August Question
What’s the significance of this circle of cobbles in the roadway outside J.S. Main in Haddington High Street?
Answer
Well here’s the answer you have all been, patiently, waiting for!
It marks a crater left by a gunpowder explosion in the cellar of one of the shops in 1773. It was triggered by an apprentice entering the cellar with a lighted candle. He was killed and a servant girl injured. The story was reported by John Martine in his Reminiscences of the Royal Burgh of Haddington, p44.
Now, apparently, this may not be correct! The 1854 OS map of Haddington has this cross marking the site of the tron and jougs, i.e. where market goods could be weighed and where wrongdoers were shackled.
So, which answer do you prefer?
You can see other contributors answers to this little poser via the Old Haddingtonshire Facebook page here.
—-oo0000oo—-