North Berwick

History

Excavations have shown that from as early as the eighth century, a ferry crossing to Earlsferry, near Elie in Fife was in existence, serving pilgrims on their way to the shrine of Saint Andrew. North Berwick Harbour was built in the twelfth century to meet the demands made of the existing ferry trade. This ferry was recently reinstated; during the summer, a boat travels between North Berwick and Anstruther in Fife, in homage to the original ferry. Around 1150, Duncan, Earl of Fife of the Clan MacDuff founded an influential Cistercian nunnery (whose power continued until the Scottish Reformation, and its dissolution in 1588). Duncan's family shortly afterwards, at the start of the thirteenth century built North Berwick Castle erecting a wooden motte and bailey on the site of what is now Castle Hill in the east end of the town, at the start of Tantallon Terrace. This castle was attacked and held by the Earl of Pembroke around 1306; the English abandoned it by 1314, during the aftermath of the Battle of Bannockburn. Late in the fourteenth century the Lauder family (owners of the Bass Rock castle) erected a stone tower with a barmkin on the site; however they had abandoned it by 1420 in favour of the Bass, possibly as a result of conflict with the owners of nearby Tantallon Castle. In the fourteenth century, the town became a baronial burgh under William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas, who then built nearby Tantallon Castle to consolidate his power. Later, during the fifteenth century, the town became a royal burgh in the reign of James I of Scotland. The "Auld Kirk Green" at the harbour was allegedly used for gatherings by the accused in the North Berwick Witch Trials (1590–92). Legend has it that Satan himself attended a ritual there in 1590. During the sixteenth…

Most-observed species

• Herring Gull

  Larus argentatus Pontoppidan, 1763 · Aves
  6,015
• Carrion Crow

  Corvus corone Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  5,819
• Eurasian Oystercatcher

  Haematopus ostralegus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  5,392
• Common Wood-Pigeon

  Columba palumbus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  5,011
• Black-headed Gull

  Chroicocephalus ridibundus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  4,218
• Common Eider

  Somateria mollissima (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  4,111
• Eurasian Magpie

  Pica pica (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  4,006
• Eurasian Curlew

  Numenius arquata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  3,980

Most recent

• M 2.5 — 2005-12-31
  3 km WSW of Auchterarder, United Kingdom