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Encyclopaedia of the North East

K - Kale, kail to kirk

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A large printed lower case letter K with pewter vessels and long wooden tools.

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Kail gully. An iron tool with a thick wooden handle, about three feet long. The handle is round with a square end with a metal ring on it. The head of the tool consists of a twisted rod of iron with a wide S shaped projection on the end.

Kail gully from Aberdeenshire used for harvesting the edible leaves of the kail plants (19th cent.)

ABDUA:18831

kale, kail n a cabbage with open curled leaves. 
kailyard n a cabbage-patch. 
kailyard school n a group of sentimental Scottish writers 
Kail was for a long time one of extremely few green vegetables that were cultivated in the North East prior to the agricultural revolution in the 18th century. The long cold winters and the short growing season combined with the almost indestructibility of the plant made it a nutritious addition to the otherwise relatively poor diet of the North East. 

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kirk
1 A church la14- 
2 The Catholic church before the Reformation 16-e17. afterwards applied to the presbyterian church la17-. 

Whereas, amongst the infinite blessings of the Almighty God upon this nation, none is or can be more dear unto us than the purity of our religion... and that the present Church-government by archbishops, bishops... and other ecclesiastical officers depending upon the hierarchy, is evil and justly offensive and burdensome to the kingdom.
Ordinance of the Westminster Assembly 12 June 1643

Communion vessels. A pewter jug inscribed 1/2 GALLn (half gallon) and a pewter beaker inscribed Assi Con Clola 1812.

Tavern measure used for communion wine and a communion beaker from Clola Kirk (early 19th cent.)

ABDUA:18098, 18099

Christening bowl. A pewter bowl in a bracket allowing it to be held on a wall.

Christening bowl from Greyfriar's Kirk (18th cent.)

ABDUA:15037

Communion tokens. Twelve small metal tokens in rectangular, circular, square, oval and hexagonal shapes bearing the names of parishes and dates from 1722 to 1865, with motifs such as churches and burning bushes, and mottos such as "this do in remembrance of me", "let a man examine himself", and "lovest thou me".

Communion tokens from the North East (18th-20th cent.)

Beaker. Pewter beaker with thick foot and the inscription For the Church of Peterhead 1729 near the rim.

Communion beaker from Peterhead (1799).

ABDUA:17622

Communion plate. A deep pewter plate.

Communion plate from Strichen (late 18th cent.)

ABDUA:18096

Communion plate. A wide pewter plate.

Communion plate (late 18th cent.)

ABDUA:17621 

Communion cup. A turned wooden goblet with decorative rings around the middle, stem and foot.

Communion cup from Greyfriars's Kirk, Aberdeen (17th cent.)

ABDUA:17650

Offering ladles. Two open wooden boxes on the ends of handles over a metre long.

Offering ladles (19th cent.)

top: from Ellon Kirk

ABDUA:17878

bottom: from Corgarff Kirk

ABDUA:17879

K - Kale, kail to kirk