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Aberlady Bay

Landing Point (Post Medieval), Pier (Post Medieval)

Site Name Aberlady Bay

Classification Landing Point (Post Medieval), Pier (Post Medieval)

Alternative Name(s) Aberlady; Peffer Burn; Aberladie; Kilspindie

Canmore ID 282091

Site Number NT48SE 173

NGR NT 45848 80426

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/282091

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
Canmore Disclaimer. © Copyright and database right 2024.

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Administrative Areas

  • Council East Lothian
  • Parish Aberlady
  • Former Region Lothian
  • Former District East Lothian
  • Former County East Lothian

Archaeology Notes

NT48SE 173 c. 460 801

See also NT48SE 116.

(Location cited as NT c. 460 801). Aberlady Bay, East Lothian. Aberlady Bay, where the lowermost reach of the Peffer Burn forms a navigable channel through the tidal sands and mud, is mentioned as early as 1336, when boats were requisitioned there by the Governor of Edinburgh Castle. It belonged to the Royal Burgh of Haddington, the confirmation of whose charter (1633) mentions 'the port of Aberladie lyand in the bossome of pepher water and common gait leading to the said port'. The burgh had been in treaty, between 1614 and 1630, with the Convention of Royal Burghs for 'support of their harberie' of Aberlady, but no existence exists for actual harbour-works, and Adair (1703) clearly implies that vessels simply lay in the estuary. Blaeu's map, presumably reflecting the conditions of the early 17th century, marks a long row of houses at the water's edge, closely set and with their gable-ends turned landwards. On the other hand, a report of 1694 states that the place 'cannot be made navigable, or a safe harbour, without ane extraordinary expences'.

Traces of a wide piend piercing the rebuilt house of Kilspindie (NT 456 803: NT48SE 116) which was a ruin in 1807, might suggest that it was originally a commercial building of some sort, but there is no evidence to connect it with the harbour. Some surviving wide chamfers probably indicate a 17th-century date.

[Sources and authorities cited].

A Graham 1971.

Activities

Reference (1971)

(Location cited as NT c. 460 801). Aberlady Bay, East Lothian. Aberlady Bay, where the lowermost reach of the Peffer Burn forms a navigable channel through the tidal sands and mud, is mentioned as early as 1336, when boats were requisitioned there by the Governor of Edinburgh Castle. It belonged to the Royal Burgh of Haddington, the confirmation of whose charter (1633) mentions 'the port of Aberladie lyand in the bossome of pepher water and common gait leading to the said port'. The burgh had been in treaty, between 1614 and 1630, with the Convention of Royal Burghs for 'support of their harberie' of Aberlady, but no existence exists for actual harbour-works, and Adair (1703) clearly implies that vessels simply lay in the estuary. Blaeu's map, presumably reflecting the conditions of the early 17th century, marks a long row of houses at the water's edge, closely set and with their gable-ends turned landwards. On the other hand, a report of 1694 states that the place 'cannot be made navigable, or a safe harbour, without ane extraordinary expences'.

Traces of a wide piend piercing the rebuilt house of Kilspindie (NT 456 803: NT48SE 116) which was a ruin in 1807, might suggest that it was originally a commercial building of some sort, but there is no evidence to connect it with the harbour. Some surviving wide chamfers probably indicate a 17th-century date.

[Sources and authorities cited].

A Graham 1971.

Project (16 April 2008 - 24 April 2008)

NT 4635 8010, NT 45848 80426 and NT 44983 80283

A programme of geophysical survey and excavation was undertaken from 16 April 2008–24 April 2009 as part of the Aberlady Heritage Project, a community-led initiative.

A Blackwell, C Jones, I Malcolm and P Richardson 2009

Excavation (April 2008)

The upstanding remains of a timber and stone pier were excavated in Aberlady Bay. Seven trenches were hand excavated and revealed a series of upright posts, sleeper beams and a sandstone wall. The core of the pier was formed of rubble retained behind the sandstone wall. Three sherds of 15th- to 16th-century pottery were recovered from a deposit between a wall and rubble. A further trench was excavated to the SW of the structure, revealing a metalled surface and flanking walls, which may be the remains of an old track or

cart way. The pier is probably contemporary with the nearby 18th-century Customs House (NT48SE 116).

A Blackwell, C Jones, I Malcolm and P Richardson 2009

References

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