Description

Various early gravestones. Part of wall of now ruined church used as vault (see Notes). Tall rubble boundary wall.

Statement of Interest

This listing is in a group B listing with the other extant buildings, and the principal gate, on the Langton estate. The church was already ruinous and part of it had been made into a vault by 1857. According to Binnie, the church's roof fell in, in 1727 and in 1736 extensive repairs were carried out ( virtually rebuilding the structure). In 1758, the Langton estate was bought by David Gavin and he proceeded to build Gavinton, where the inhabitants of Langton village were moved. The old village was demolished except for the church. "It is likely that the 3m high wall around the graveyard dates from about this time and was built to exclude churchgoers' prying eyes from Langton House." Once the new church was built in Gavinton, the old church was probably demolished although the churchyard was used until at least 1868. There is a headstone dated 1620 and is said to be the oldest headstone in Scotland. The family of the burial vault is unknown. To its centre there is an arched pedimented gravestone with skull and crossbone carved. The inscription beneath this is now too weathered to be read. There was various openings. The internal roof is smooth vaulted. Binnie thinks that the vault was probably built for the Cockburn family in the 18th century.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata IDs Q17840929 Q17840945

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Gloucestershire 1: The Cotswolds: Cotswolds Pt. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
• 
  The Victorian House Manual (2nd Edition): How They Were Built, Improvements & Refurbishment, Solutions to All Common Defects - Includes Relevant ... ... Properties (Haynes Manual) (Haynes Manuals)
• 
  County Durham (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England) by Elizabeth Williamson Nikolaus Pevsner(1983-03-11)