Westerkirk Parish Church & Johnstone Mausoleum

Westerkirk Parish Church sits above the Esk at Bentpath. It was designed in 1880 by James Burnet, but in a style current 50 years earlier, with pinnacled tower, lancet windows and buttresses. Inside are unique modern stained glass windows that depict native wildlife.

A short walk up the lane is the Greek Doric revival Johnstone Mausoleum, designed in 1792 by Robert Adam for James Johnstone. This atmospheric little building is a domed Greek cross, ornamented with Robert Adam’s ox skulls (bukrania) which recall ancient temples and blood sacrifice. There is also a frieze of human skulls, restored in recent years by Solway Heritage.