Tranent
Encyclopedia
Tranent is a town in East Lothian
, Scotland
. It is close to the A1 road and approximately 11 miles (17.7 km) east of Edinburgh
. It is one of the oldest towns in East Lothian, and built on a gentle slope, about 300 feet above sea level.
Population of the town is 9,917.
Once an important mining town, coal was first worked in Tranent in the 12th century. The history of coal mining in Scotland is mirrored in the history of the coal heughs, mines and pits of Tranent. Tranent is now a 'commuter' town supporting East Lothian, Edinburgh
and the East of Scotland.
It was here that the Tranent Militia Riot, known as the Massacre of Tranent
, took place in 1797, when a number of local people were killed by soldiers after protesting against conscription into the British Army. One of the 12 victims Jackie Crookston is depicted on the memorial that commemorates the dead in Civic Square http://www.scottish-places.info/people/famousfirst365.html.
In connection with the annual commemoration of the Battle of Prestonpans
, there are plans to recreate a small portion of the Tranent to Cockenzie Waggonway
http://www.battleofprestonpans1745.org/prestoungrange/html/news/show_news.asp?newsid=1964
's poem the Lament for the Makaris
includes the name Clerk of Tranent as a poet probably of the fifteenth century, citing him as author of the Anteris
of Gawain
. Some examples of such works exist but his has not been traced.
Tranent Colts, the towns football team for children, was reformed in 1998 and currently runs 14 junior sides involving in excess of 160 children.
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...
. It is close to the A1 road and approximately 11 miles (17.7 km) east of Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. It is one of the oldest towns in East Lothian, and built on a gentle slope, about 300 feet above sea level.
Population of the town is 9,917.
History
The name is thought to be of Brythonic origin, possibly containing the elements Tre and Nant, meaning Town of the Stream.Once an important mining town, coal was first worked in Tranent in the 12th century. The history of coal mining in Scotland is mirrored in the history of the coal heughs, mines and pits of Tranent. Tranent is now a 'commuter' town supporting East Lothian, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
and the East of Scotland.
It was here that the Tranent Militia Riot, known as the Massacre of Tranent
Massacre of Tranent
The Massacre of Tranent took place 1797 in the town of Tranent, East Lothian, Scotland.On 28 August, a proclamation was drawn up by local people to object to the enforced recruitment of Scots into the military, to be used either for controlling their own people or for deployment overseas...
, took place in 1797, when a number of local people were killed by soldiers after protesting against conscription into the British Army. One of the 12 victims Jackie Crookston is depicted on the memorial that commemorates the dead in Civic Square http://www.scottish-places.info/people/famousfirst365.html.
In connection with the annual commemoration of the Battle of Prestonpans
Battle of Prestonpans
The Battle of Prestonpans was the first significant conflict in the Jacobite Rising of 1745. The battle took place at 4 am on 21 September 1745. The Jacobite army loyal to James Francis Edward Stuart and led by his son Charles Edward Stuart defeated the government army loyal to the Hanoverian...
, there are plans to recreate a small portion of the Tranent to Cockenzie Waggonway
Tranent to Cockenzie Waggonway
The Tranent to Cockenzie Waggonway was the first railway in Scotland, opened in 1722. It was 2½ miles long and connected two towns in East Lothian, transporting coal from the pit heads at Tranent to Cockenzie harbour via Meadowmill. Horse drawn wagons were used which held 2 tons of coal...
http://www.battleofprestonpans1745.org/prestoungrange/html/news/show_news.asp?newsid=1964
Literature
William DunbarWilliam Dunbar
William Dunbar was a Scottish poet. He was probably a native of East Lothian, as assumed from a satirical reference in the Flyting of Dunbar and Kennedie , where, too, it is hinted that he was a member of the noble house of Dunbar....
's poem the Lament for the Makaris
Lament for the Makaris
I that in Heill wes and Gladnes, also known as The Lament for the Makaris, is a poem in the form of a danse macabre by the Scottish poet William Dunbar...
includes the name Clerk of Tranent as a poet probably of the fifteenth century, citing him as author of the Anteris
Adventure
An adventure is defined as an exciting or unusual experience; it may also be a bold, usually risky undertaking, with an uncertain outcome. The term is often used to refer to activities with some potential for physical danger, such as skydiving, mountain climbing and or participating in extreme sports...
of Gawain
Gawain
Gawain is King Arthur's nephew and a Knight of the Round Table who appears very early in the Arthurian legend's development. He is one of a select number of Round Table members to be referred to as the greatest knight, most notably in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight...
. Some examples of such works exist but his has not been traced.
Notable people
- Gordon KennedyGordon Kennedy (actor)Gordon Kennedy is a Scottish actor. Kennedy grew up in Tranent, East Lothian, and attended George Watson's College in Edinburgh...
- the actor appeared in the comedy sketch show AbsolutelyAbsolutely (TV series)Absolutely is a popular United Kingdom television comedy sketch show shown on Channel 4 between 1989 and 1993.The cast and crew were mainly Scottish; the principal writers and performers were Moray Hunter, Jack Docherty, Peter Baikie, Gordon Kennedy , Morwenna Banks and John Sparkes...
and inserted photographs of Tranent in its sketch based on the bizarre, fictional town of Stoneybridge.
- Neil MartinNeil MartinNeil Martin is a Scottish former football player, who scored 100 league goals in both Scotland and England and won three full international caps for Scotland in the 1960s and 1970s. Known for his strength, power, bravery and commitment, Martin scored consistently in a journeyman career...
- the centre forward enjoyed a distinguished career as a professional footballer and gained three full international caps for ScotlandScotlandScotland 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...
.
- Ian Black - (the son of former player Ian Black) Black was a trainee of Premier League club Blackburn Rovers, and joined Inverness Caledonian Thistle in 2004. He made 132 appearances for Caley, and scored 8 goals. His last game for Inverness was against Falkirk in a 1–0 loss for Caley, which relegated them. In the summer of 2009 Hearts confirmed that he had signed an agreement on 28 December and would join up with the club for the 2009–10 season.[2] On 2 July 2009, Black finally signed for Hearts after signing a pre-contract agreement in December 2008.[3] He scored his first goal for Hearts against Falkirk in a 3–2 win.
Football
The local senior football team is Tranent Juniors Football Club who won the Scottish Junior Cup in season 1934/35, being the runners up 2 seasons before. The Juniors play their football at Foresters Park in the centre of the town.Tranent Colts, the towns football team for children, was reformed in 1998 and currently runs 14 junior sides involving in excess of 160 children.