The last major act in Scotland of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms – still known to some as the (English) Civil War – was the Battle of Dunbar in 1650.

We’ve been to Dunbar many times and I had spotted a signpost pointing to the battlefield but at the time had an appointment elsewhere so couldn’t stop.

Last year the good lady and a friend had signed up to FutureLearn history course on the battle, their interest triggered by the discovery at Durham Cathedral of human remains which turned out to be those of Scottish soldiers captured during the battle, and taken to Durham to be kept imprisoned (under atrocious conditions) in the Cathedral, where some died.

So it was that last summer we made a concerted effort to find the battlefield. Yes, there was that signpost but there’s not much in the way of information boards at the battlefield itself or on the road the signpost pointed along. This very recently erected stone was set back from the road and commmemorates those taken prisoner at the Battle of Dunbar, 1650.

However, I am not sure if the two pictures below are of the battlefield or not. (North Sea in background.) After we came home I read up a bit and found the site of the battlefield straddles the main A1 road but does lead down towards the sea.

Once back at the road from which the signpost points we discovered this memorial. On it is an inscription, “3rd September 1650,” and a quotation from Thomas Carlyle, “Here took place the brunt or essential agony of the Battle of Dunbar.” (In the background is a modern cement works – and a horse):-

Close-up:-

A museum in Dunbar had a display about the battle including a piece of tapestry commemorating the Battles of Dunbar 1650, and Worcester 1651:-

I keep noticing Art Deco styling I’ve previously missed in places I visit relatively often.

Shop frontage, Dunbar:-

Building ventilator grille, St Andrews:-

Cockburnspath is a village on the East Coast just west of the A1 about eight miles south of Dunbar.

The War Memorial is a Celtic Cross design on a stone base with the names carved proud of the stone.

The Scottish War Memorials Project has pictures of the two sides where there are more names.

There don’t appear to be any names for the Second World War.

A simple Celtic cross but with a crucifix in the cross’s centre. The memorial is set on Marine Drive overlooking the harbour approaches. I believe it has been moved back from the cliff edges due to erosion.

This close up shows the inscription and some names from both wars.

The cross’s centre on the reverse view has a monogram. The names on the pedestal on this side are all for the Great War.

On the way back from seeing Eric Brown in Dunbar we stopped off at Tranent. The main reason is my mother was born there – or at least it was her first home. Her family later moved to Eyemouth before coming to Dumbarton.

I found it a typical Scottish small (post)industrial town with all that implies. But it has Art Deco.

The above is Homezone – on Edinburgh Road just after it branches off from High Street. This is a close-up on the detail:-

At the other end of High Street is this solicitor’s. The stepping on the roof line is good – and the triangular effect on the upper stone blocks.

To its left (on the right in the above photo) the deco feel continues. The pillars on the stone work are nicely detailed. The premises were to let, as you can see.

It was a few weeks ago now I last visited Eric Brown in Dunbar.

While there I saw and photographed this shop front: the gates are brilliant.