Towns & Villages - Haddington

Population: 8,851

Haddington has been a Royal Burgh since the time of David I and was built in the 12th century to provide trade and industry in one of the richest agricultural counties in Scotland. The burgh is situated snugly under the Garleton Hills on the banks of a long lazy s-bend of the River Tyne.

There are many different explanations as to were the name Haddington came from. In the 5th century, Haden was a Saxon Chief. In Anglo-Saxon, Hadin-tin means 'town of ordination or holy order' and in Gaelic - heuedinge-town means 'princes -town'.

Haddington bore the burnt of several English invasions and has been burned to the ground on several occasions. It has also witnessed disastrous floods when the normally placid Rive Tyne overflowed its banks.

Haddington is home to many places of interest worth visiting including: St Mary's Collegiate Church, which dates from the 14th century and is one of the three great pre-reformation churches in the Lothians. More familiarly called 'the Lamp of Lothian', it is also the largest parish church in Scotland. The church is home to the grave of Jane Carlyle.

Lennoxlove House, which is home to the Duke of Hamilton, also has associations with Mary, Queen of Scots and contains an extensive art collection.

Trapain Law is the site of an Iron Age fort which was inhabited until the 11th century. Giffordgate in Haddington is also reputedly the birth place of famous ecclesiastical reformer John Knox.

Haddington is the main administrative centre for East Lothian Council with main offices situated in Court Street and Lodge Street.