Listed Building

The only legal part of the listing under the Planning (Listing Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 is the address/name of site. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing – see 'About Listed Buildings' below for more information. The further details below the 'Address/Name of Site' are provided for information purposes only.

Address/Name of Site

KIRKBURN, FORMER WILLIAM CREE MEMORIAL CHURCHLB49372

Status: Designated

Documents

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Summary

Category
B
Date Added
23/02/1971
Local Authority
Scottish Borders
Planning Authority
Scottish Borders
Parish
Traquair
NGR
NT 29172 38332
Coordinates
329172, 638332

Description

Early 19th century, remodelled in 1921 by JM Dick Peddie; stained glass by Douglas Strachan, 1929. Simple rectangular-plan Arts and Crafts former hall church with forestair to lower entrance porch to NE, scroll bracketed timber bellcote to NE gablehead. Coursed local whinstone rubble with whinstone long and short quoins and dressings; polished sandstone ashlar dressings to later SW window. Swept roof with broad eaves.

NE (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: to left, whinstone wall (running parallel to gable end) with ashlar copes flanking outer side of flight of steps leading to advanced porch adjoining right of gable. Pitched roof porch with bell-cast eaves held on projecting quoins: arched door surround with heavily tooled ashlar voussoirs (to resemble thin slate) and impost quoins in left return, contains 2-leaf timber boarded door, semi-circular fish-scale fanlight surmounting; gabled end of porch with tall lancet with slate drip sill and tooled voussoirs to head (similar window to right return, see NW ELEVATION). Blind gable of main church rising to rear with roof ridge advancing to cover timber and slated pitched bellcote canopy supported by heavy scroll timber brackets (bell now missing).

SE ELEVATION: four tripartite windows with sloped slate sills set close under eaves with inset moulded and corniced ashlar panel inscribed W & I C AD 1921 (C for Cree) to centre; steps leading to recessed entrance porch on right return (see NE ELEVATION).

SW (REAR) ELEVATION: gabled end with central Norman-style round-arched window (added 1929) with tabbed ashlar quoins and uniform voussoirs forming outer surround, inner surround with chamfered arrises and drip sill leading to deeply set stained glass window (see below). Small whinstone boundary wall adjoining to left and forming small enclosure.

NW ELEVATION: four tripartite windows with sloped slate sills set close under eaves with single central buttress; to extreme left, tall arched window in lower porch, return of bellcote canopy extending from main ridgeline.

Mostly tripartite timber framed windows with diamond quarry (Tudor glazing) and pronounced astragals; fixed outer windows with opening central window. Semi-circular fanlight above door with fish-scale glazing and tall narrow arched lights (of identical style and materials to those of main building) to returns of porch. Pitched slate roof with bell-cast overhanging eaves held on advanced putts; stone ridging tiles and moulded concrete verges, lead flashing to porch. Painted cast-iron rainwater goods. No stacks.

INTERIOR: currently disused (and unfurnished) and being converted to residential accommodation; re-used lintel on interior door inscribed House for Praye (sic) 1614 (see NOTES).

Statement of Special Interest

Ecclesiastical building no longer in use as such. The parish of Kailzie ceased to exist in 1674 when parts of it were joined with the similarly suppressed parish of Kirkbryde. Together they formed the new Traquair Parish. A church has existed at Kirkburn since the 12th century when it was reliant on Innerleithen. The ruin of Our Lady's (or Hopekailzie, listed separately) is sited to the S of this building and still has many fine monuments and grave markers. The William Cree Memorial Church was named in commemoration of William Cree, the owner of Kailzie from 1914. He had purchased the property from Florance William Black, the son of William Connel Black. Although later used as a church, the building was not primarily designed as one. On the site stood a pair of early 19th century cottages. Originally William Cree paid to have them converted into a hall for the use of residents on the Kailzie estate. This involved raising the wallheads and losing the original fenestration. The hall remained in use until the death of Cree in 1929 when it was decided to turn it into a memorial chapel to him. The arched window was added in the SW gable and a single light by the well-known stained glass artist Douglas Strachan was added. This window is well protected from the wind and rain that rushes down the hill by the deeply recessed nature of the surround. Inside is a much older re-used lintel (see INTERIOR) which had previously been used as a mantelpiece in the Old Toll House. To the NW of this building stands some 1960's timber forestry houses by RH Matthews; these replaced a 19th century school that stood on the site. It was decided to put the disused church on the market at the end of the 20th century as the local churches (Walkerburn, Innerleithen and Traquair) already took turns in hosting services and it was surplus to requirements. It is believed the church will now become residential accommodation and hoped the stained glass window can be incorporated into another church in the area. Listed as a good example of a simple rural Arts and Crafts building with fine original features including the entrance porch, corbelled bellcote, bell-cast roof and interesting fenestration and glazing.

References

Bibliography

1st and 2nd Edition ORDNANCE SURVEY MAPS (circa 1857 and 1896) showing cottages already on site. 3rd Edition ORDNANCE SURVEY MAP (1920/1930) showing hall/church. J Buchan, HISTORY OF PEEBLESHIRE (1925) p547. RCAHMS, PEEBLESSHIRE INVENTORY (1958) 472. CA Strang, BORDERS AND BERWICK (1994) p227. Additional information courtesy of The Buildings of Scotland, Kitty Cruft.

About Listed Buildings

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.

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Printed: 10/05/2024 07:30