Tranent

Tranent

Civic Square, Tranent Town Centre
Tranent
Tranent shown within East Lothian
Population 11,642 
Demonym Belter(s)
OS grid reference NT404728
• Edinburgh 9.1 mi (14.6 km)
Civil parish
  • Tranent
Council area
Lieutenancy area
Country Scotland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town TRANENT
Postcode district EH33
Dialling code 01875
Police Scottish
Fire Scottish
Ambulance Scottish
EU Parliament Scotland
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament

Tranent is a small town in East Lothian (formerly Haddingtonshire), in the south-east of Scotland. It is near the A1 road and about 9 miles east of Edinburgh. It is one of the oldest towns in East Lothian, and built on a gentle slope, about 300 feet above sea level. The population of the town is approximately 11,642, an increase of over 3,000 since 1991. Tranent was formally a major mining town, but now serves as a commuter town for Edinburgh. Tranent is located within the Edinburgh City Region.

Memorial to the Massacre of Tranent in Civic Square
The memorial commemorates people who resisted British militia conscription in 1797.


History

The name is thought to be of Brythonic origin, possibly containing the elements Tre and Nant, meaning town over the stream Travernant.

Tranent was once an important mining town, and coal was first worked there in the twelfth century. The history of coal mining in Scotland is mirrored in the history of the coal heughs, mines and pits of Tranent. Tranent is now a commuter town supporting East Lothian and more specifically; Edinburgh.

The Massacre of Tranent took place in 1797, when local people were killed by soldiers after protesting against conscription into the British Army. One of the twelve victims: Jackie Crookston, is depicted on the memorial that commemorates the dead in Civic Square.[1]

In connection with the annual commemoration of the Battle of Prestonpans, which originally was called the Battle of Gladsmuir, and then renamed the Battle of Tranent; before many decades later being renamed the Battle of Prestonpans. There are plans to recreate a small portion of the Tranent to Cockenzie Waggonway.[2]

There is a long history of settlement in Tranent, perhaps dating back to prehistory. There are a several historic buildings in and around the town, including the old parish church, parts of which are from the fifteenth century, while a few miles south-west of the town stands Fa'side Castle, sometimes known as Falside or Fawside, a fourteenth-century L-shaped tower house.

Industry

Coal was first mined in Tranent Parish, when Robert de Quincy granted rights in the early-thirteenth century, to the monks of Newbattle to mine at Prestoungrange, which was then part of that parish. Soon many wealthy families in the parish joined the rush to mine coal. Heughs (surface mines), were being cut throughout the area. Longniddry, St. Germains, Fa'side, Ormiston (much later town) and Elphinstone, all parts of old Tranent had their own collieries and for the next 750 years, the industry prospered. Other industries grew to employ increasing populations. Distilleries, Breweries, Tanneries and metal implement works. Quarries opened providing stone for homes. Farming was modernised and mills opened to provide food. The nineteenth century saw a slowdown in industrial growth and gradually, industry centralised and moved to larger centres. The coal industry had peaked and the twentieth century brought about a slow, but terminal decline. The last large, deep mine closed in 1961 then the opencast mine at Blindwells closed in 2000.

Literature

William Dunbar's poem the Lament for the Makaris includes the name Clerk of Tranent as a poet probably of the fifteenth century, citing him as an author of the Anteris of Gawain. Some examples of such works exist but his has not been traced.

Tranent's Gala

Since 1934 Tranent has held a Gala Week which is arranged by local volunteers who are part of the Gala Comittee. Events during the gala week include the crowning of the Queen who is accompanied by 29 other children from the town, the celebrations on the fields at Ross High School and the grand parade which is made up of local groups and people and which goes through the town. Tranent Gala is funded by donations and fundraising.

The Gala was first formed in 1934 by the miners of Tranent who aimed to form a special event for people in the town.

Local amenities

Supermarkets

The town has two supermarkets. On the East of the town's High Street, there is an Asda supermarket which opened in August 2015[3]. There is also an Aldi supermarket on the far east side of the town which opened in October 2015[4]. The store is the second largest Store that Aldi operates in Scotland and the largest in the county of East Lothian. The town also has a Farmfoods store.

Convenience Stores

There are many small convenience stores in Tranent. On the town's high street, convenience stores include Thomsons Convenience Store and an Edinburgh Evening News store. On the south side of the town, in the Windygoul area, there is a Co-operative food store and in the west of the town, there is a Day-Today store.

Sport & leisure

The town has many football pitches, astroturf and rugby pitches. The town is also home to 4 children's play-parks. There are also 3 bookmakers – Ladbrokes, Betfred and William Hill. The town's leisure centre "The Loch Centre" has a swimming pool, childrens soft play area, fitness gym and sports halls. There is a major youth club in the town also, "Recharge" supports teens and young adults from the area. A cinema and community centre is also located in the town centre, the "Fraser Centre" was formed in 2011 and "aims to provide a Learning, Development, Arts and Entertainment Centre at the heart of the Community of Tranent"

Food & Drink

Tranent is home to many take-away food establishments, Mr Crollas, Joes & Marmaris Grills all fish and chip shops, Atlaf Khan & The Hill Station both Indian takeaway's and The Tranent Villa, Canton Express & Gourmet Palace. Potters sandwich shop, Snak Shack and Baguette Express are both also located within the town.

Restaurants in the town include Giancarlos, an Italian restaurant, and a small cafe style restaurant called the Coffee Lounge. A Dessert shop called Sweet Haven is also located in Tranent, which sells ice cream, sweet desserts and "pick and mix" candies.

