Historic Dunbar: Archaeology and Development

Dunbar has had a long and significant history, with a sequence of continuous settlement extending from the Iron Age to the post-medieval period. Its strategic position on the exposed headland of the East Lothian coast was crucial to its early development - its name coming from the British ‘din-bar’ meaning ‘summit fort’. Dunbar Castle, now a Scheduled Ancient Monument, was an important military site, finding itself at the centre of successive wars and feuds, often to the detriment of the town. However, Dunbar’s coastal position had the benefits of allowing a strong trading role for the town, with the fishing industry being particularly prominent. Dunbar’s rich past is reflected in the diversity of its surviving archaeology - prehistoric enclosures to the south of the town, the medieval castle, surrounding Castle Park, its friary, tolbooth, parish church, as well as later buildings such as the Belhaven Brewery and the harbour warehouses. The whole medieval core of Dunbar is a Conservation Area, and a number of significant small standing buildings and older remains survive outside this central area. This book is part of the Scottish Burgh Survey, which identifies areas of archaeological interest within Scotland’s historic burghs, helping to inform future development and planning as well as providing general readers with useful introductions.