Delve into the past with a look through the columns of the East Lothian News and Musselburgh News
From our edition of January 1, 2010100 years agoAPART from those members of the community who have for some time been advocating that the ground at Esk Grove should be utilised for the purpose of building workmen's h
ouses, the people of Musselburgh will very much appreciate the gift of a public park by the family of the late Bailie Brown to their native town. With the exception of the strip of ground at Eskside known as the Haugh (a poor apology for a public park) the inhabitants of Musselburgh have had no public recreation ground and on this account the handing over of Esk Grove estate for this purpose will prove a great boon to the community. The estate of Esk Grove, extending originally to about 30 acres, was purchased by the town a few years ago for the purpose of securing a site for the Infectious Diseases Hospital. Some two-and-a-half acres have been devoted to that purpose, and the mansion house, along with ten acres, was sold to General Cockburn, leaving about 17 acres in the hands of the Town Council. We understand no noisy sport, such as whippet racing, is to be allowed.
50 years agoA MUSSELBURGH family of four escaped from the first floor window of their home at 63 Pinkiehill Crescent when fire broke out and trapped them in the house early on Sunday. A woman and her three children who live on the ground floor escped just before the ceiling of the livingroom collapsed. The alarm was raised by 16-year-old Edward Doran, who was awakened by smoke. He roused his mother and father, Mr and Mrs Edward Doran. Young Edward then returned to his own room and carried his eight-year-old brother Stephen to safety. The family stepped through a window on to a canopy and jumped from the canopy to the front garden. On the ground floor, Mrs Isabella Clark and her three children, Barbara (10), Simon (9) and Elizabeth (7) managed to escaped just before the ceiling collapsed. Mrs Clark's husband, a trawlerman, was at sea when the fire broke out. Over the weekend the two families stayed with relatives. Everything possible will be done to find them accommodation.
25 years agoA 3000-ft high landmark on the East Lothian coastline is all set to disappear with a bang next month — giving a £2000 New Year boost to spinal injury research in Scotland. For almost 20 years the twin chimneys at the Blue Circle cement works at Dunbar have been a dominant feature on the coastline. But on January 6, one of the 1500-ton chimneys, reinforced with 20 miles of wire, will come crashing down as part of a £300 million modernisation of the works. The job of blowing up the chimney with five kilos of explosives is being 'sold' by Dunbar and District Round Table with the proceeds to the spinal injury unit at Edenhall Hospital, Musselburgh.
MONKTONHALL delegate David Hamilton spoke this week of his immense relief on being released from prison on a charge which he claims was a "stitch up." Remanded in custody for 64 days, Mr Hamilton (34), chairman of the central strike committee, was cleared of assaulting a working miner.
10 years agoAT 99 years and 364 days old, East Lothian woman Cissy Cunningham will have more reason than most to count down the final hours, minutes and seconds to the year 2000. Born at 1.45pm on January 1, 1900, Cissy is believed to be the only person born in Scotland who will celebrate a 100th birthday on the first day of the new millennium. With four children, 10 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, 31 great great grandchildren and four great great great grandchildren — the youngest only four months old — Cissy will not be short of well-wishers when the party gets under way at Drummohr Nursing Home in Wallyford.
MEMBERS of Musselburgh Rotary Club and their families paid their annual visit to Eskgreen residential home for the elderly on Christmas morning to sing carols and hand out gifts. Past president George Montgomery, who has been the driving force behind the event since 1956, donned his Santa suit for the occasion to add to the festive atmosphere. The visits were started by Mr Montgomery at Wedderburn House until it closed.
Interested in local history? Find out more by contacting East Lothian Local History Centre and Scran, both of which hold fascinating records of life in East LothianFrom our edition of January 8, 2010100 years agoIT must be very gratifying to most people to learn that during the Christmas and New Year weeks there was not a single person arrested in Musselburgh for drunkenness. There were a few who were celebrating the occasion not wisely but too well, rolling about early on New Year's day morning, but there were no persons disposed to be troublesome or obstreperous, and the police allowed "first footers" a bit of latitude. Some people may attribute this apparent sobriety to a lack of money, but we learn that this can hardly be the case, seeing work has been more plentiful during the past few weeks. The year 1910 was ushered in very quietly indeed, but no sooner had the steam whistles and clocks indicated the incoming of the New Year than the crowd on the streets became more lively.
A local Lunacy Committee report shows a decrease in the number of lunatics from Musselburgh accommodated in the asylum. The number of patients from Inveresk parish is 21.
