North Berwick Buildings at Risk Register
The aim of NB Heritage is to conserve, enhance and celebrate North Berwick – its townscape, heritage and setting. The Trust’s key focus is on the built environment, including buildings and monuments which are significant in the town’s history, architectural heritage and townscape.
Some of our most important buildings and monuments are at risk through closure with no agreed future use, or because of general neglect and deterioration, or other factors. For this reason, NBEHT has decided to develop a Buildings at Risk Register for North Berwick. This idea stems from the national Buildings at Risk Register, which aims to bring together potential funders, restorers and developers with buildings and sites that are considered at risk or under threat: Buildings at Risk Register | Historic Environment Scotland | HES.
The distinction between buildings and monuments is well recognised in the world of heritage management. Buildings are generally roofed, or capable of being re-roofed, and are in use or may be brought back into use for their original or another purpose; while monuments are generally unroofed, but have intrinsic value as historic or archaeological features which play an important part in the history of the town and add to its character.
The following two lists are intended to raise and maintain awareness of:
buildings and monuments of historic significance which merit protection, maintenance and interpretation; and
buildings of significance within the town, which face an uncertain future and would benefit from raised awareness, scrutiny, constructive promotion and possible intervention.
The lists, particularly the second list, will be dynamic as circumstances change, both for those buildings in the list and others which may merit inclusion in the future. The lists are randomly ordered, with no implication of priority.
We would welcome any comments on these lists, as well as suggestions from the community of other buildings or monuments at risk.
Buildings and monuments of local, regional or national importance
The Harbour
Under the ownership of East Lothian Council and the custodianship of North Berwick Harbour Trust Association, the susceptibility of the harbour to the vagaries of the weather was seen in the significant storm damage to the north harbour wall over the winter of 2023/24 – now thankfully repaired. The harbour is a significant historic feature: there has been a harbour here since at least medieval times when North Berwick was a royal burgh. Its existing breakwaters – which are of varied ages and, in parts, could be as early as the 16th century – continue to require maintenance and strengthening. Today, in 2024, the Harbour Trust is proposing new buildings for varied community uses on part of the former open-air swimming pool, while another local group is promoting building a new open-air pool on the site. The harbour is B-listed.
St Andrew’s Church, Anchor Green
Under the ownership of East Lothian Council and the custodianship of North Berwick Harbour Trust Association, the susceptibility of the harbour to the vagaries of the weather was seen in the significant storm damage to the north harbour wall over the winter of 2023/24 – now thankfully repaired. The harbour is a significant historic feature: there has been a harbour here since at least medieval times when North Berwick was a royal burgh. Its existing breakwaters – which are of varied ages and, in parts, could be as early as the 16th century – continue to require maintenance and strengthening. Today, in 2024, the Harbour Trust is proposing new buildings for varied community uses on part of the former open-air swimming pool, while another local group is promoting building a new open-air pool on the site. The harbour is B-listed.
St Andrew’s Church, Kirk Ports
Built between 1958 and 1664 to replace the original church on Anchor Green, this picturesque ruin sits within an historic graveyard on the south side of High Street. Its tower had a distinctive bell-shaped roof until 2011 when it was removed for safety reasons. The site is under the ownership of East Lothian Council, but negotiations are in train to lease the site to NBEHT. If sufficient funds can be raised, the Trust proposes to conserve the whole building, re-roof the tower, re-floor the nave, and make the kirk accessible again for a range of community uses. The kirk and its graveyard are a scheduled monument.
The Priory ruins, Old Abbey Road
The Priory was founded around 1150 by Duncan I, Earl of Fife, for Cistercian nuns. This was one of the larger and wealthier nunneries in medieval Scotland, and it flourished for several hundred years. It was reportedly ruinous by around 1587. The upstanding ruins are visible in the grounds of the former Abbey Care Home, but the whole site is of archaeological and historic importance. The lawn at the front of the care home, for instance, overlies an extensive medieval cemetery, while the remains of a rare medieval tile kiln lie nearby. There is limited public access and interpretation, and the site is at potential risk arising from the uncertain future uses of the care home. The care home building is B listed, while the upstanding ruins and almost all of the care home grounds are a scheduled monument.
The Lodge doocot, Lodge Grounds
An adjunct to the historic Lodge buildings (which are occupied and in reasonably good repair), this square doocot dates from the 18th century. Located to the rear of the Lodge and Wall Tower House, its condition is uncertain, but it is evidently occupied by wood pigeon. Accessed from the public footpath in the Lodge Grounds. The doocot is B-listed as part of this complex of buildings. Owned possibly by East Lothian Council.
