Stenton

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Stenton is a parish and village in East Lothian, Scotland. It is bounded on the north by parts of the parishes of Prestonkirk and Dunbar, on the east by Spott, and on the west by Whittingehame. A portion of it formerly insulated from the main part stretches into the Lammermuir Hills to a distance of about 8 miles from the village, and is bounded on the south by the Whiteadder Water, and Berwickshire.

The name is said to be of Saxon derivation. In earlier times, when names were often written phonetically, it was often mis-spelt Stanton, Stanetoun, or even Steinton. Springs and streams abound in many parts of the parish. A rivulet which rises in the high ground of Stoneypath farm, runs through the Ruchlaw estate (ancient seat of the Sydserf family) and joins the Whittinghame Water a mile or so further on. Pressmennan Loch, at the east end of a deep natural valley, with Duchrie Dod Hill and Pressmennan Hill on the south and east is about one mile south of the village of Stenton. It was artificially formed about the year 1819 my William Hamilton Nisbet of Biel, and is two miles in length and of good breadth. It is the only loch of any consequence in East Lothian. The overflow water from the loch forms a pretty stream which runs past Broxburn, &c., and falls it the sea at Broxmouth, just south of Dunbar.

Stenton village contains a number of good houses and a few shops, school, and church. Stenton had been a superiority of the Lauder of The Bass (Bass Rock) family from the 12th century until the middle of the 17th century. Bain records long lists of Scots who have been forfeited of properties by the English King Edward III between 1335 - 1337: Robert de Lawedre 'fils' has forfeited half the domain lands of Stenton (where he is described as his father's son and heir), the other half being retained by his mother, Elizabeth.

The superiority of the lands of Biel were held until 1489 by the Dunbar family, Earls of March. In that year they were sold to Sir Robert Lauder of Edrington, and in 1644 to John Hamilton of Bromehill. In 1647 he was raised to the title of Lord Belhaven and Stenton.