The only remains of St Andrew’s Old Kirk in North Berwick is a small white-harled stone building which stands just inland from the path to the Scottish Seabird Centre.
The first church was probably made of wood and was probably constructed by monks from the Abbey at Lindisfarne some time in the 600s. A later building was erected some time in the 1100s, but little of this is left other than low stone walls on the grass to the north of the only part remaining.
The small porch was built after the Reformation and projected south from the end of the south aisle. The entire east end of the church was swept into the sea in a storm in 1656.
The church would have served the local community, and the steady stream of pilgrims passing through North Berwick to catch a ferry to Earlsferry in Fife en route to St Andrews. The town and kirk grew to serve the needs of the pilgrims with a hospice serving as a guesthouse to look after the sick.
In 1590 it was rumoured that 200 witches had danced around Anchor Green whilst listening to a sermon by the devil. The witches were supposedly trying to summon a storm to drown King James VI, but it was only under severe torture that a 16 year old girl confessed. As a result many innocent women were arrested and tortured and some died a witch’s death in front of Edinburgh castle.
The green (which was the old kirkyard) is now empty other than a Celtic cross erected in memory of Catherine Watson who, on 27 July 1889 at the age of 19, saved a drowning boy in North Berwick’s East Bay, but was herself drowned while doing so.
TRAVEL WORDS 
Nice history, Jude. Shame about the weather that day, but it is Scotland!
Best wishes, Pete. x
We were very lucky on that trip. Only three bad days – one in Norwich and then two consecutive days in Alnwick and here. I only hope September this year is similar!!
Me too. Lincolnshire coast for us that month.
Should be lovely and relaxing.
Definite traces of the past here, Jude!
Funny how many times witches cropped up on that trip up the east coast.
Presumably of a certain time, and perhaps peculiar to that area?
Yes, she deserves a cross this size. These are gorgeous images, Jude. The thick fog is beautiful in your first image.
It was very foggy that day Paula. We could barely see anything on the drive!
These are lovely images Jude. Very atmospheric and perfect for tales of witches and drowning.
It’s rough up north you know!!
I’m from north of there — Kirkcaldy!
Then you know what I mean 😉
Totally!
Wow, that must have been some storm to wash the building into the sea. All those poor women too, what a ghastly fate.
It didn’t pay to be ‘different’ in those days.
That’s for sure.
What sadnesses in this story of a place, and how many stories there are, which you tell well. As do your photos, with fog a big plus for atmosphere. As is B&W
It was a very atmospheric day Meg. We went to a castle before this and could hardly see anything until right up to it!
This is jolly! Love that mist enshrouded first shot. Reminds me of the train journey up north to meet you xx
Ah, well, it was the day before we met and the whole coastline was shrouded in mist and fog and rain for two days! I wanted to see Bass Rock, but no luck.
North Berwick is somewhere I have learned to love! My very first visit was in torrential rain and nowhere looks its best under those conditions.
Wasn’t so bad in the fog. Quite atmospheric, but I bet it is lovely in the sunshine.
Yes it is! I also think it was a bit rundown when I visited the first time but has recovered well.
So many seaside towns have been the same. I would imagine that North Berwick’s proximity to Edinburgh would make it a pretty good commuter town.
I have been there and sat in the old Kirk. Thanks for the memories
A pleasure.