Marine Parade and the Seafront

About Marine Parade and the Seafront

Marine Parade has a fine example of a modern housing development that retains much of the scale and character of the local area. From Marine Parade it is just a short distance to the Old Town, through winding vennels. As in most coastal communities. smuggling was rife during the 18th century and the apparently disorganised layout of the narrow streets was well suited to this clandestine trade.
“Imagine a moonless night..a small boat stealthily sliding into the harbour...silent dark forms appearing on the quay-side ready to tie up the boat and quickly unload the precious cargo. A shout and the sound of running feet disturbs the night Torches flare along the quay as the discharge of a pistol shatters the silence. The silent figures shoulder the cargo and disappear into the maze of wynds and vennels. By the time the excise men have reached the spot the boat has slipped its moorings and merged with the darkness...another night's work complete".
Most houses would have had their secret storage places and, it is traditionally thought, underground passages linked many buildings. It has been said that there was more of Eyemouth below ground than above. Sadly. much of the Old Town has been demolished to make way for modem buildings.
In the 17th century, Eyemouth was one of the major Scottish centres of witch mania. At least two dozen women and several men were found guilty of witchcraft, usually accused by neighbours for no other reason than bad fortune had befallen the community. They would be kept in the Common Pitt (Eyemouth did not have a jail) until being bumed at the stake along the foreshore.