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Scotland4me.net
| 'Out and
About' |
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Brief Early History
- from 1000 AD Haddington was a sizable settlement and at one time it could
boast being the fourth largest city in Scotland, after Aberdeen, Dundee
and Edinburgh. Shortly afterwards in 1100, David I of Scotland (1124-1153)
made it a Royal Burgh and the county town of Haddingtonshire. After 1139
Haddington could boast a Franciscan church. While the friary and a royal
castle were established about 1200 AD. Fate during the 13th and 14th century
dogged the town. Suffering many times from the woes of the English armies
Haddington being destroyed three times in the 13th century (was burned in
1216 and again in 1244) and destroyed again in 1356 (including the Lamp
of Lothian Church the former St Mary’s Church) when Edward III took
his revenge. Each time Haddington was rebuilt. As if that was not enough
in 1358 the waters in the River rose to the extent that most of Haddington
was flooded and parts of the settlement washed away! |
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St Mary's Church
in Haddington (Completed in the 15th century and part of the original granite
abbey church is now used as the parish church) is, with St Giles Edinburgh
and St Michael's Linlithgow, one of the three great medieval churches of
the Lothians. It is open to visitors for the Easter weekend (no tearoom
or shop) and then from 1st May to the end of September. There are facilities
for the disabled. The church is not always open and therefore it is best
to find out when it is closed.
Items of particular interest include the fact that it is longest/largest
parish church in Scotland (St Mary's is 62.8m long, or 0.7m longer than
St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh). This replaced the earlier church of Grey
Friars also known as the Lamp of Lothian. There is also the Lauderdale Aisle
- an Episcopal Chapel within a Church of Scotland Building with strong Catholic
and Orthodox influences. This was the inspiration for the annual international
ecumenical pilgrimage on the second Saturday in May. |
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Haddington Town
House and Court House. The Town House, 1748, originally designed by architect
William Adam (Father of Robert Adam whom is also a notable architect) but
little of Williams work remains. James Giilespie Graham replaced The Haddington
Town House steeple in 1831. To help wake you in the morning the bell in
the steeple rings at 7am and for those that need an early night it rings
again 10pm. This curfew-bell tradition has been kept alive since 1532. Next
to the town house is the Haddington Court House designed by architect William
Burn. This was added to Adam’s Town House in 1788 in the form of court
and assembly rooms.
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Haddington Golf
Club. Inaugurated in 1865, when the founder members were given permission
by Lord Elcho to play over Amisfield Park (its present home) during the
winter months. However the summer meetings would be held on various links
courses in East Lothian. Now things have moved on.
The Club is now a long established parkland course set in 130 acres within
Lord Elcho’s former country estate. The course is set in peaceful
walled surroundings with the River Tyne on its North Boundary. It contains
many natural features as well as much indigenous wildlife and offers a challenge
to golfers of all categories. Haddington Golf Club also boasts an extensive
practice area.
www.haddingtongolf.com |
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Haddington Post
Office. In Court Street (the North end) you can find Haddington's post
office. Its history goes back to 1603 when it was one of the very first
post offices in Scotland, providing mail services between the capitals
of Edinburgh and London. www.haddingtonuk.com
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Great Protestant
reformer John Knox (1514c –1572) born perhaps at Nungate on the
east bank of the River Tyne. It is by coincidence opposite St Mary's and
he was educated in the town. Preacher, scholar and book collector John
Gray (1646-1717) born and died in Haddington. Put together an important
library of early printed books. In 1961 these were sold to the National
Library of Scotland.
Song writer Adam Skirving (1719-1803) author of the famous Jacobite song
Hey, Johnnie Cope, Are Ye Waking Yet? was born in Haddington. Later he
farmed at Garleton, and was buried at Athelstaneford. Theologian/author
John Brown of Haddington (1722–1787) . He wrote The Self interpreting
Bible also known as Brown's Bible and A Dictionary of the Holy Bible.
Minister in Haddington in 1751 and was buried at St Mary's. Social reformer
Samuel Smiles (1812-1904) wrote Self Help in 1859 and lived in the High
Street. Former student and then principal of the Edinburgh College of
Art William George Gillies (1898 -1973) a painter born in Haddington High
Street. Several of his works are in the Talbot Rice Gallery in the University
of Edinburgh.
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