Garvald
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The main street in Garvald |
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Garvald shown within East Lothian | |
OS grid reference | NT588708 |
Civil parish | |
Council area | |
Lieutenancy area | |
Country | Scotland |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | HADDINGTON |
Postcode district | EH41 |
Dialling code | 01620 |
Police | Scottish |
Fire | Scottish |
Ambulance | Scottish |
EU Parliament | Scotland |
UK Parliament | |
Scottish Parliament | |
Website | garvald.org.uk |
Garvald (derived from the Scottish Gaelic 'Garbh Allt', meaning a rough burn or stream) is a village south=east of Haddington in East Lothian, Scotland. It lies on the Papana Water south of the B6370, east of Gifford. The combined parish of Garvald and Bara, borders Whittingehame to the East, Morham to the North, Yester to the West, and Lauder to the South. It is mainly an agricultural parish. The red freestone once constantly mined in this parish was well known throughout the whole country.
The village sits upon a red sandstone formation, and lies in a narrow, well-sheltered hollow, or valley. The name of the stream upon which the village is situated, the Papana Water, appears to have been imported, given by nuns who came from Italy and settled down at nearby Nunraw. It abounds with small trout. The land rises very abruptly towards the Lammermuir Hills after the bridge across the Papana is crossed.
At one time there were two breweries, three public houses, besides bakers, tailors, weavers, shoemakers, blacksmiths, wrights, coopers, grocers, etc., in the village.
Oliver Cromwell's army camped overnight in this parish, near Danskine loch, during his march from Edinburgh to Dunbar. The local tradition is that they drank up all the beer found in the two breweries.
The kirk, and manse (1820), are situated at the eastern end of the village. The north-west corner of the church is 12th century; the south wall has a sundial upon it dated 1633, and the north aisle is of 1677. In 1829 the contractor (and possibly the designer) John Swinton, from Haddington, completely remodelled the church in 1829, which included four Gothic windows and the Western belfry.
The Rector of Garvald in 1504 was Master Patrick Coventrie, who held a BA in Theology.
The gabled former school, and school house, of circa 1845 have survived, although now private residences. The school closed in 1971, with local children attending Yester Primary School in Gifford since then. Behind the former school is a plain kirk of about the same date (now the communally owned Village Hall) with a later tower and slated spire. There is a small village green. The rows of cottages date from at least the 18th century, with later additions.