North Berwick

North Berwick (/ˈbɛrɪk/; Scottish Gaelic: Bearaig a Tuath)[1] is a seaside town and former royal burgh in East Lothian, Scotland. It is situated on the south shore of the Firth of Forth, approximately 20 miles (32 km) east-northeast of Edinburgh. North Berwick became a fashionable holiday resort in the nineteenth century because of its two sandy bays, the East (or Milsey) Bay and the West Bay, and continues to attract holidaymakers. Golf courses at the ends of each bay are open to visitors.

For other uses, see North Berwick (disambiguation).

North Berwick
  • Scottish Gaelic: Bearaig-a-Tuath
  • Scots: Northbarrick, Northberwyke

West Bay from the harbour
North Berwick
North Berwick
Location within Scotland
Population6,605 
OS grid referenceNT553852
• Edinburgh20 mi (32 km)
• London332 mi (534 km)
Council area
Lieutenancy area
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townNorth Berwick
Postcode districtEH39
Dialling code01620
PoliceScotland
FireScottish
AmbulanceScottish
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament

History
North Berwick East Bay

The name Berwick means "barley farmstead" (bere in Old English means "barley" and wic means "farmstead"). Alternatively, like other place names in Scotland ending in 'wick', this word means 'bay' (Old Norse: vík). The word North was applied to distinguish this Berwick from Berwick-upon-Tweed, which throughout the Middle Ages the Scots called South Berwick. It was recorded as Northberwyk in 1250. On the south side of North Berwick Law there is evidence of at least 18 hut circles, rich middens and a field system dating from 2,000 years ago.

A view east towards the town centre
The same view in winter

Excavations have shown that from as early as the eighth century, a ferry crossing to Earlsferry, near Elie in Fife was in existence, serving pilgrims on their way to the shrine of Saint Andrew.[2] North Berwick Harbour was built in the twelfth century to meet the demands made of the existing ferry trade. This ferry was recently reinstated; during the summer, a boat travels between North Berwick and Anstruther in Fife, in homage to the original ferry.

Around 1150, Duncan, Earl of Fife of the Clan MacDuff[3] founded an influential Cistercian nunnery (whose power continued until the Scottish Reformation, and its dissolution in 1588). Duncan's family shortly afterwards, at the start of the thirteenth century built North Berwick Castle[4] erecting a wooden motte and bailey on the site of what is now Castle Hill in the east end of the town, at the start of Tantallon Terrace. This castle was attacked and held by the Earl of Pembroke around 1306; the English abandoned it by 1314, during the aftermath of the Battle of Bannockburn. Late in the fourteenth century the Lauder family (owners of the Bass Rock castle) erected a stone tower with a barmkin on the site; however they had abandoned it by 1420 in favour of the Bass, possibly as a result of conflict with the owners of nearby Tantallon Castle.

In the fourteenth century the town became a baronial burgh under William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas, who then built nearby Tantallon Castle to consolidate his power.

Later, during the fifteenth century, the town became a royal burgh in the reign of James I of Scotland.

The "Auld Kirk Green" at the harbour was used for gatherings by the accused in the North Berwick Witch Trials (1590–92). Legend has it that "Satan himself" attended a ritual there in 1590, although it is more likely that Satan was "played" by Francis Stewart Hepburn, 5th Earl of Bothwell. During the sixteenth century at least 70 people were implicated in the Witch Trials, and the events inspired works such as Burns' "Tam o' Shanter" and "The Thirteenth Member" by Mollie Hunter. One of the most famous witch trials at North Berwick was that of Agnes Sampson. She was accused of making a potion to create rough storms in the North Sea as King James VI of Scotland was sailing home from Denmark with his new wife, Anne of Denmark. The trial took place in 1591, attended by King James. Agnes Sampson was tortured to confess, and then burnt at the stake, like many other innocent people.

