Updated 10th October
East Lothian is full of old roads, ancient routes of travel and transport.
The more famous being the Herring Road from Dunbar across the Lammermuirs to the Borders, which once transported the Salted Herring packed in barrels on pack horses.
The Garlton Ridge Road, And an even older route over Lammer Law, one of several Drove roads. The route dates back to prehistoric times.
Many old routes have disappeared now on the ground, but there are some clues, like the old Postman's route from Lochouses to Gleghornie Farms where styles show the route, now ploughed over or overgrown in Woodland...
I love cycling these old routes. Some are really nice, unmaintained and untouched since horse and carts stopped using them. Like `Becky`s Strip` from Blackdykes to Whitekirk.
Becky`s Strip is the only remaining part of the old coach route from North Berwick to Dunbar, it was once the main throughfare...
I look across over this old Byway every day at work as Headgreenkeeper at Whitekirk Golf Course...
And cycle the route all year round in all seasons on all types of bikes, as the pics show. It is unmaintained and apart from the Hawthorn hedge that is in need of being cut back on the Whitekirk end, it has remained in use by the public on foot, horse and bicycles and is a lovely example of an unmaintained green road...
The Byway from North (from North Berwick) south to Whitekirk...
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Looking North...
The whole route was hedged until the 1960s, then the centre section across the land of East Craig Farm removed the hedges, Only the northern end at Gleghornie has its original twin hedgerows...
This old Byway would have once been a main thoroughfare from North Berwick Town to Whitekirk. Linking the two famous Churches it would have seen a lot of traffic being a coach road.
Here on the John Ainslie`s map of 1821 it shows the Inn, it was called Whitehall and once stood on this Byway...
Here at this junction with the track to Redside...
Only some small rubble remains on the site now...
A lovely green road in surrounding unspoiled farm land...
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ReplyDeleteI was interested in the map you have shown and checked it and I see that it is not Bleau's map of 1654 that you are quoting.It is in fact John Ainslie's map printed in 1821.Bleau's map of 1654 or indeed any of his maps make reference to Whitehall, . I have checked the National Library for Scotland toi see both maps . The earliest reference in their map records is 1773 and the building at that time is is called Whitehill. To date I cannot find any reference to an Inn, either in map or in text at that location which although it may have been the case it would be interesting to find specific references to verify that. It may just be local knowledge handed down. I heard someone say recently that 'Becky' was a witch and that the ruin was her cottage, but again not based on anything other than..... This is how information can be distorted as fact once it is in print, a bit like Wikipedia
ReplyDeleteHi, Thanks for leaving a comment, and thanks for correcting me naming the wrong map!, which i have corrected now!. I was looking at both when i wrote the post and must have muddled them up.
ReplyDeleteI too have seen `Whitehill` on the map. Quite often you see spelling changes of places.
I have also heard of `Becky` being a witch. There were also the buildings on the rockheads named `The Pleasants` just to the west of the present Greenkeepers Shed.
Be great to find oout more information of the byway, and the Inn.