40 REPORT OF MEETINGS FOR 1906 



their grateful acknowledgment of the favour that had been 

 granted to them. 



Considerable time had been lost during the visit to this 

 prehistoric site, so that on arrival at the Parish 

 Crichton Church of Crichton little space was available 



Church. for a very minute inspection. In the unavoid- 



able absence of the Minister, the office of 

 narrator was filled by Rev. J. C. Carrick, B.D., Newbattle, 

 whose guide-book, entitled "Around Dalkeith," had greatly 

 facilitated the work of organization. In the course of his 

 remarks inside the church, he explained that it was originally 

 a collegiate building dedicated to St. Mary and St. Mungo, 

 and that it consisted only of a beautiful chancel, transepts 

 and saddle-back tower, as the nave was never completed. 

 Founded on 9th December 1449 by the great Lord Chancellor, 

 Sir William Crichton, it served originally as a private Chapel. 

 Its architecture is extremely plain Gothic, with little or no 

 ornamentation save a garland of stone flower-work on the 

 outside chancel walls, and a few carved heads above the 

 windows. In course of time it developed into a wealthy 

 and important ecclesiastical institution ; but its clergy proving 

 lax and voluptuous, it shared at the Reformation the fate 

 of many like religious houses. Of late years and in great 

 measure through the generosity of the present owner of 

 Prestonhall, it has been restored from a condition of partial 

 dilapidation into a stately house of prayer, of which oak 

 furnishings and a handsome organ form conspicuous features. 



A well of pure water, situated below the Church, affording 

 an opportunity for taking lunch, the members lingered a 

 short while before proceeding along the Eastern side of the 

 steep valley of the Tyne, on which stand the ruins of Crichton 

 Castle, now open to the inspection of visitors 

 Crichton on the payment of a small fee. This splendid 



Castle. Lowland fortress is also associated with Sir 



William Crichton, a man of ancient family, 

 the barony of Crichton dating from the reign of Malcolm III. 

 (1054-93), and possessed of immense influence and power as 

 Lord Chancellor and guardian of the boy-king, James II., 

 in whose life-time he acquired possession of it. Originally 

 it consisted of a fortified keep, which in time developed 



