Eyemouth

Eyemouth
Berwickshire
Eyemouth Harbour
Location
Grid reference:	NT944640
Location:	55°52’10"N, 2°5’26"W
Data
Post town:	Eyemouth
Postcode:	TD14
Dialling code:	018907
Local Government
Council:	Scottish Borders
Parliamentary constituency:	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk

Eyemouth (historically spelt Aymouth) is a small fishing town and parish on the coast of Berwickshire. It is two miles east of the main north-south A1 road and just 8 miles north of Berwick-upon-Tweed. It has a population of some 3,420 people (2004).

The town's name comes from its location at the mouth of the Eye Water. The Berwickshire coastline consists of high cliffs over deep clear water, with sandy coves and picturesque harbours. A fishing port, Eyemouth celebrates an annual Herring Queen Festival. Notable buildings in the town include Gunsgreen House and a cemetery watch house built to stand guard against the "resurrectionists"] (body snatchers). Many of the features of a traditional fishing village are preserved in the narrow streets and vennels - giving shelter from the sea and well suited to the smuggling tradition of old.

Eyemouth is not far from the attractive small villages of Ayton, Reston, St Abbs, Coldingham, and Burnmouth. The coast offers opportunities for birdwatching, walking, fishing and diving. Accommodation includes several hotels, B&Bs, and a holiday park.

The geology of the area exposes the evidence of folding that led James Hutton to announce that the surface of the earth had changed dramatically over the ages.

History

Fort Point, Eyemouth, was the site of the first Trace Italienne style fortification in Britain. Building commenced in 1547 by Sir Richard Lee (1513 – 1575) and it cost £1,906. It was demolished under the Treaty of Boulogne in 1550. Rebuilt again six years later it held some 500 French troops. It was demolished again under the Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis in 1559. Traces of the ramparts are still to be seen.

Eyemouth fell within the feudal barony of Coldingham, possessed until the early 17th century by Coldingham Priory, after which it passed to the Home family, who had held lands in that barony since at least the 15th century. All landowners (portioners) within the barony held their properties either by hereditary feu or by term renewable, occasionally hereditary, tack from the barony.

The lands between the southern banks of the Eye Water consisted of three estates: Gunsgreen, immediately opposite Eyemouth, and Netherbyres, once part of the larger lands of Flemington which stretched all the way to Lamberton. At the beginning of the 17th century Gunsgreen estate was possessed by Alexander Lauder of Gunsgreen, a great-great-grandson of Sir Robert Lauder of The Bass (d.1508). On January 17, 1629, Alexander Lauder of Gunsgreen, acting as bailie for Sir David Home of Wedderburn, gave a sasine to Andrew Gray in Eyemouth, of some land on the boundaries of Houndlaw and also in Eyemouth.

Netherbyres House

Netherbyres was for at least 250 years held by the Craw (originally Auchincraw) family. "George Craw of Netherbyre" was "deceased" by July 1614 when his son William came into possession of that property and Reidhall, "with the walk mill" extending to 12 husbandlands (312 acres). A later William Craw, who had a passion for mathematics, built the first 'modern' harbour at Eyemouth and, in 1715, the elliptical walled garden, the latter almost certainly unique in the world. The Netherbyres House we see today was commenced about 1835 for Captain Sir Samuel Brown, R.N., who had the patent and monopoly for the supply of anchor chain to the Royal Navy. He later went on to design and patent chain suspension piers and bridges, including the Union Bridge over the River Tweed, still in use today. Netherbyres House was bought by Sir Christopher Furness in 1928, and was donated to the Royal Gardeners' Benevolent Society for charitable use by Colonel Simon Furness, the Vice Lord Lieutenant for Berwickshire, who now occupies a house overlooking the famous walled garden.

The life of the historical hero of the town, William Spears (1812 - 1885), is celebrated by the dramatic bronze statue in Eyemouth Market Place, where he stands pointing the way to Ayton, the scene of his peaceful demonstration. At great personal risk, Spears led a revolt against the tithes on fish levied by the Church of Scotland, even after the great Disruption of 1843 when most fishermen left the established Church to join other congregations.

Very soon after the cost of getting the tithes removed had been met, the town was struck by the Eyemouth Disaster when on the 14th October 1881 most of the fishing fleet, some 20 boats and 129 men from the town were lost in a terrible storm. Including victims from other coastal towns, a total of 189 men lost their lives. This is commemorated in the Tapestry housed in the Museum.

A contemporary article offers an interesting insight into Eyemouth in the 1860s:

"Between Abbs Head and Berwick, however is situated Eyemouth, a fishing-village pure and simple, with all that wonderful filth scattered about which is a sanitary peculiarity of such towns.

