Aberlady, The Poplars

Medieval or later features including a substantial re-cut boundary ditch were excavated in advance of a retirement housing development within the grounds of the Poplars, High Street, Aberlady. The house was the home in the 19th century to the Salvesen shipping family and in the 20th century, a refuge for Edinburgh slum families. Four phases of activity were identified, suggesting use of the site as the rear of a burgage plot since its inception. The small assemblage of artefacts has a widespread date range which reflects the development of the trading town and may be typical of rubbish disposal in its backlands.