East Saltoun and West Saltoun
Encyclopedia
East Saltoun and West Saltoun are separate villages in East Lothian
, Scotland
, about 5 miles (8 kilometres) south-west of Haddington
and 20 miles (32 kilometres) east of Edinburgh
.
, and are separated from each other by about one mile. To the south the villages are largely bordered by woodland: Petersmuir Wood, Dryden, and Saltoun Big Wood.
gifted lands in Saltoun to Hugh de Moreville
. In 1643 the lands and barony were sold to Andrew Fletcher (grandfather of Andrew Fletcher, the Patriot), and it was the Fletcher family who attempted to make Saltoun a centre of manufacturing in the early 18th century. Most industry was sited in West Saltoun (formerly Milton), on the Birns Water. The first barley mill in Scotland was established there in 1712, and the British Linen Company
had bleachfield
s in West Saltoun in 1746.
In the early 19th century the Fletcher family invested further in the parish by helping to pay for a new church, manse and school in East Saltoun, and commissioning additions to Saltoun Hall
(near West Saltoun).
By the mid 19th century most of the parish's industries were failing, and the land was given over to agriculture.
East Saltoun (once known as Kirkton) is the larger of the two villages.
A church dedicated to Saint Michael
was first consecrated in 1244, and several church buildings have been used since then. Gilbert Burnet
, theologian and Bishop of Salisbury
, started his ministry in Saltoun in 1665. The present building dates back to 1805, and is built in the shape of a cross with a Gothic-style tower and steeple.
Local facilities include a garage, shop, village hall, blacksmith, and school. The school serves East Saltoun and West Saltoun, as well as the wider parish, and as of 2008 the roll was 49.
in the east, and Pencaitland
in the north-west. A former branch railway line which linked East and West Saltoun to Gifford, Haddington and ultimately Edinburgh was closed to passengers in 1933 and is now a cycle path.
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...
, about 5 miles (8 kilometres) south-west 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...
and 20 miles (32 kilometres) 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...
.
Geography
The villages of East Saltoun and West Saltoun, together with a large number of farms and hamlets, form the rural and mainly agriculture parish of Saltoun. The two villages lie in the foothills of the LammermuirsLammermuir Hills
The Lammermuir Hills, usually simply called the Lammermuirs , in southern Scotland, form a natural boundary between Lothian and the Scottish Borders....
, and are separated from each other by about one mile. To the south the villages are largely bordered by woodland: Petersmuir Wood, Dryden, and Saltoun Big Wood.
History
In the 12th century David IDavid I of Scotland
David I or Dabíd mac Maíl Choluim was a 12th-century ruler who was Prince of the Cumbrians and later King of the Scots...
gifted lands in Saltoun to Hugh de Moreville
Hugh de Morville, Lord of Cunningham and Lauderdale
Hugh de Morville was a Norman knight who made his fortune in the service of David fitz Malcolm, Prince of the Cumbrians and King of Scots .His parentage is said by some to be unclear, but G. W. S...
. In 1643 the lands and barony were sold to Andrew Fletcher (grandfather of Andrew Fletcher, the Patriot), and it was the Fletcher family who attempted to make Saltoun a centre of manufacturing in the early 18th century. Most industry was sited in West Saltoun (formerly Milton), on the Birns Water. The first barley mill in Scotland was established there in 1712, and the British Linen Company
British Linen Bank
The British Linen Bank was a commercial bank based in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was acquired by the Bank of Scotland in 1969 and served as the Bank's merchant bank arm from 1977 until 1999.-Foundation:...
had bleachfield
Bleachfield
A bleachfield or croft was an open area of land used for spreading cloth and fabrics on the ground to be bleached by the action of the sun and water...
s in West Saltoun in 1746.
