Update: 1/9/12
Update: 12/2/12
Two links of interest regarding Seton House:
http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/54940/details/seton+house/
The weather at the end of August 2012 was mixed. One day sunny followed by a wet and windy day. This is ideal for walking with extra sounds and atmospheric sensations of various sorts. At one point, for a week we were subjected to smells from muck spreading, harvesting and corn lice and the noise of branches swaying in the breeze. I have revisited some old sites and with a camera on me have filled out this post with photos of Bolton (Burns connections, graveyard and interesting dovecot and former steading development).
East Linton is well worth walking around and the River Tyne can be heard over the Linn on the bridge. The railway bridge carrying the London Edinburgh line can be viewed from here as the line crosses the River Tyne.
Hailes was as charming as ever and I clambered down to the confluence of a burn and the River Tyne, a great soundscape with some bird song and the sound of the harvest being gathered in. The approach road seems to be better drained this year though is narrow. The grounds are beautifully kept by Historic Scotland and there are discreet information boards at odd locations which a sighted friend can read out.
Preston Mill was as bright and shiny as ever. The floods of early July 2012 had caused little damage to the mill itself though the silt and detritus from the River Tyne had to be removed. I spoke to the volunteers who said the flooding in the Haddington area had been unexpected and the shop at the mill had some stock losses. This is a fantastic location as my post from last year showed. I took some of the pictures myself of the kiln, water wheel and the environs.
Update: 12/2/12
Two links of interest regarding Seton House:
http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/54940/details/seton+house/
and more details on Yester House, for those with an interest in architecture:
East Lothian lies to the east of
Many landowners made a fortune from the minerals in their land and some of the younger sons made a fortune in the colonies and many of the estates have remained in the original family or at least the family name has endured. Some of the estates can be visited at set times, some of them on open days or as part of a function. Grounds are seldom restricted though if a house is marked strictly private some local advice ought to be sought.
3 August 2011 Seton Collegiate Church
Seton Collegiate Church
© Professor Whitestick
The church is under the guardianship of Historic Scotland and like Crichton Collegiate Church has influential Scottish family connections. The Setons are said to be a family of Flemish or
From the car park off the main road there is a walk through the woods to the collegiate church. There is a lot to do in the church which has gradually been restored and is more covered over from my first visits there in the 1960s. Some of the effigies and architectural features can be touched. The grounds of the church have been immaculately maintained and the custodian on duty is as helpful as they get. A small stock of local books is kept.
Further walks around the church can be made and the House can be viewed over the wall. The house is a Robert Adam design and is in private ownership. It had been in the hands of the Charteris family (Wemyss and March) owners of Gosforth House near Aberlady.
Seton House
© Professor Whitestick
27th August 2011 Gifford
Many of the villages and small towns are accessible by public transport from major centres in
Bolton Church, East Lothian, Scotland
The church graveyard has graves of Robert Burns's family
who farmed in the area
Walks can be made in the foothills of the Lammermuir Hills and stout boots and sticks are advised. Garvald is a popular starting point for hill walking. A more leisurely set of walks can be made from the
A lime tree avenue extends from the centre of the village to Yester House. There are orientation maps which someone can read to you, giving the history of the village which was a model village when the agricultural land was improved. Many of the houses retain original features.
Lime Avenue
When we visited it had stopped raining and the wind and sounds from the streams could be heard. Although Yester House is not open to the public one can walk as far as the approach to the house itself which is at right angles to the drive along the tree lined avenue. Some of the lime trees were planted 300 years ago and an inspection of the tree trunks illustrates the trunk and roots of these old trees. The wrought iron railings on the gate can be rattled with a cane or stick and as usual it helps if some Scottish heraldry is known as there are coats of arms all over the estate and in Yester Kirk. The Hay family were the historical landowners with a titled Marquis of Tweeddale being the superior.
Coat of Arms, Entrance Gate
Yester House
There are landmark/features to bear in mind such as the High Street, Main Street, the Mercat Cross, Bleachfield, Lime Tree Avenue (The Avenue), Yester House and Yester Kirk.
