East Linton

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East Linton is a town in East Lothian, Scotland, situated on the River Tyne and A1 road five miles east of Haddington, with a population of 1,774 (Census 2001). (In 1881 it had a population of 1,928).

East Linton probably gets its name form the Linn (a waterfall) on the river next to the village, although Martine adds that it was called East Linton to distinguish it from West Linton in Peebleshire.

Today it has only one active church - Prestonkirk (rebuilt 1770), also the name of the parish, but formally had a free church (St Andrew's), a Roman Catholic church, and a Methodist hall. The clock on St Andrew's former Church was put in by the village to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. There has long been a school in the town, and the mid-Victorian schoolmaster in East Linton was a George Pringle Smith (d.1850).

There is a fountain in the town square, which has 4 cherubs and lights on top.

Preston Mill, an old watermill, is on the outskirts. There has been a mill on the site since 1599, and it is still working.

Following the closure of the railway line to Haddington, the fine Victorian station at East Linton was the next closest for that burgh. That station (only) has now also been closed and is now used as a residence. Prior to the coming of the North British Railway, the mail coaches changed horses at the Douglas Inn, opposited the distillery in East Linton.

Civil engineer John Rennie (1761-1821) was born here.

• Refer: Fouteen Parishes of the County of Haddington, by John Martine, Edinburgh, 1890.

[edit] External links

• Census data (PDF)

East Lothian Towns & Villages
Aberlady | Athelstaneford | Auldhame & Scoughall | Bolton | Cockenzie and Port Seton | Dirleton | Drem | Dunbar | East Linton | East Saltoun and West Saltoun | Gifford | Gullane | Haddington | Humbie | Kingston | Longniddry | Macmerry | Musselburgh | North Berwick | Oldhamstocks | Ormiston | Pencaitland | Prestonpans | Tranent | Whitekirk | Wallyford

Coordinates: 55°59′N, 2°39′W