Cockenzie and Port Seton
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Cockenzie and Port Seton Millennium Garden |
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Cockenzie and Port Seton shown within East Lothian | |
OS grid reference | NT399755 |
Civil parish | |
Council area | |
Lieutenancy area | |
Country | Scotland |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | Prestonpans |
Postcode district | EH32 |
Dialling code | 01875 |
Police | Scottish |
Fire | Scottish |
Ambulance | Scottish |
EU Parliament | Scotland |
UK Parliament | |
Scottish Parliament | |
Cockenzie and Port Seton (Scots: Cockennie[koˈkɪni]; Scottish Gaelic: Cùil Choinnich, meaning "cove of Kenneth") is a unified town in East Lothian, Scotland. It is on the coast of the Firth of Forth, four miles north-east of Musselburgh. The burgh of Cockenzie was created in 1591 by James VI of Scotland. Port Seton harbour was built by George Seton, 11th Lord Seton between 1655 and 1665.
The town has a population of 4,493 as of 2001. Since the last Census in 2001, there have been many new houses built. The population is now about 5,460. Cockenzie and Port Seton has continued to grow over the years and is now a dormitory town for Scotland's capital city, Edinburgh.
To the west of the town, between Cockenzie and Prestonpans is the site of Cockenzie power station, a large coal-fired power station which was a major employer from the 1960s until it closed in 2013, and enabled the town to survive and prosper. Demolition of the plant is currently underway, and is expected to take around 18 months. Plans for an Energy Park on the site, to be used for the construction and repair of wind turbines, were scrapped in March 2015.
Cockenzie and Port Seton has grown from what were initially two small fishing villages. The older parts of the town, between the two harbours, retain a more traditional feel and look, similar to many other small fishing villages on the east coast of Scotland. Although the fishing industry has declined in recent years the harbour at Port Seton still retains a small fleet of vessels, mainly fishing for prawns. In the past Cockenzie was also involved in the salt making and coal mining industries.