The town is also home to A.S Gardener & Son Butcher, Janets Green Grocers, The Bakers bakery and a Greggs branch.

The Brigg Inn, a local Pub also sells food at the Brigg Bar & Grill.

Banking & finance

The town has an RBS branch.

Location Travel Agency is the towns only travel agents and is located on the high street.

Alex Lafferty LTD is a lawyers firm also located in the town. The town is also home to three Estate Agents, Mckinnon and Forbes, Allan McDougall and GSB. All of these are located on the High Street

Local Businesses

Local businesses within the town include Bisset & Steedman which sells electronics, Fergusons Pet supplies, City Savers, Ace of Cards too , Bo Peeps wool shop and The East Lothian Camera Shop.

Bars

Bars in the town include the Tower Inn, the Keepers Arms, The Brigg Inn, The New Plough Inn and Whispers Bar.

Other amenities

Tranent is home to two pharmacies a Well Pharmacy and a Lloyds Pharmacy These pharmacies serve the local GP practice which is the responsibility of NHS Lothian The nearest Hospitals include The Roodlands General Hospital in Haddington which is a community hospital which offers general medical and geriatric rehabilitation services to patients in East Lothian. It also provides older people’s services, including continuing care for the elderly and the nearest Accident and Emergency Hospital is the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh

Transport

Roads

Tranent is connected by the A199 road westbound to Edinburgh, and eastbound to Macmerry which also connects to the A1 road and onto the Edinburgh City Bypass.

Public Transport

Transport For Edinburgh

Most bus services in the town are operated by Transport For Edinburgh, these operations include Lothian Buses and East Coast Buses which provide services:

26 Clerwood - Edinburgh Zoo - Haymarket - Princes Street - Portobello - Eastfield - Musselburgh - Prestonpans - Tranent

104 West End - Princes Street - Abbeyhill - Meadowbank - Duddingston South - The Jewel - Wallyford - Tranent - Macmerry - Haddington

113 Western General - Princes Street - Meadowbank - Eastfield - Musselburgh - Wallyford- Tranent - Ormiston - Pencaitland

106 Musselburgh - Wallyford - Tranent - Macmerry - Gladsmuir - Haddington - East Linton - West Barns - Belhaven - Dunbar

N44 Balerno - Currie - Slateford - Haymarket - Princes Street - Meadowbank - Willowbrae - Eastfield - Musselburgh - Wallyford - Tranent

N106 Frederick Street - Leith Street - Meadowbank - Willowbrae - Musselburgh - Tranent - Macmerry - Haddington - East Linton - Dunbar

Prentice of Haddington

The town is also served by Prentice, a bus & coach company based in Haddington, East Lothian

108 Fort Kinnaird - Newcraighall - Musselburgh - Levenhall - Wallyford Station - Tranent - Macmerry - Gladsmuir - Haddington

110 Elphinstone - Tranent - Meadowmill Sports Centre - Prestonspans - Port Seton

122 Haddington - Pencaitland - Ormiston - New Winton - Elphinstone - Tranent - Meadowmill Sports Centre - Prestonpans

Education & learning

Schools

The town is home to three primary schools and one secondary school. The primary schools are; (largest to smallest) Windygoul Primary School, Sanderson's Wynd Primary School and St Martins Primary School. The secondary school Ross High School, Tranent established in 1954 accommodates over 950 pupils from Tranent and villages around the area; these are Macmerry, Ormiston, Humbie, Elphinstone, Pencaitland, and Saltoun. The head teacher of Ross High School is Paul Reynolds.

Learning

In October 2012 a new council building was opened under the name of The George Johnston Centre which is named in honour of the miner who saved the lives of more than 50 men at Fleets Pit, Tranent, when the mine flooded in 1929. The men took five hours to find an alternative way out, but all were rescued and survived thanks to the early warning given by George Johnstone. The building accommodates a range of services including, a large library with a computer area and council offices allowing local residents to access housing and tenancy advice, report a housing repair, report minor crime to Police Scotland and make council tax and rent payments and general enquiries. The building is run by East Lothian Council.

Sport

Football

The local football team is Tranent Juniors who won the Scottish Junior Cup in 1934–35, being the runners up two seasons before. The Juniors play their football at Foresters Park in the centre of the town.

Rugby

The Ross High Rugby Football Club currently play in the RBS East Regional League Division 1 and play their home games at Blawearie Road, adjacent to the Ross High School.

Cricket

The local club is Tranent Cricket Club which was established in 2010. The club currently plays in the East of Scotland Cricket Association Divisions 3, 6 and 7. The club has three Saturday league sides, two midweek social sides and a junior section, Tranent Titans. Tranent CC are the current holders of the East Lothian twenty20 Cup and the East of Scotland Plate.

Media

Tranent is the home of Radio Saltire, Scotland's Online Community Radio Station. Its studios are on Civic Square.[5]

Notable residents

Places of interest

References

  1. ↑ "Overview of Joan (Jackie) Crookston". Scottish-places.info. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
  2. ↑ "Baron Courts : News - Restoration Goal for the Tranent to Cockenzie Waggonway across which the Battle raged!". Battleofprestonpans1745.org. 16 October 2007. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
  3. ↑ http://www.eastlothiancourier.com/news/tranent/13654195.Scott_does_the_honours_as_long_awaited_Asda_opens/
  4. ↑ http://www.eastlothiancourier.com/news/13899046.Golden_ticket_as_Aldi_opens_its_doors/#
  5. ↑ "Radio Saltire awarded charity status". East Lothian Courier. 11 Nov 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  6. ↑ Ken Wilson (1981). "Wreck of the Rohilla". p. 20.
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