Haddington-Cranstons – Haddington & Surrounds

The Knox Institute built in the 1880s as an educational building, it was erected with a life-sized stone sculpture of John Knox the firebrand founder of Scottish Presbyterianism who was born in Haddington in the 16th century. The building was recently converted into a aged care facility.	Poldrate Mill, one of the oldest in Scotland. Recently renovated and now used as an artist’s studio
The graveyard of St. Mary’s Kirk (Church), built in the 1300s and rebuilt several times following battles between the English and the Scots between 1300-1700. For a so-called Parish church it is larger than St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, the head church of the Church of Scotland.	Another image of the beautiful grounds surrounding St. Mary’s Church
Floor mural in the entrance to the Town House (Hall), indicating the town of Haddington was granted a Royal Charter by King David I of Scotland in the 12th Century to become a market town. The traditional symbol of the town is a goat reaching up to eat grapes from a vine. No one seems to know why or how this symbolism came about as there is no record of goats or vines ever in Haddington’s history.	Side view of St. Mary’s Church
The Green near St. Mary’s Church, where once before Reformation, Roman Catholic priests used this area to grow vegetables and herbs.	A typical Georgian home for what would have been a middle-class professional, such as lawyer, accountant or doctor. The family would have lived in the upper floors and the servants would have occupied rooms at the rear. The front rooms on the lower floor were for entertaining and greeting guests.
Many houses in Scotland are located behind high stone walls. This is not a defensive barrier as many suspect (although it does provide excellent security). It is a weather barrier to allow lawns, gardens and vegetable patches to thrive secure against cold winds, sleet and the occasional snow drift.	John Knox and his promotion of a uniquely Scottish Presbyterian church prevented the Church of England from taking over protestant Scotland. Nevertheless, the Church of England (known in Scotland as The Scottish Episcopal Church) does have a minor presence. This is the Scottish Episcopalian Church in Haddington, called the Holy Trinity Church.
Every month Haddington holds a ‘Farmer’s Market’ in the centre of town, where the best local produce can be purchased along with a lot of cheeky banter from the stall holders.	The last independent bookseller in the whole of East Lothian county. Simon Kesley a refined Englishman fell in love with a local lass and decided to relocate to Haddington in order to marry her. He then opened a bookshop in the town which promoted local authors and subject matter. That was decades ago and we wish him all the very best for the future.
The Waterside bistro and restaurant picturesquely situated alongside the beautiful Tyne River is one of the the favourite meeting places and eateries in Haddington. On a warm summer’s night having a few ales on benches overlooking the river you’d be forgiven if you thought you were beside the Arno in Florence or the Amstel in Amsterdam.	St. Martin’s Kirk in Haddington. A ruin of course, but still one of the oldest buildings still standing in Scotland. Believed to have been built for the Cistercian order of nuns about 1170. It is said that on cold, windy nights when the rain and sleet is howling, the ghost of one of the nuns can be seen walking on top of the walls. Mind you, the people who claim they have seen her are in the main on their way home from a night at the local pub!
Waterfowl are abundant along the banks of the Tyne river. They are protected and the locals love seeing (and feeding) the new ducklings and signets that appear each spring.	If only other towns would adopt the practice of marking out walking trails in heritage signage. It makes you really want to try one of the walks out.
A statue of the great reformer John Knox himself, said to be born in the town in the first decade of 1500s. Started out as a Catholic priest but rejected Catholicism in favour of a more austere and hard-working form of Christianity.	The Tyne river – beautiful and tranquil for years at a time, but then occasionally it can turn into a destructive, rampaging rush of water that inundates low-lying parts of the town.
Looking from the town over the Tyne to the Waterside bistro. Think summer and think of Italy and you’ve captured what it is like to be here with your partner on a warm summer’s night after a few drinks and a lovely meal.	A memorial in the main street that has been turned into a drinking fountain. . . and climbing castle for young kids.
Need I say more? Just come and enjoy and take home memories of a town that will last a lifetime. Oh and don’t forget to feed the swans.	Farmer’s Market in the main street of Haddington – you can almost smell the fresh produce!
The Saltire is the national flag of Scotland and boy are they proud of it. In Scotland this flag is flown more frequently than the ‘Union Jack’ of the UK. It is said that just up the road from Haddington in 832 AD, the Scots King saw intersecting white stripes across the blue sky as he prepared his troops to fight the invading Angles. At the time this was known as the cross of St Andrew. He went on to defeat the Angles and adopt Christianity as the national religion of Scotland with St. Andrew becoming the nation’s patron saint. The flag (Saltire) was also adopted and is said to be one of the oldest national flags in the world.	The favourite ‘watering hole’ of the Cranston men in the early 1900s. It is still a delightful place to eat and drink today.
This ruined chapel, virtually next to where the Cranston family last lived in Haddington, is over 800 years old. Lovely during the day, spooky at night!	Another view of the Golf Tavern
We have now left Haddington and East Lothian. This is Floors Castle, near Roxburgh in the Scottish Borders. It is the ancestral home of the Duke of Roxburgh, one of Scotlands wealthiest and influential nobles.	Inner courtyard of the magnificent Floors Castle (not actually built for defence, but as a brilliant showpiece).
Still in the Border district of Scotland is a wee parish church at East Linton, where generations of the Cranston family have been buried.	Some of the headstones on the graves are by modern standards a little ghoulish, but what a fabulous location to hold a Halloween party!
The gardens and walkways at Floors Castle are truly fantastic. You could spend all day wandering around the exterior of the castle and never walk over the same ground twice.	On the final night of the Cranston 3-day weekend, descendants were personally invited by the Duke of Hamilton into his private residence – Lennoxlove – on the outskirts of Haddington. What a fabulous evening of music, story-telling and emotion.
The little church at East Linton, near Hownam in the Scottish Borders, viewed from the fields that surround it.	the cutest wee lambie
Impossibly green and lush fields . . . .producing very fat and happy sheep!	Grand stairway rising from the entrance at Lennoxlove. John McDowall making his way to the Duke’s concert.
Actors and musicians assembling for an unforgettable concert in the 11th century main dining room of the castle. What a venue! The vaulted ceilings were perfect for the acoustics.	Death mask of Mary Queen of Scots, who visited Lennoxlove several times during her life and was a good friend of the family in the 16th century.
Can’t remember what this document was about, but it looks important!	Some of the many portraits of former Dukes of Hamilton on the wall of the great hall.
The Cranston memorial march through the streets of Haddngton (or at least the rear end of it), led by standard bearers from the British Legion, the Haddington pipe band, boy scouts, girl guides and of course many, many descendnats of the Cranston family itself,	The locals call this a parish church, but it is actually larger than St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh (the Head church of the Church of Scotland). The Cranston family were welcomed into this church (St. Mary’s) for a special commemorative service.
Many libraries and public places in Scotland have ‘community notices’, you know ones about lost cats and missing tricycles. This wall of notices was interesting because it showed many people in the town had lost something or were looking to find something. One wag even offered his services impregnating bitches! It wasn’t until almost at the end of his notice you realised he was in fact talking about his award-winning Scottish terrier!	The East Lothian Council had gone to a lot of trouble putting on an exhibition of artefacts and memorabilia from local inhabitants about their forefathers in WWI. Descendants of the Crantson family loaned many items that were proudly displayed in their own display cabinet.
These are Scottish seabirds, photographed to show how close Haddington is to the sea (about 10 kms away) and to point out that even they turned out in numbers to watch the Cranston parade. The beautifully poignant War memorial in the grounds of St. Mary’s Kirk immediately after the wreaths had been laid and the crowds were about to move into the church for a special ecumenical service for the Cranston family.