East Linton
Encyclopedia
East Linton is a town in East Lothian
, Scotland
, situated on the River Tyne and A199 road (former A1 road) five miles east of Haddington
, with a population
of 1,774 (Census
2001). (In 1881 it had a population of 1,928).
East Linton probably gets its name from the Linn (a waterfall) on the river next to the village, although Martine adds that it was called East Linton to distinguish it from West Linton in Peebleshire when the railways were built.
Today it has only one active church - Prestonkirk Parish Church
(rebuilt 1770), also the name of the parish, but formerly had a free church (St Andrew's), a Roman Catholic church, and a Methodist hall. The clock on St Andrew's former Church was put in by the village to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee
; it was named Jessie after a local lass when some village lads climbed into the steeple and christened it. The name has remained ever since. There has long been a school in the town, and the mid-Victorian schoolmaster in East Linton was a George Pringle Smith (d.1850).
There is a fountain
in the town square which has 4 cherub
s and lights on top.
Preston Mill
, an old watermill
, is on the outskirts. There has been a mill on the site since 1599, and it is still working. Attached to the watermill is a kiln
, with a cowl
of local design.
Following the closure of the branch railway line to Haddington
in 1949, the fine Victorian station on the East Coast main line at East Linton became the next closest for that burgh. Though main line trains still thunder through at high speed, East Linton station was closed in 1964 and is now used as a residence. Prior to the coming of the North British Railway, the mail coaches changed horses at the Douglas Inn, opposite the distillery in East Linton.
A surviving relic of East Linton's past importance as an agricultural centre is a timber octagonal auction mart for cattle, pigs and sheep in Station Road.
Civil engineer
John Rennie
(1761-1821) was born here, at Phantassie on Dunbar Road. He died at his home in London while working on the London Bridge project, a bridge he designed. The work was completed by his sons, George and Sir John Rennie.
The East Linton Community Website has more information at www.eastlinton.uk.com
East Lothian
East Lothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy Area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Midlothian. Its administrative centre is Haddington, although its largest town is Musselburgh....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, situated on the River Tyne and A199 road (former A1 road) five miles east of Haddington
Haddington, East Lothian
The Royal Burgh of Haddington is a town in East Lothian, Scotland. It is the main administrative, cultural and geographical centre for East Lothian, which was known officially as Haddingtonshire before 1921. It lies about east of Edinburgh. The name Haddington is Anglo-Saxon, dating from the 6th...
, with a population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 1,774 (Census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
2001). (In 1881 it had a population of 1,928).
East Linton probably gets its name from the Linn (a waterfall) on the river next to the village, although Martine adds that it was called East Linton to distinguish it from West Linton in Peebleshire when the railways were built.
Today it has only one active church - Prestonkirk Parish Church
Prestonkirk Parish Church
Prestonkirk Parish Church is a Church of Scotland parish church at East Linton, in the parish of Traprain, East Lothian, Scotland, UK, close to Preston Mill, Smeaton, Phantassie, and the River Tyne.-Building:...
(rebuilt 1770), also the name of the parish, but formerly had a free church (St Andrew's), a Roman Catholic church, and a Methodist hall. The clock on St Andrew's former Church was put in by the village to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee
Golden Jubilee
A Golden Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 50th anniversary.- In Thailand :King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-reigning monarch, celebrated his Golden Jubilee on 9 June 1996.- In the Commonwealth Realms :...
; it was named Jessie after a local lass when some village lads climbed into the steeple and christened it. The name has remained ever since. There has long been a school in the town, and the mid-Victorian schoolmaster in East Linton was a George Pringle Smith (d.1850).
There is a fountain
Fountain
A fountain is a piece of architecture which pours water into a basin or jets it into the air either to supply drinking water or for decorative or dramatic effect....
in the town square which has 4 cherub
Cherub
A cherub is a type of spiritual being mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and cited later on in the Christian biblical canons, usually associated with the presence of God...
s and lights on top.
Preston Mill
Preston Mill is a watermill on the River Tyne at the eastern edge of East Linton on the B1407 Preston Road, in East Lothian, Scotland, UK. It is situated close to Prestonkirk Parish Church, the Smeaton Hepburn Estate, Smeaton Lake, and Phantassie Doocot....
, an old watermill
Watermill
A watermill is a structure that uses a water wheel or turbine to drive a mechanical process such as flour, lumber or textile production, or metal shaping .- History :...
, is on the outskirts. There has been a mill on the site since 1599, and it is still working. Attached to the watermill is a kiln
Kiln
A kiln is a thermally insulated chamber, or oven, in which a controlled temperature regime is produced. Uses include the hardening, burning or drying of materials...
, with a cowl
Cowl (oast)
thumb|Cowls on a maltings at [[Ware, Hertfordshire|Ware]], Herts. A Cowl is a device used on a kiln to keep the weather out of, and induce a flow of air through, the kiln...
of local design.
Following the closure of the branch railway line to Haddington
Haddington, East Lothian
The Royal Burgh of Haddington is a town in East Lothian, Scotland. It is the main administrative, cultural and geographical centre for East Lothian, which was known officially as Haddingtonshire before 1921. It lies about east of Edinburgh. The name Haddington is Anglo-Saxon, dating from the 6th...
in 1949, the fine Victorian station on the East Coast main line at East Linton became the next closest for that burgh. Though main line trains still thunder through at high speed, East Linton station was closed in 1964 and is now used as a residence. Prior to the coming of the North British Railway, the mail coaches changed horses at the Douglas Inn, opposite the distillery in East Linton.
A surviving relic of East Linton's past importance as an agricultural centre is a timber octagonal auction mart for cattle, pigs and sheep in Station Road.
Civil engineer
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
John Rennie
John Rennie (father)
John Rennie was a Scottish civil engineer who designed many bridges, canals, and docks.-Early years:Rennie, a farmer's younger son, was born at Phantassie, near East Linton, East Lothian, Scotland, and showed a taste for mechanics at a very early age, and was allowed to spend much time in the...
(1761-1821) was born here, at Phantassie on Dunbar Road. He died at his home in London while working on the London Bridge project, a bridge he designed. The work was completed by his sons, George and Sir John Rennie.
The East Linton Community Website has more information at www.eastlinton.uk.com