The Glen Mill buildings
The remains of probably four, ruinous domestic-scale buildings occur at various elevations in The Glen. These are the remnants of early water-powered milling and textile trades, dating from medieval times to the 18th century. In variable, but mainly poor, condition and overgrown with vegetation. One of the information boards in the Glen is about the mills. Owned by East Lothian Council.
Watch-house on North Berwick Law
The gabled ruins of a stone-built watch-house lie near the summit of North Berwick Law. Built during the Napoleonic War in the early 19th century, the watch-house was part of a chain of naval signal posts stretching along the Scottish coast. The stations were used to monitor the seaways for enemy vessels and forewarn the Royal Navy of any threats, with coded messages communicated from the signal station using a system of flags, pennants and balls hoisted on a flagstaff. Two gables survive and the footings of the side walls, but the remains are in uncertain condition. The whole of the Law, including the watch-house, is a scheduled monument. Owned by East Lothian Council.
World War 1 and 2 look-out post on North Berwick Law
This wartime observation post is situated immediately NW of the summit of North Berwick Law. It may have been constructed during or after World War 1, and was also used in World War 2. Built of brick and concrete, and still roofed, the condition of this look-out post is deteriorating and it suffers from graffiti. Together with the Napoleonic era watch-house and the replacement whalebone arch, this trio of monuments form a distinctive crown on top of the Law amidst a wealth of prehistoric archaeology on what was an Iron Age hillfort. The whole of the Law is a scheduled monument. Owned by East Lothian Council.
Castle Hill, Tantallon Terrace
This scarped hillock with its flattened top was almost certainly the site of a 13th-century castle held by the earls of Fife. It has not been excavated, but a castle is mentioned in 1388 when the then earl of Fife was prevented from accessing his property by the Douglases. Castle Hill appears to have been abandoned soon after Tantallon Castle was built by the Douglasses in the mid 14th century. This type of site is known as a motte and today it is suffering from erosion and invasive vegetation. Its historic interest and importance is little known in the town. This is a scheduled monument. Owned by East Lothian Council.
County Hotel
Built in 1896 by architect John W Hardie, this hotel building faces onto the narrow east end of the High Street and extends southwards to Kirk Ports. The building has stood empty since circa 2021 and is advertised for a new tenant. Meanwhile its condition continues to deteriorate and its back garden is heavily overgrown.
Rhodes Farm steadings
Former steadings of the adjacent 19th-century Rhodes Farmhouse (B-listed), which incorporates an older 17th-century lairds’ house. The steadings are now in serious disrepair or ruinous, and their future, together with an extensive area of adjacent vacant ground, has been the subject of speculation for several years. The area (also called Lime Grove) was formerly a local depot and is owned by East Lothian Council.
Buildings of local importance and with uncertain futures
The Abbey Care Home
Built in 1908/9 by architects Leadbetter and Fairley and designed to fit its location alongside the ruins of the ancient Priory. Previously a local authority nursing home, but recently closed (2024). Its future use is uncertain and any redevelopment will potentially impact on the architectural and archaeological remains in its grounds. The building is B-listed and its grounds are a scheduled monument. Owned by East Lothian Council.
Viewpoint shelters at Tantallon Terrace and Glasclune Gardens
Built in 1908/9 by architects Leadbetter and Fairley and designed to fit its location alongside the ruins of the ancient Priory. Previously a local authority nursing home, but recently closed (2024). Its future use is uncertain and any redevelopment will potentially impact on the architectural and archaeological remains in its grounds. The building is B-listed and its grounds are a scheduled monument. Owned by East Lothian Council.
The Abbey Farm dovecote
Built in 1908/9 by architects Leadbetter and Fairley and designed to fit its location alongside the ruins of the ancient Priory. Previously a local authority nursing home, but recently closed (2024). Its future use is uncertain and any redevelopment will potentially impact on the architectural and archaeological remains in its grounds. The building is B-listed and its grounds are a scheduled monument. Owned by East Lothian Council.
North Berwick Townhouse, High Street
This two-storey 18th-century townhouse at the east end of High Street has an external stone stair leading to the historic council chamber on its upper floor, and is topped by a square bell-cote with clock faces to north and south. The ground floor is used as a shop. The upper floor is occasionally used for meetings. This important historic structure is vulnerable to gentle neglect given the Council’s dire financial situation and the lack of regular use of its first-floor room – one to watch. The townhouse is B-listed. Owned by East Lothian Council.