Following the launch of trove.scot in February 2025 we are now planning the retiral of some of our webservices. Canmore will be switched off on 24th June 2025. Information about the closure can be found on the HES website: Retiral of HES web services | Historic Environment Scotland
Dunbar, Belhaven, Harbour
Harbour (12th Century)
Site Name Dunbar, Belhaven, Harbour
Classification Harbour (12th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Bele; Firth Of Forth; Outer Forth Estuary
Canmore ID 57612
Site Number NT67NE 14
NGR NT 66201 78810
NGR Description NT c. 66 78
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/57612
- Council East Lothian
- Parish Dunbar
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District East Lothian
- Former County East Lothian
NT37NE 14 c. 66 78.
'At the middle of the 12th century, the Earl of Dunbar had a port at Bele lying within less than a mile of Dunbar on the westward, and acquiring thus the appropriate name of Belhaven. This was then the port of Dunbar till the reign of Charles II, when a harbour was formed by building a pier at Dunbar; David II, indeed, by a charter in 1369, created Dunbar a free burgh in favour of the Earl of Dunbar,and made it a commercial port'.
G Chalmers 1888
These authorities describe the harbour at Belhaven as of mid 12th century origin.
J Miller 1859;
No additional information.
Visited by OS (JLD) 11 September 1962.
A harbour was founded in the middle of the 12th century at Belhaven. The Earl of Dunbar had a port at Bele lying within a mile of Dunbar. This port was used by the Isle of May Priory where it also held property
Site recorded by GUARD during the Coastal Assessment Survey for Historic Scotland, 'The Firth of Forth from Dunbar to the Coast of Fife' 1996.