Harbour at low tide

Whaling in the eighteenth century. Local lore, place names, and the jawbone arch first erected atop the Law in 1709,[5] suggest that the port was involved in the whaling industry, though there is little written evidence to prove it. If so, it would have been a minor participant in the industry, overshadowed by nearby Leith.[6] Certainly, whales have washed ashore at North Berwick over the years, even in recent times.[7]

Despite the railway arriving in 1850, the Industrial Revolution bypassed the town. The late-nineteenth century saw North Berwick develop golfing and holiday facilities. The town soon became popular as a home for Edinburgh commuters and retirees.

The size and population of the town remained fairly steady until the 1970s, at which point housebuilding began in earnest around the periphery of the town, first to the south (1950s–70s), then in a series of major expansions to the west (1980s-present) along the line of the railway. There is talk of further developments focussing on "affordable housing", on the south side of the town. While the population has grown significantly but not truly "exploded", house prices have rocketed since the 1950s. North Berwick consistently appears at the top of national house price surveys, and like-for-like prices are comparable to Edinburgh. North Berwick was listed as the most expensive seaside town in Scotland in 2006, and was second to St. Andrews in 2009.[8][9]

Islands
Harbour and Craigleith

Several of the Islands of the Forth are near the town and visible from it: e.g. Fidra, Lamb, Craigleith, and Bass Rock; the last-named hosts a thriving colony of seabirds, including puffins and gannets. The Bass Rock appears white due to the white plumage of seabirds, and their white guano, which cover much of its surface. The seabirds can be observed at close range through remote cameras operated from the Scottish Seabird Centre near the harbour.

Attractions
A "spring" tide, West Bay
West Bay front North Berwick
  • Boat trips to the Bass Rock, Fidra and other islands, although landings are restricted and depend on sea conditions.
  • Scottish Seabird Centre – Visitor centre about seabirds found on Bass Rock and elsewhere.
  • North Berwick Law – A 613-foot (187 m) volcanic hill that rises above the town, with a ruined Napoleonic era signal station just below its summit. The arch at the summit, formed by a whale's jawbone, collapsed in June 2005. It was replaced by a fibreglass replica in June 2008.
  • Beaches – One of North Berwick's main attractions, the beaches, have golden sands and igneous rocks sculpted into interesting shapes by the sea. The East Sands have a tide-filled boating pond/paddling pool.
  • Seacliff. An entry fee is charged at this private and largely unspoilt beach and estate, just east of the town.
  • Golf – There are two golf courses in the town, the West Links and the Glen, or East Links, and several others along the East Lothian coast. There are also two 18-hole putting greens, and a Golfing Heritage Trail through the town.
  • Tennis – The tennis courts at the Glen host the annual East Lothian Open Tennis Tournament.
  • The East Lothian Yacht Club hosts many national and international sailing events.
  • The John Muir Way, the East Lothian coastal path, passes through the town.
  • Tantallon Castle is an imposing if mostly ruined 14th-century fortress in the care of Historic Scotland, located 3 miles (5 km) east of North Berwick.

Governance

Kenny MacAskill of the Scottish National Party has served as the Member of Parliament for East Lothian since 2019. Former Scottish Labour Party leader Iain Gray has served as the MSP for East Lothian since 2007. There are three councillors for North Berwick Coastal.[10]

Churches
The original Blackadder church building. It was at first a Free Church, then a United Free Church, then a Church of Scotland, and is now used by an independent Baptist church.

There are several churches in the town. These include:

Church of Scotland
  • Abbey Church[11]
  • Parish Kirk[12]
  • St Andrew Blackadder Church[13]
  • St Andrew’s Old[14]

Roman Catholic
  • Our Lady, Star of the Sea[15]

Other churches
  • North Berwick Baptist Church[16]
  • North Berwick Christian Fellowship[17]
  • St Baldred's Episcopal Church[18]

Education
North Berwick Law seen from the seafront of North Berwick

North Berwick is served by Law Primary School, and North Berwick High School for secondary school-age children, which has an excellent reputation, frequently outperforming other East Lothian district schools in annual examination tables.

