Online Exhibitions    LifeLines    SportingLife    WorkingLife    WildLife    HighLife    FightforLife    OutdoorLife

…fortunately around my native town of Dunbar, by the stormy north sea, there was no lack of wildness…I loved to wander in the fields to hear the birds sing, and along the seashore…

_{(John Muir. The Story of my Boyhood and Youth, 1912)}

John Muir Country Park stretches from Victoria Harbour and the historic Dunbar Castle in the east to Ravensheugh Sands and the Peffer Burn in the west. Along its 8 miles of coastline Neolithic and Iron Age settlers, early Christians, medieval earls, landowners, farmers, soldiers, fishing folk, sportsmen and nature lovers have all left their mark...

Seafield Pond was once the clay pit for brickworks, built by Bailie France and later owned by William Brodie, who had both property and shipping interests in the town.

Belhaven Bay was used for the first airborne torpedo trials, carried out in 1918. Aircrews flying the Sopwith Cuckoos from East Fortune dropped torpedos on targets towed by destroyers.

Hedderwick Links and Belhaven Beach provided ideal conditions for military camps and training. With the threat of invasion from Napoleon, a large military force arrived at West Barns in 1803. Barracks for 12000 infantry and 300 artillery were built on the Heugh Heads, with 300 cavalry housed nearby.

For over 150 years the Lothians & Border Horse, originally the East Lothian Yeomanry Cavalry, visited the area. Annual inspections, races on Hedderwick racecourse and the colourful ‘musical ride’ were a highlight in the late 19th century. As time passed horses were replaced by armoured cars and tanks.

During WW1 and WW2 the regiment received many awards for service in Europe. Visits to Dunbar continued until the mid 20th century.

...the afternoon’s tactics included bomb-throwing, musketry operations, drill and other work...

_{(Haddingtonshire Courier, 20th June 1941)}