The population of Eyemouth is in keeping with the outward appearance of the place. As a whole, they are rough, uncultivated, and more druken in their habits than the fishermen of the neighbouring villages. Coldingham Shore, for instance, is only three miles distant, and has a population of about one hundred fishermen, of a very respectable class, sober and well dressed, and "well to do."

- The Fisher Folk of the Scottish East Coast, "Macmillian's Magazine" No.36 October 1862.

In the late eighteenth century with the arrival of a group of Dutch engineers in the town a survey was undertaken for a canal linking Eyemouth to Duns. The plan would have involved damming the Whiteadder river at Chirnside thus diverting the course of the Whiteadder river through the low-lying area know as Billiemire to join the Eye river near Ayton. The plan was never carried out.

The famous John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough was created Baron Eyemouth, in the Peerage of Scotland in 1682. This was the first of his peerage titles.

Modern town life

New, quality, housing development is taking place, including a proportion of affordable housing. The town is served by Post Office, supermarket, library, hotels, and bed and breakfasts.

All the crafts and trades associated with the fishing industry are present in the town, from net making to ship building and repair. There are smoke houses that prepare fish in the traditional fashion.

The Medical Practice provides family doctor based primary care and a Day Hospital.

Harbour and industry

Yachts berthed in Eyemouth Harbour

In 1997, Eyemouth was given EU funding from a scheme to regenerate declining fishing villages and raised matching funds itself to construct a deep water extension to the Harbour. Eyemouth Harbour caters for most types of fishery activity and as a result Eyemouth's primary industry has seen a certain amount of rejuvenation. A pontoon has been installed in the harbour to provide ease of boarding for seafarers. This has attracted an increasing number of pleasure craft. Walks round the harbour never fail to interest. This is a real working fishing port and the scene is constantly changing.

The Coastguard volunteers and the seagoing RNLI lifeboat are called out by the firing of maroons, one for the Coastguard and two for the Lifeboat.

There is also a substantial shipyard. The new Harbour and Fish Market has toilets and showers which are available to visiting seamen - contact the Eyemouth Harbour Harbourmaster. The Visitor Centre explains the methods of fishing, the types of nets and the vessels used and examples of the equipment of a typical fishing boat are displayed. Visitors can see the market in action in the early mornings from a viewing platform. Boats are available for hire for sea fishing, sightseeing and diving in one of the few Marine Reserves in the UK.

Attractions

The beach and Bantry at Eyemouth

The wide bay is flanked by high cliffs. Despite being sheltered by the Hurkur Rocks, storms can generate high waves and throw high plumes of spume into the air over the sea wall. Named "The Bantry" said to be in affectionate memory of the Irish labourers, from the fishing town of that name in County Cork, who constructed it.

Eyemouth houses the World of Boats, a remarkable collection of almost 400 boats and 300 models from across the world and from many periods. Most prominent is the 1834 Steam powered puddled iron Drag Dredger, 'Bertha', by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, which is undergoing restoration at the head of the Old Harbour. It is intended that the harbour side should be the home of many of boats in the collection.

The new 18 hole golf course and Club House have sea views.

Other places of interest in the vicinity

Other places of interest nearby include the fortifications of Berwick-upon-Tweed also designed by Sir Richard Lee, and its military museum, Paxton House, the Union Bridge and the Chain Bridge Honey Farm and scores of quiet country roads skirting the Cheviot Hills, frequently snow-capped in winter. Many visitors pause on their journey on the A1 to photograph their arrival in Scotland or their departure to England at the Border Crossing. Though the Border has significance to many visitors, most local people think of themselves as 'Borderers' rather than as Scots or English.

Nearby the Border is a nature trail through the mysteriously named 'Conundrum' Farm. Typical Border towns and villages, such as Kelso, Grantshouse, Abbey St Bathans, Cove, Cockburnspath (pronounced 'coburnspath' or 'copath' by locals), Cornhill, Wooler, Morpeth, Alnmouth and Alnwick are all within easy reach for day trips from Eyemouth. Near Chirnside is Ninewells where David Hume, whom many regard as foremost among the philosophers of the Scottish Enlightenment, if not the greatest of all time, spent much of his life.

Outside links

• Googling at Eyemouth
• Eyemouth Chamber of Trade
• Eyemouth Harbour
• St Abbs and Eyemouth Voluntary Marine Reserve
• The Great Disaster and the Eyemouth Tapestry
• The World of Boats
• Historic photographs of Eyemouth showing life and work in past ages

References

• Rev. Daniel McIver: An old-time fishing town - Eyemouth, John Menzies, 1906.
• Peter Aitchison, Children of the Sea: The Story of the People of Eyemouth, Tuckwell Press Ltd, 2001. Republished ?2007 as Black Friday. (The author is a descendent of William Spears)