2 Sept 2011 Preston Mill, East Linton and River Tyne
East Linton is a small country town in
The rapids on the River Tyne are best experienced after a downpour, though check that the roads are open as local flooding can block the A1 from time to time. The main East Coast Railway Line passes by on the edge of the village and a fast train adds to the sound of the waterfall as there is a railway bridge upstream of the old road bridge. Electrified tracks carry 125 mph trains nearby.
River Tyne crossing at East Linton in East Lothian
The railway bridge carrying the East Coast Mainline is at the top of the picture
The River Tyne forms a Linn, which can be heard below the old bridge in the village
The town has many attractive buildings and there are shops, pubs and restaurants and hotel accommodation. If you have some peripheral vision it might be possible to make out the Bass Rock, Traprain Law and North Berwick Law as they are important landmarks. Dirleton Castle , Tantallon Castle and many Scottish Kirks such as those of Preston and Whitekirk are a short distance away.
Preston Mill, East Linton, East Lothian
showing the Dutch styled kiln
photograph taken by Prof Whitestick
26 August 2012
Preston Mill and waterwheel which makes a wonderful
soundscape as the water from the River Tyne flows into the wheel paddles
providing power for the mill
The site is prone to flooding and there are marks showing the flood levels in previous floods. I always think of Preston Mill whenever I hear a traffic report on flooding on the A1 in the Haddington area.
The adjacent kiln has a cowl and “hand of friendship.” The tiles are the orange-red pantiles which are typical of the East Coast of Scotland. These pantiles were brought to Scotland as ballast from the 17th Century as the Scots traded with the Low Countries, Germany
There is quite a lot to touch in the mill, kiln and exhibition area: kiln floor tiles, mill stones, some of the cogs made of apple and pear wood. The guide explained the importance of apple and pear wood as the wooden cogs as they are robust and self lubricate in use. The mill is shown with many of the working parts in operation so there is quite a lot of sound, sense of moving parts and vibrations. At times the guide has to shout above the various rattling, cranking and water noises. The belts move the millstones and elevators for milling of oats.
You may have to mind your head but you get a lot from the tour from the noise of the mill mechanism in action. There are many ladders to climb and clamber over so care has to be taken and you will be notified of any obstacle in the way as well as being encouraged to touch some of the non moving objects such as the tiles kiln lining and millstone.
I have been visiting this site for years from childhood and it never ceases to amaze. The setting is attractive and it is possible to walk around the mill stream and visit a dovecote (doocot in Scots) known as Phantassie Dovecote. At one time I can remember geese and ducks being on the site, but due to foxes they no longer have them. Still there are postcards of the mill showing the ducks and geese reminiscent of a Dutch or Flemish painting.
This tour had 8-10 people, all Scots. This kept some of the Scottish words and translation of idioms to a minimum. Tales were exchanged about oatmeal and types of porridge available in the past and the current popularity of porridge outside Scotland
In the visitor centre there is a wide selection of NTS gifts, books and souvenirs. Next door, there is a permanent exhibition of millstones to touch as well as a collection of oral history in the form of audio memories and recounts of former millers.
Old Railway Walk
Information Board
Ormiston, Old Railway Walk
We started this walk near the village of Ormiston
The information board in the photograph describes it as follows:
“This 12 kilometre (7 ½ miles) route follows the old line of the Gifford and Garvald Light Railway. The track has been replaced by an easily accessible, well-surfaced path with many links to other path networks.”
It has what it calls ‘memory stations’ along its route and describes these as “From mischievous childhood tales to a hard day’s slog with the maintenance squad, local people have a lot to say about this line in its heyday. As you come across each memory station, pause and imagine what it was like to live and work alongside this once busy railway.”
In addition, there are “mine markers” where you can read about the mines that formed an important part of the local economy. There are also three large oak sculptures along the route and which were designed by local artists.
The history of the branch line can be found in:
The Haddington, Macmerry and Gifford Branch Lines by Andrew M Hajducki , The Oakwood Press 1994
