 5273-4 15/4/46, B17 7285-7 15/4/46, OS/62/33 168-9 1/5/62).The survey noted surface spreads of midden surrounding the building and the uneven ground surface is suggestive of buried remains. Human remains, possibly part of a early cemetery, were excavated by MoW in the 1950's, in advance of the construction of an Admiralty Radar Station (now demolished).While the visible remains lie well over 100m from HWM, it is probable that associated structures/deposits may extend to within the coastal zone. A programme of archaeological assessment and architectural consolidation is urgently required.
ShoreUPDATE: 29/03/2014
Ruinous structure in thick vegetation as described. The remains of a 17th century plaster frieze showing a hunting scene are still just visible but extremely vulnerable.
Recording, especially of plaster frieze.
Comments
This building is not directly impacted by coastal erosion, but it is obviously a dangerous structure and is located in a popular visitor area of East Lothian.