In the early 19th century the Fletcher family invested further in the parish by helping to pay for a new church, manse and school in East Saltoun, and commissioning additions to Saltoun Hall
Saltoun Hall
Saltoun Hall is an historic house standing in extensive lands off the B6355, Pencaitland to East Saltoun road, about 1.5 miles from each village, in East Lothian, Scotland...
(near West Saltoun).
By the mid 19th century most of the parish's industries were failing, and the land was given over to agriculture.
East Saltoun
A church dedicated to Saint Michael
Michael (archangel)
Michael , Micha'el or Mîkhā'ēl; , Mikhaḗl; or Míchaël; , Mīkhā'īl) is an archangel in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic teachings. Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Lutherans refer to him as Saint Michael the Archangel and also simply as Saint Michael...
was first consecrated in 1244, and several church buildings have been used since then. Gilbert Burnet
Gilbert Burnet
Gilbert Burnet was a Scottish theologian and historian, and Bishop of Salisbury. He was fluent in Dutch, French, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. Burnet was respected as a cleric, a preacher, and an academic, as well as a writer and historian...
, theologian and Bishop of Salisbury
Bishop of Salisbury
The Bishop of Salisbury is the ordinary of the Church of England's Diocese of Salisbury in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers much of the counties of Wiltshire and Dorset...
, started his ministry in Saltoun in 1665. The present building dates back to 1805, and is built in the shape of a cross with a Gothic-style tower and steeple.
Local facilities include a garage, shop, village hall, blacksmith, and school. The school serves East Saltoun and West Saltoun, as well as the wider parish, and as of 2008 the roll was 49.
West Saltoun
At one time West Saltoun was larger, and had its own school, post office, and shop. Today, West Saltoun is smaller and is made up of just a few houses, with Saltoun Big Wood and the Birns Water nearby.Infrastructure
The B6355 runs through East Saltoun, connecting it to GiffordGifford, East Lothian
Gifford is a village in the parish of Yester in East Lothian, Scotland. It lies approximately 4 miles south of Haddington and 25 miles east of Edinburgh.-History:...
in the east, and Pencaitland
Pencaitland
Pencaitland is a village in East Lothian, Scotland, about south-east of Edinburgh, south-west of Haddington, and east of Ormiston.The land where the village lies is said to have been granted by William the Lion to Calum Cormack in 1169, who gave the church, with the tithes and other property...
in the north-west. A former branch railway line which linked East and West Saltoun to Gifford, Haddington and ultimately Edinburgh was closed to passengers in 1933 and is now a cycle path.
Notable people
- Gilbert BurnetGilbert BurnetGilbert Burnet was a Scottish theologian and historian, and Bishop of Salisbury. He was fluent in Dutch, French, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. Burnet was respected as a cleric, a preacher, and an academic, as well as a writer and historian...
, theologian and Bishop of SalisburyBishop of SalisburyThe Bishop of Salisbury is the ordinary of the Church of England's Diocese of Salisbury in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers much of the counties of Wiltshire and Dorset...
was minister here from 1665-1669. - Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun, the Scottish patriot was born here in 1653.
- Hugh de MorevilleHugh de Morville, Lord of Cunningham and LauderdaleHugh de Morville was a Norman knight who made his fortune in the service of David fitz Malcolm, Prince of the Cumbrians and King of Scots .His parentage is said by some to be unclear, but G. W. S...
, Lord High Constable of ScotlandLord High Constable of ScotlandThe Lord High Constable is a hereditary, now ceremonial, office of Scotland. In the order of precedence of Scotland, the office traditionally ranks above all titles except those of the Royal Family. The Lord High Constable was, after the King of Scots, the supreme officer of the Scottish army. He...
and friend of David I, owned land in Saltoun.
See also
- Saltoun Parish ChurchSaltoun Parish ChurchSaltoun Parish Church is a church in East Saltoun, East Lothian, Scotland. It is part of the Church of Scotland, and serves the parish of Bolton and Saltoun, which includes the villages of Bolton, East Saltoun and West Saltoun....
- List of places in East Lothian