Belhaven
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- See also Belhaven, North Carolina
Belhaven was originally the ancient port of Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland, of which town the village has always been a part.
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[edit] Belhaven beer
Belhaven is famous for its beer. Belhaven brewery claims to have begun brewing in 1719; at that time it had more than 24 small and large competitors in Dunbar, Belhaven and West Barns. Only Dunbar, Belhaven (then called Dudgeon's) and West Barns Breweries survived until the middle of the 19th century and only Belhaven lasted through the 20th, in part due to its small scale of production and its much larger malting capacity. Domestically, in 2006 Belhaven distributed only four brands of beer: Best, Best Extra Cold, St.Andrew's Ale, and 80 Shilling. In the past there were many others: regulars like stouts, porters, brown ales, 20/- to 110/- ales (rising at 10/- increments) and even lagers as well as periodic specials celebrating anniversaries and royal events. Even further back harvest ales and 2d ales were the brewery's standby. Now Best Extra Cold is claimed to be the United Kingdom's first non-stout extra cold dark beer. St.Andrew's Ale and Scottish Ale are exported, primarily to the United States. As well as its own brands, Belhaven also bottles and distributes beers from other breweries, including Tennents and Stella Artois. By 2005 Belhaven had become the largest and oldest surviving independent brewery in Scotland. In August 2005, the Suffolk based brewery Greene King announced a £187 million takeover bid for Belhaven. This offer was accepted and completed by November 2005. Greene King has stated that Belhaven will retain its brands and brewery following the takeover.
[edit] Lairds
The non-burghal part of the lands of Belhaven & nearby West Barns belonged to a cadet branch of the famous Lauder of The Bass family, (see Bass Rock), who were often designated Lauder of Belhaven. Sir Robert Lauder of Beilmouth, Knt., (d. 24 June 1709), a Writer (solicitor), Justice of the Peace, and Clerk to the Exchequer, was the first to change his designation from 'of Belhaven & West Barns' to 'of Beilmouth', and had descendants with Jacobite sympathies, his third wife being an Ogilvie. Miller relates that Archibald the eldest son of the last laird, had been captured at Carlisle by the government army and that "a search was made for the laird [also a Robert Lauder]] who, by means of a concealment in his house at Belhaven, evaded discovery till the heat of pursuit was over. He was buried at the foot of the pulpit-stair in Dunbar old church [in 1768]."
The estate of Winterfield north and east of Belhaven was, in 1830, the seat of Captain R. Anderson, Royal Navy.
[edit] Industry
In 1806 a spinning mill was erected at Belhaven but closed after a relatively short time of operations. In 1815 a factory for cotton goods was established in the former artillery barracks opposite Winterfield Park, which had been purchased from the government. It gave employment to 250 looms and 550 people, many of whom were Irish immigrants. This industry also closed following the collapse of the East Lothian Bank (1823).
[edit] Reference
- Miller, James, The History of Dunbar, Dunbar, 1830, pps: 261-2.
