Smeaton, East Lothian

Village and estate in East Lothian, Scotland

Human settlement in Scotland

Smeaton

Entrance to Smeaton House Estate

Smeaton

Location within Scotland

OS grid reference| NT593785
Civil parish|

* Prestonkirk

Council area|

* East Lothian Council

Lieutenancy area|

* East Lothian

Country| Scotland
Sovereign state| United Kingdom
Post town| EAST LINTON
Postcode district| EH40
Dialling code| 01620
Police| Scotland
Fire| Scottish
Ambulance| Scottish
UK Parliament|

* East Lothian

Scottish Parliament|

* East Lothian

List of places

Scotland

55°59′56″N 02°39′10″W﻿ / ﻿55.99889°N 2.65278°W﻿ / 55.99889; -2.65278

Smeaton is a village and country estate in East Lothian, Scotland. It is off the B1407, near East Linton, and very close to Prestonkirk Parish Church as well as the National Trust for Scotland properties Preston Mill and Phantassie Doocot.

## The Estate

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The Smeaton Estate belonged to the Hepburn family for 400 years, until 1934. It is now owned by the Gray family, but it remains to be called "Smeaton-Hepburn Estate". The mansion no longer exists.

(Smeaton House, which is 19 miles away and located within the Dalkeith Palace Estate, is not an adjacent or related property.)

## Smeaton Lake and parkland

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Smeaton Lake

Smeaton Lake

Show map of East Lothian

Smeaton Lake

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Location| Smeaton, East Lothian, Scotland
Coordinates| 55°59′51″N 02°39′35″W﻿ / ﻿55.99750°N 2.65972°W﻿ / 55.99750; -2.65972
Type| artificial lake
Basin countries| United Kingdom

Smeaton Lake is one of a handful of "lakes" in Scotland - most are referred to as lochs. With the exception of the Lake of Menteith, they are all artificial.

In 1764, George Buchan-Hepburn succeeded George Hepburn as laird of Smeaton. He was a passionate farmer and agricultural reformer. His descendants continued his work, and in 1820, a lake was created with a circular walkway. It is renowned for the variety of mature specimen trees.

The gales of 1968 and of Boxing Day 1998 caused damage to a number of trees, and in 2005, a team of forty tree surgeons did some remedial work.

In the winter months the lake was used for curling competitions and continued to do so until 1982. Sit Thomas Hepburn, Baron Smeaton, was President of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club. In recent years, curling matches have not been possible because the tall trees provide good protection from the frost.

Although Smeaton is a privately owned estate, members of the public are allowed to walk around the lake from 10am till dusk, free of charge, using either of the two gates. The lake entrance is about 20 mins walk from the entrance lodge.

## Smeaton Nursery

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Smeaton Nursery & Gardens is a plant nursery in a 2-acre (8,100 m2) Victorian walled garden, with a Victorian conservatory serving as a tearoom.

## Photo gallery

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* Smeaton-Hepburn Estate

* Smeaton Estate entrance lodge

* Perfect peace

* Geese on the Lake

* Bluebell Wood

* Sheep have no road sense

* White geese

* A place for wildlife

## See also

[edit]

* List of places in East Lothian

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Smeaton, East Lothian.

* East Lothian Council: Map leaflet: Walks around East Linton[permanent dead link‍]
* Review of Smeaton Nursery and Garden Centre

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