50 years agoA PARTY was held in the canteen at J & W Stuart Ltd, Esk Mills, Musselburgh, on December 29 for Miss Jean Tait, 1 Castle Drive, Wallyford, who was retiring after 45 years' service in the doubling and twisting department. In making the presentation of a 400-day clock, Mr R C Begbie, foreman, paid tribute to Miss Tait's excellence as a worker, and to the high esteem with which she was regarded by all who worked with her.
THE Burgh Surveyor, Mr W Dryburgh, stated in his report, approved by Musselburgh Town Council, that the following work was carried out by his department in the past month: Burgh Yard — roof of the Band Hall repaired and gutters cleaned out. Racecourse — old iron railing between the paddock and the course dismantled and a fence formed by attaching chain link fencing to the concrete posts and running rail. Demolition — demolition of Nos. 8, 10 and 12 South Street is nearing completion.
25 years agoA WHITECRAIG man took the plunge for charity and had all his hair shaved off as a Christmas present to sick children. The Kojak style was given to Alex Cairns (49), 45 Whitecraig Crescent, who thought it was about time some of the men in the village contributed to the annual charity collection. Alex charged £1 a snip and 20p a kiss from the ladies and proved he was not baldy to start with by raising £252 for the village charity fund. A miner at Monktonhall and known to his friends as "Big Murphy" Alex said: "Each year the ladies of the village make a collection for charity and I thought it was about time the men did something too."
MORE opted for a civil marriage at Musselburgh registrar in 1984 than in the previous year, despite the fact that fewer couples tied the knot. During the year a total of 169 couples married in the town and of that number 95 opted for a civil rather than a church wedding. Musselburgh registrar Mrs Sadie Wilkie also reports that births were up with 208 children born (190 in 1983).
10 years agoMILLENNIUM celebrations in East Lothian went with an even bigger bang than expected as thousands of revellers flocked to New Year events in towns and villages. The Honest Toun's Association ensured that Musselburgh's celebration was one to remember with 600 local residents packing the Brunton Hall for the Hogmania party. In Haddington, a 350-strong crowd attended a Millennium Ball at the Corn Exchange organised by the community council. On the stroke of midnight, community councillor Moira Ross triggered off a series of exploding balloons as Haddington Pipe Band played in the new millennium. It was thought the torchlight procession and fireworks display in North Berwick would attract about 250 people, but 1000 spectators turned up for the event organised by the community council and East Lothian Yacht Club. At Dunbar archer Colin Campbell was the star of the show when he fired a lighted arrow across the harbour and successfully ignited the beacon at the top of the castle. Well over 2,000 people turned out for Cockenzie and Port Seton celebrations.
Interested in local history? Find out more by contacting East Lothian Local History Centre and Scran, both of which hold fascinating records of life in East LothianFrom our edition of January 15, 2010100 years agoUNDER the Provisional Order, the Town Council of Musselburgh obtained powers to make a revision of the scale of charges for golf at the Links. Last month the Links Committee submitted a report on the question to the council meeting, recommending that a charge of 2d per round, including club members, of eighteen holes be made on all resident golfers, the same as at the Edinburgh public courses, also that the charge for weekly tickets be increased from 2s to 3s, and monthly tickets to 7s 6d.
WE regret to have to chronicle the death of Councillor George Aitken, Musselburgh, which took place on the 10th of December while on a voyage to New Zealand. His remains were buried at sea near St Helena, about a week's sailing from Cape Town. The ship's doctor certified death to be due to heart failure. As a farmer he was well known in the district, being at his death tenant of Whitecraig, Inveresk.
50 years agoA MOVE to introduce a modern caravan park costing several thousand pounds at Musselburgh is likely to be abandoned because no suitable ground is available in the burgh. Merchants in Musselburgh had hoped that with a site available they could attract holidaymakers away from Port Seton, Prestonpans, Portobello and other towns along the southern shore of the Firth of Forth. But Mr David Taylor, Musselburgh Town Clerk, revealed that a letter will be sent to the Musselburgh Merchants' Association telling them that the council have been forced to refuse permission for the establishment of a caravan park on the town links. "The difficulty so far as having the caravan site on the links is concerned is that this ground is not the council's private property," explained Mr Taylor. "It belongs to the people of the town and is there for their benefit. The council have no right to enclose it or build on it, which would have to be done if a caravan site such as the one proposed by the merchants was approved." Mr Taylor said there were no alternative sites.
