Basic Site Details

Name: Whitekirk Church
Town, district or village: Whitekirk
City or county: East Lothian
Country: Scotland
Parish:  
Status:  
Grid ref:
Notes: The mediaval church was 'destroyed by incendiary women,' (suffragettes) who set the building alight on 26 February 1914. Following restoration by Lorimer it re-opened in October 1917.

In terms of the report made to the heritors of Whitekirk by Sir Robert Lorimer, ARSA and Dr Ross, with reference to the fabric of Whitekirk Church, recently destroyed by incendiary women, a temporary roof is being placed over the walls of the tower pending restoration. [Building News 3 April 1914 Page 486]

WHITEKIRK.—The scheme for the restoration of Whitekirk Church. Haddingtonshire, which was burned down by incendiaries in February, has now so far advanced that it has been possible to appoint
an architect to prepare plans an obtain estimates. Sir Robert Lorimer, ARSA, FRIBA of Edinburgh. has been selected. The funds subscribed and otherwise available are £6,400, but this leaves about £1,600 still to be raised to allow of the complete restoration. [Building News 31 July 1914 Page 145]

Alternative Names

The following alternative names are associated with this building/design:
 NameCurrent name?Notes
Item 1 of 1St Mary's Parish Church, WhitekirkYes 

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:
 ClassificationOriginal classification?Notes
Item 1 of 1Church  

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:
 FromToEvent typeNotes
Item 1 of 51884  New nave ceiling and alterations
Item 2 of 51891  Date of drawings for organ chamber
Item 3 of 51894  Restoration
Item 4 of 519141917 Restoration of medieval church and new furnishings after fire (church set fire to by suffragettes)
Item 5 of 51918 Design exhibited 

People

Design and Construction

The following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column.
 NameRolePartnership GroupFromToNotes
Item 1 of 8(Sir) Robert Rowand Anderson A1884 New nave ceiling and alterations (drawings dated)
Item 2 of 8George Washington Browne A1884 New nave ceiling and alterations (drawings dated)
Item 3 of 8Hew Maitland Wardrop (later Hew Montgomerie Wardrop) A1884 New nave ceiling and alterations (drawings dated)
Item 4 of 8Wardrop, Anderson & Browne A1884 New nave ceiling and alterations (drawings dated)
Item 5 of 8(Sir) Robert Rowand Anderson B1891 Organ chamber
Item 6 of 8Wardrop & Anderson B1891 Organ chamber
Item 7 of 8(Sir) Robert Rowand Anderson  1894 Restoration
Item 8 of 8(Sir) Robert Stodart Lorimer  19141917Restoration of medieval church and new furnishings after fire

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3McWilliam, Colin1978Lothian (The Buildings of Scotland)  p468
Item 2 of 3RSA1918   659
Item 3 of 3Savage, Peter1980Lorimer and the Edinburgh Craft Designers Edinburgh: Paul Harris Publishing, 1980 (also paperback ed, London & Edinburgh: Steve Savage, 2005)p176

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Building News3 April 1914  p486. Report and temporary protection
Item 2 of 3Building News31 July 1914  p145 Lorimer appointed architect
Item 3 of 3Building News24 October 1917  p339 Church had re-opened the previous Thursday

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:
 SourceArchive nameSource catalogue no.Notes
Item 1 of 4Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register14615 
Item 2 of 4National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSDrawings Collection Acc No 1998/137
Item 3 of 4National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSLorimer and Matthew Collection LOR W/1
Item 4 of 4National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSNMRS Library D43076--84 photos of drawings