AS MANY enjoy the ITV drama series Victoria, which looks back at the famous Queen’s life, we have dug out some entries from the Queen’s journals recounting a visit to Dunbar when she was 59 years old.

Queen Victoria wrote: “Saturday, August 24, 1878; Morning. Had not a very good night, and was suffering from a stiff shoulder. It was a very wet morning at Dunbar, which we reached at a quarter to nine where the station was very prettily decorated, were the Duke and Duchess of Roxburghe, the Grant-Sutties, the Provost, and Lord Haddington, Lord Lieutenant of the county.

"We got into one of my closed landaus – Beatrice, Leopold, the Duchess of Roxburghe and I – the others following, and drove through a small portion of Dunbar, Lord Haddington riding to Broxmouth, about a mile and a quarter from Dunbar. People all along the road, arches and decorations on the few cottages, and very loyal greetings.

“The park is fine with noble trees and avenues. It is only a quarter mile from the sea, which we could see dimly as we drove from Dunbar.”

And after a couple of days to recover from her journey, the Queen wrote: “Monday, August 26th, 1878, Mid-Morning, Broxmouth Park. Walked out at half past ten with Beatrice and the Duchess to the very fine kitchen garden, and to the splendid hothouse, where they have magnificent grapes. The peaches are also beautiful.

“From here we walked again along the burn side to the sea. The duchess’s pretty and very amiable collie (smaller than Noble, but with a very handsome head), Rex, going with us. We looked at the Lord Warden (Captain Freemantle), which arrived yesterday from Spithead, where we saw her in the Fleet. She had been guardship last year.

“There is a pretty view from this walk to the sea over a small lake, with trees beyond which is Dunbar seen in the distance. Then I sat out in the garden and wrote. After that, when Beatrice returned from a walk near the sea with the Duchess, I went to look at the gravestone of Sir William Douglas, which is quite concealed amongst the bushes near the lawn.

"The Battle of Dunbar took place (September 3rd,1650) close to Broxmouth, and Sir Walter Scott says Cromwell’s camp was in the park; but this is doubtful, as it is described as on the north of the Broxburn. Leslie’s camp was on the Doune[Doon] hill, conspicuous for miles around.

"When the Scottish army left their strong positions on the hill, they came to the low ground near the park wall. Cromwell is said to have stood on the hillock, where the tower in the grounds has been built, and the battle must have been fought close to the present park gate. I afterwards planted a deodar [Himalayan cedar] on the lawn in the presence of the Duke and Duchess.”

Victoria was obviously struck by the drama of Cromwell’s great victory at Dunbar, despite it being against the monarchy’s interest. Oliver’s Mount, Douglas’s Grave and the deodar planted by the Queen remain focal points of interest in the grounds of Broxmouth House.

To read more of Queen Victoria’s thoughts on her trip, visit the John Gray Centre in Haddington, or go to its website, www.johngraycentre.org