A NEW publication which looks at Haddington ‘then and now’, through the medium of photography, has been published.

Haddington Through Time, by Jack Gillon, uses photographs to compare and contrast the town from yesteryear to the present day.

The 96-page book features 180 illustrations.

Mr Gillon, 62, said: “I’ve done books with the publishers, Amberley, before. Last year, I did a book called Edinburgh in the 1950s. They then asked me to do Leith Through Time, which is a series of then and now pictures.

“They then called me and asked me to do Haddington Through Time.” Mr Gillon, of Edinburgh, then visited Haddington on a number of occasions, armed with his camera.

He added: “We used to have family holidays at Stevenson House and I knew Haddington fairly well.

“We also stayed out near Gullane for about three months.” Over four months, he visited the town on a regular basis.

At the start of the book, he offers thanks to the Rev John Vischer, of the town’s West Church, for providing him with access to the church tower, which led to the photograph on the front of the book.

He added: “Thanks also to Eilean Malden at the John Gray Centre, who helped track down the location of a statue of [author] John Home – Haddington is very fortunate to have the John Gray Centre as a heritage resource.

“The Lost Haddington Facebook page is another fantastic resource for all things related to Haddington.” And he was quick to praise the friendliness of the town, with countless people stopping him to ask if he needed directions when they spotted him armed with a camera.

He described the town as “instantly recognisable” and highlighted he was not alone in thinking just that.

He references a quote from H V Morton, In Scotland Again: “Haddington is one of the best tonics I can prescribe in a world that seems none too sure of itself.

“Nothing could look more permanent than Haddington. Its wide long main street is built for eternity.” The author returns to Haddington next Saturday (April 25) for a book signing. He will be in Kesley’s, on Market Street, from 11am to 1pm.