25 years agoA LARGE scale housing development of 69 flats was approved by district planners this week and it will effectively fill the last undeveloped gap site in Fisherrow. The go-ahead was given to Malcolm Bremner Construction to develop the site at Gracefield, Musselburgh. Councillors heard that the 'backlands' site had been accumulated by the developers through the district valuer. In addition, the gap site on New Street which lies between the Mission and Church buildings has now been included. The layout proposes 69 flats in three-storey blocks, most of them set back from the access road.
A SPECIAL anniversary card from the Queen arrived at the home of Mr and Mrs Blackwood, of 76 Whitecraig Road, Musselburgh, on Hogmanay. That is when the couple celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in style with a diamond wedding party in the Eskdale Rooms. They have a family of seven and have 19 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.
10 years agoEast Lothian was mourning the death of one of its most famous residents this week, just over a month after he celebrated his 90th birthday. The author Nigel Tranter, an ardent Scot, died peacefully at his home in Goose Green Mews, Gullane, at the weekend after contracting flu. The Earl of Wemyss and March, of Gosford Estate, who is suffering from flu himself, was said to be devastated at the news as the two men became great friends and were involved in a common quest to help establish a heritage centre for Scotland's national flag, the Saltire, at Athelstaneford, which was reputed to be its birthplace.
NEWSAGENTS Christine and Jim Dodds have just retired after running a business in Prestonpans for the past 29 years. Customers who visited their shop at 143 High Street on December 31 — their last day in business — were treated to a drink and refreshments. The couple, who live in Carlaverock Crescent, Tranent, are now looking forward to having more time together and seeing more of their son Andrews, who lives in the Middle East.
Interested in local history? Find out more by contacting East Lothian Local History Centre and Scran, both of which hold fascinating records of life in East LothianFrom our edition of January 22, 2010100 years agoDURING the past week there has been much evidence of a growing enthusiasm among electors with the contest in the Leith Burghs. After so much speechifying, the average elector should know all there is worth knowing about Tariff Reform, the House of Lords' question, the Budget and other political points dealt with. On Wednesday night and yesterday Musselburgh was invaded by a band of advocates for votes for women. The suffragettes made an endeavour to address a meeting at the Cross but the crowd would not give them a hearing. Yesterday they came back and addressed meetings in various quarters of the town, including the Hayweights. Last night the Labour party had a torchlight procession through the principal streets of the town, arriving at the Hayweights in time for Mr Walker's meeting. A crowd of close on 3,000 people assembled in the vicinity of the weighhouse and the Labour candidate had a mixed reception. Opposition was shown by several young Radicals, who secured a banner with "Vote for Munro Ferguson" on it.
50 years agoA KIRKCALDY contractor has had a lease for the past two years which gave him the exclusive right to gather sea coal on Musselburgh's foreshore. For this privilege the firm paid £360 per annum. Now the contractor finds that there is not so much money to be made out of the coal, and has offered to pay £300 per annum for a renewal of the lease. By a majority, the General Purposes Committee recommended that this offer should be accepted. Councillor T White pointed out that there had been a complete change in the coal situation. There was now a surplus of coal.
AT different times it has been suggested that the French Ambassador's House in the High Street, Musselburgh, should be reconstructed to form a house, public house or a museum. After considering the various possibilities at a meeting of the General Purposes Committee, it was decided to recommend that this historic building should be adapted as a museum.
25 years agoA COUNCIL official has raised £100 for Ethiopian famine relief — by poking fun at his colleagues and bosses. And a primary school head teacher also plans to raise money for Ethiopia by running an overnight indoor football tournament at North Berwick sports centre. Mr David Russell, press and information officer with East Lothian District Council, has donated the money to War on Want. He produced "Not the East Lothian District Council Annual Report 1984" and succeeded in selling 150 copies to council staff in Haddington and Musselburgh. Pencaitland Primary head teacher Mr Jim Marshall is planning a 12-hour overnight indoor football marathon at North Berwick from 10pm on Friday February 1. Jim stars for Melchester Rovers in his spare time and his team is one of eight who will take part.
FOURTEEN out of 61 milk and dairy samples taken by East Lothian District Council proved unsatisfactory after they were submitted to the public analyst.
10 years agoEAST Lothian MP John Home Robertson spent the first week of the new millennium with volunteers working for the Scottish Charities Kosova Appeal around the town of Mitrovica in northern Kosovo. Before returning to his duties as a Deputy Minister in the Scottish Executive, Mr Home Robertson explained that tens of thousands of ethnic Albanians, who had been driven from their homes by Serbian 'ethnic cleansing,' were able to return, thanks to the NATO operation last summer and the ongoing protection of international KFOR forces.
