Farming in East Lothian 1945-2000

Fiona Dobson

During the Second World War, the marts at Haddington and East Linton, owned by Messrs John Swan & Sons, were operated as collective centres. Panels consisting of an auctioneer, a butcher and a farmer, graded fat cattle and sheep. Cattle were weighed and classified and payment made to producers at previously published prices, dependent on the category decided by the panel.

Sheep were classified into lots from each consignor and paid on an estimated carcass weight. Pigs were marked for identification and paid on carcass grade and weight.

Large numbers passed through both centres and 300-600 cattle and 2000-4000 sheep were not unusual. These collecting centres, held on alternate Mondays, ended in 1954 and both marts returned to selling by auction. Store sheep sales by auction were held at Haddington for many years in the late summer and early autumn. These took place on a Friday on a fortnightly basis, and the increase in road transport and changes in farming policy caused their demise.

'East Linton Fair' was held on the second Thursday in October, and was a popular sale for store cattle; buyers attended in large numbers. A special train left Grantshouse on the sale morning and collected consignments at various stations en route to East Linton. Numbers were usually around 1200 home bred and 1000 imported Irish cattle. East Linton mart ceased trading in March 1960 and Haddington in February 1976.

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© 2004 Fourth Statistical Account of East Lothian Society