On film
North Berwick and the Bass Rock

Films which have shots of North Berwick include:

  • A View from the Bass (1963), 15 mins, colour. Directed by Henry Cooper.[19]
  • Lothian Landscape (1974), 21 mins, colour. Narrated by Gordon Jackson[20]
  • Lothians Part II, the: The Land and Its Use (1955), silent.[21]

Transport

The town is served by North Berwick railway station. The North Berwick Line has provided a rail link with Edinburgh since the nineteenth century and the line, now operated by ScotRail, is still the principal transit link between the town and the capital. The service takes 33 minutes and runs hourly with extra trains during peak commuting periods and on Saturdays. Combination rail-and-entry tickets for the Scottish Seabird Centre are available. There is an occasional service through to Glasgow Central station on weekdays, although anyone heading for central Glasgow is advised to switch to the Edinburgh – Glasgow Queen St. service. There is a regular bus service (nos 124 and X24) between the town and Edinburgh city centre. Edinburgh Airport is the nearest airport, not just to North Berwick but the whole county, and is approximately a 45-minute drive away, or around 1 hour 20 mins by public transport.

East Coast Buses, a subsidiary company run by Lothian Buses, runs a 30-minute service between Edinburgh (Semple Street) to North Berwick Tesco via Portobello, Musselburgh, Prestonpans, Longniddry, Aberlady, Gullane and Dirleton. The bus in North Berwick runs on a loop from the High Street (Church Street bus stop) to the Tesco Terminus and back, then returns to Edinburgh. There are also local services to Haddington, Dunbar and attractions such as the National Museum of Flight at East Fortune.

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894) spent many holidays in the town during his childhood and as a young man. His father, Thomas Stevenson the famous engineer and lighthouse builder, took his family to stay in various locations in the town. The island of Fidra is said to be the original inspiration for Treasure Island, and much of his novel Catriona (the sequel to Kidnapped) is set locally.

The Scottish author William Dalrymple (born 1965), whose work primarily focuses on British India, has roots in the town, with his family having once owned much of the area. William's father Sir Hew Hamilton-Dalrymple is the current and 10th Baronet of North Berwick. William is the youngest of four brothers.

Notable people
Parish Kirk, North Berwick. John Blackadder died on the Bass Rock and is buried here.

Twin town
Seal of North Berwick[24]

Since 1999, North Berwick has been twinned with Kerteminde, Denmark.

gollark: I can stick it up on dc.osmarks.tk if you make a nice guide thing.
gollark: I assume it's outdated, though.
gollark: There is one on the forums.
gollark: Basically, an egg which will reach hatching times if incubated.
gollark: =<5d

See also

References
Citations
  1. "List of railway station names in English, Scots and Gaelic". Newsnetscotland.com. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
  2. Archaeology Data Service abstract 1997
  3. Clan MacDuff
  4. North Berwick Castle
  5. The jawbone arch
  6. Port and harbour
  7. Whale washed ashore
  8. "House prices rise beside seaside". BBC News. 26 May 2006. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
  9. "North 'cheapest for seaside home'". BBC News. 3 July 2009. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
  10. "Councillors by Ward: 04 North Berwick Coastal". East Lothian Council. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  11. "Abbey Church". Church of Scotland. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  12. "Parish Kirk". Undiscovered Scotland. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  13. "St Andrew Blackadder Church". Church of Scotland. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  14. "St Andrew's Old". Undiscovered Scotland. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  15. "Our Lady, Star of the Sea". Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  16. "North Berwick Baptist Church". Origin Scotland. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  17. "North Berwick Christian Fellowship". North Berwick Christian Fellowship. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  18. "St Baldred's". Scottish Episcopal Church. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  19. "A View from the Bass". National Library of Scotland. Moving Image Archive. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  20. "Lothian Landscape". National Library of Scotland. Moving Image Archive. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  21. "Lothians Part I, the: The Land and Its Use". National Libraries of Scotland. Moving Image Archive. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  22. Grosart 1885.
  23. Harris 1898.
  24. Lewis 1851, p. 129.
Sources
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