LINTON, a village, in the parish of Prestonkirk,
county of Haddington, | a mile (S. W.) from Preston;
containing, in 1841,775 inhabitants. It derives its name,
by which the whole parish was originally designated, from
its situation on the banks of the river Tyne, which in this
part of its course, obstructed by precipitous and overhanging
rocks, once formed a hjnn, or waterfall, of great
beauty. This fall, since the recent cutting of the crags
to facilitate the progress of salmon up the stream, is now
scarcely perceptible, except after continued rains, or
sudden floods, when the cascade displays its wonted
grandeur. The removal of the obstructions has not
added to the quantity of the salmon, which are still of
small size and in small numbers; but trout of large size,
eels, and flounders, are obtained in great plenty and of
excellent quality. The village is neatly built and well
inhabited; the surrounding scenery, also, is agreeably
diversified. The principal approach is by the London
road, which passes for four miles through the parish,
crossing the river by an ancient bridge near the village,
which is inconvenient for the jiassage of carriages. A
post-office is established, and facility of intercourse is
afi'orded by good roads, and by the North-British railway,
which crosses the Tyne by a grand viaduct a little above
the old bridge, and has a station here. The opening of
the railway and the establishment of a corn-market have
added much to the imi)ortance of the village, which is a
rising place. The spinning of wool and the weaving of
blankets were formerly carried on to some extent, affording
employment to many of the inhabitants; but they
have been for a long time discontinued. The parochial
school, and a place of worship in connexion with the
United Presbyterian .Synod, are in the village; there are
also a female parochial school, one or two libraries, and
two or three frieiuily societies, which last have contributed
to diminish the number of claims on the parish.
A little westward of the village is an upright stone, supposed
to point out the site of sepulture of some chieftain
who was killed in battle.