THE inconsiderate car parking of residents in the Pine Street and Plane Street areas of Dunbar could lead to the withdrawal of bus service 120, it has been claimed. The bus operator's manager Mr Gary Scougal, of Eve Cars and Coaches, recently contacted East Lothian Council's transportation department to highlight the problem that his drivers are facing because of car parking at the junction from Pine Street into Plane Street. At certain times drivers have had to knock on doors and ask residents to move their cars.
Interested in local history? Find out more by contacting East Lothian Local History Centre and Scran, both of which hold fascinating records of life in East LothianFrom our edition of January 22, 2010100 years agoAS was anticipated, the busiest hours at the polling booth at Musselburgh on Friday last were between five and eight o'clock in the evening, and close on a thousand must have recorded their votes in that time. The poll in Musselburgh was well up. Out of a total electorate of 2234, the number of persons who recorded their votes was1823. Shortly after eight o'clock the boxes were conveyed by car to Leith where the counting of votes took place. Result: Ferguson (Lib) 7146, Cranston (Con) 4540, Walker (Lab) 2724. On Saturday afternoon, at the steps of the Town Hall, Musselburgh, Mr Ferguson addressed a large gathering of electors, and received a most hearty reception.
ON Monday evening, a meeting of the ratepayers of Musselburgh was held in the Town Hall for the purpose of discussing the question of the proposed Free Library and Institute for the Burgh. Provost Simpson presided and, notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, there was a gathering of about 200 ratepayers present.
50 years agoALTHOUGH in a recent report the Medical Officer of Health, Dr John Riddell, states that only 28 of the 104 houses in Rothesay Place, Musselburgh, are unfit for human habitation, the majority of the Housing Committee members were in favour of Treasurer Peter Hamilton's recommendation that Rothesay Place should be declared a clearance area, on the basis that ALL houses in Rothesay Place were below the required up-to-date standard of sanitation. Councillor S Strachan remarked that he failed to understand the attitude of the Medical Officer of Health, as he appeared to be worried about the prevalence of TB in Musselburgh, yet refused to do anything concerning the slums in Rothesay Place.
MR J Berry, who lives in the top flat of a a three-storey tenement off Inveresk Road, Musselburgh, saved Brunton's Wire Mill from serious and extensive fire damage at the end of last week. He raised the alarm when he looked out his window and saw smoke issuing from two roof ventilators.
25 years agoTHIS week's Scottish Office announcement that the final stage of the Musselburgh Bypass will start early in February has been welcomed. Secretary of State for Scotland Mr George Younger has awarded a contract worth £8.75 million to Balfour Beatty Ltd of Edinburgh, for the construction of Stage II of the Musselburgh-Tranent Bypass. It will start at the interchange with the present A1 near Dolphingstone Farm, Tranent, and terminate at its connection with the regional council's section near Old Craighall. Work is due for completion by the autumn of 1986.
A GOLDFINCH cock has brought a unique record for Musselburgh bird breeder Alex Baxter. It was judged best British bird at the prestigious Scottish National Cage Bird Show and won Mr Baxter the trophy he first held 30 years ago, the Coronation Cup. The goldfinch cock is also extra-special as it was one of few who escaped a raid by thieves on Mr Baxter's bird hut last spring. Mr Baxter, 9 Eskview Crescent, first won the Coronation Cup in 1955 and then four times, 1958-1961.
10 years agoMACMERRY Primary School is preparing for a Royal visit next month. The Princess Royal, who is patron of Save the Children, will be presenting an award to the school in recognition of the funds pupils and staff have raised for the charity. News that the Princess Royal will be visiting the school on Friday February 18 to present the Princess Anne Award in person has delighted pupils and staff.
IT was smiles all round at the World Travel Market in London when staff from Glenkinchie Distillery, Pencaitland, learned they had been awarded five stars by the Scottish Tourist Board. Five stars is the top award meaning "exceptional" or "world class" and has only been awarded to 14 attractions in Scotland.
THE congregation of Athelstaneford Parish Church has launched an appeal to raise £110,000 to restore the historic kirk. The work, which is expected to take between two and three years, will be carried out in three phases and will included external repairs.
Interested in local history? Find out more by contacting East Lothian Local History Centre and Scran, both of which hold fascinating records of life in East Lothian
