Kirkandrews-on-Esk Tower and Church

[cessna152towser]

I regularly pass the road end for Kirkandrews-on-Esk on my drive to the airport. Less than a mile in to the English side of the border, a 16th century tower house and a church are distantly visible from the main road so today I called in for a closer look. The tower house is said to have been built between 1530 and 1550 by a Thomas Graham. It is at the end of a long private driveway and although it may no longer need to serve in defence against Border Reivers, it appears to be still fulfilling its other purpose as a family residence.

St. Andrews Church was built in 1776. Services are still held here on Sundays.

The clock is unusual, in the style of a sundial.

The church is mainly constructed in the local red sandstone, including the steps shown here.

The church and its burial ground are in a lovely setting beside the River Esk.

Most of the tombstones date from the 19th century.

The relatively soft red sandtone has suffered the ravages of time, with many of the inscriptions faded, but there are also recent gravestones in harder wearing marble or granite round the back of the church.

The Waverley railway line passed through here until it closed in 1969. Despite its small population, Kirkandrews-on-Esk boasted a railway station, which, like the tower, is now also a private house.