John Muir's Birthplace

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Content updated Sun, 31 Jan 1999 23:24:21 GMT

John Muir's Dunbar... [home]

St. George Hotel

Bamburgh Close

Logan's Close

Keep going up the street, along John's daily way to school. Young boys seldom like going to school. But John had available some shortcuts to add fun to the journey. The best would be just before he came to his father's Church. Ducking into the entrance way to Bamburgh Close [F] (23 High Street), a pack of lads could whoop their way down the echoing passage, through the courtyard, under the next house and see how many steps could be jumped down in a single leap at the bottom.

The present proprietors have foregone old traditions and there is no longer public access to the top of the close, but go under the pend at 19 High Street and rejoin the close where a gateway passes through the Burgh boundary wall [10]. (To avoid the flight of steps go south to the end of the High Street and come back north along Church Street.)

The fragment of boundary wall, now all that survives, recalls a time when the Burgh gates would be closed at night and patrols round the wall ensured security in the town. Look back to see one of the oldest houses in Dunbar (but much restored). Some say the site has associations with the Earls of Dunbar and March and the Knights Templar. It is certainly associated with many old tales of hidden tunnels, lost pipers and other ghosts - well known to John's generation.

Redeveloped site of Erskine Church

The redeveloped area was the site of Erskine Memorial Church. Daniel Muir worshipped here, rather than at the Parish Church, because of strongly held doctrinal and administrative differences. Religion was central to his life, as already noted. He played a prominent part in this congregation, taking part in the management of its affairs and freely contributing to fund raising subscriptions. His religious views caused a serious split between himself and John's grandfather, to the extent that Ann Gilrye's inheritance was to pass directly to the children to prevent Daniel Muir getting any benefit.

Go south on Church Street to [G] where Logan's Close [11] opens on your right and School (Woodbush) Brae [12] opens on your left.