Date: Wednesday 21st March 2018
Start at: Fisherrow Harbour
With the sky looking very grey and a westerly breeze to help push them on their way 37 Strollers met up at Musselburgh Harbour to walk the John Muir Way to Prestonpans. The Harbour was once a thriving fishing port from where the ‘fishwives’ with the baskets on their backs would then go into Edinburgh to sell the fish, and with the coming of the train all the way down to the borders to places like Galashiels.
Setting off along the trail to the mouth of the Esk and across the footbridge, down past Goosegreen where there wasn’t a goose to be seen, and on to the promenade to go past Levenhall Links and the ash Lagoons. This is where the ash from Cockenzie Power Station used to be dumped, but with its closure the lagoon area has been turned into a bird sanctuary and a boating pond. From there we followed the cycle path along to where Morrison’s Haven, or Harbour, used to exist. A lot of its trade was with the Baltic countries, which brought over rock salt, as well as trade with Portugal, France and Holland.A lot of bricks and coal was exported from the harbour. It fell into disuse in the 1920’s and was then filled in. There were mills and a fort in the area as well. On to Prestonpans to end our walk at the the totem pole and see the murals which depict the history and culture of Prestonpans. You can follow the trail of them round the town.
With the sky looking very grey and a westerly breeze to help push them on their way 37 Strollers met up at Musselburgh Harbour to walk the John Muir Way to Prestonpans. The Harbour was once a thriving fishing port from where the ‘fishwives’ with the baskets on their backs would then go into Edinburgh to sell the fish, and with the coming of the train all the way down to the borders to places like Galashiels.
Setting off along the trail to the mouth of the Esk and across the footbridge, down past Goosegreen where there wasn’t a goose to be seen, and on to the promenade to go past Levenhall Links and the ash Lagoons. This is where the ash from Cockenzie Power Station used to be dumped, but with its closure the lagoon area has been turned into a bird sanctuary and a boating pond. From there we followed the cycle path along to where Morrison’s Haven, or Harbour, used to exist. A lot of its trade was with the Baltic countries, which brought over rock salt, as well as trade with Portugal, France and Holland.A lot of bricks and coal was exported from the harbour. It fell into disuse in the 1920’s and was then filled in. There were mills and a fort in the area as well. On to Prestonpans to end our walk at the the totem pole and see the murals which depict the history and culture of Prestonpans. You can follow the trail of them round the town.
There is also a Prestonpans Tapestry, but it is not
currently on display anywhere, as far as we know. It was last
displayed in Lorient, Brittany in August 2017.
Thanks to Drew for arranging this walk. See you next
month.
Other Tapestries:
The Scottish Diaspora Tapestry, which depicts
scenes from Scots world-wide is currently on view in Stanley Mills, just north
of Perth.
The Great Tapestry of Scotland is not on view at
present but is scheduled to be displayed at New Lanark
from May 2018.
