25 years ago

‘ANGER as Ghostie’s Close stays closed’ was the headline in the East Lothian Courier on May 31, 1996.

Anger is rising in Dunbar over the blocked off right of way, Bamburgh Close – with the ancient story of its ghostly power.

The 16th century vennel has been used by townsfolk for around 300 years and has a significant local history.

But sadly most of the original close will disappear in the building work.

But the close was blocked off nearly four years ago when the adjacent site started to undergo redevelopment.

That work was completed some time ago but now a further development on the other side of the close by the Castle Rock Housing Association is further delaying its re-opening.

Developer Colin Knox bricked off the north end in the High Street when the first building work started and covered the south end in Church Street with a gate, effectively making it private property.

50 years ago

A 2,000-YEAR-OLD stone axe head was found in Tranent, told The Haddingtonshire Courier of June 4, 1971.

A 2,000-year-old stone axe head has been found in Tranent and it may be on display during Civic Week.

The axe was found by Mr William Laurie, of Edinburgh, who was working at the Elphinstone Road housing scheme recently.

“A machine unearthed it,” he said.

“Normally I just throw stones away but on this occasion I examined it closely. I realised it was very old and took it to the Museum of Antiquities who said it belonged to the Neolithic period.”

The axe head is about six inches long with a three inch shoulder.

On Thursday, Tranent officials said they hoped to be able to display the find in a Civic Week exhibition and to acquire it at a later date for display in the new library in the Civic Square.

100 years ago

‘A SPARROW’S mistake’ was the headline of a Haddington story in The Haddingtonshire Courier on June 3, 1921.

A cock sparrow, on Tuesday morning, entered a shop in the High Street, and in attempting to make its exit, landed in the window.

Here it fluttered about for some time, and, after a little difficulty, was gently captured by a local gentleman.

On being taken to the door, the sparrow was so paralysed with fear that it could not move.

It was a minute or two before it regained its wonted strength, but, on this being restored, it looked round for an instant, and then flew over a roof on the opposite side of the street.