- Biel, East Lothian
Biel is a
village inEast Lothian ,Scotland ,UK , to the south ofDunbar , off the B6370 road. It is situated on the Biel Estate, close toBiel House .Placename
The word 'biel', 'beil' or 'bel' means "shelter", as in
Belton , Belhaven,Bilsdean , or as inRobert Lauder of Beilmouth .History
Archaeologists from
Glasgow University found the remains of a small farmstead over 2000 years old, possibly with apalisade surrounding aroundhouse .The Biel estate was originally owned by the Earls of Dunbar, then by
Robert Lauder of The Bass . Sir James Hamilton, Sheriff ofLanark , bought Biel in 1641.William Hamilton Nisbet succeeded to the Biel lands and made
Biel House his residence. It is a 12th centurytower house , off the B6370, and a member of theHistoric Houses Association .Biel House
The present Biel House is a 16th century three-storey listed building, formerly owned by the Earls of Belhaven. William Atkinson extended it in 1814-1818, and in the early twentieth century, further interior alterations were made by R.R.Anderson.The grounds include a
chapel ,rock garden ,doocot ,summerhouse , gatepiers,deer park ,woodland ,arboretum ,kitchen garden ,glasshouses .Biel Water (Biel Burn)
The Biel Water, locally known as the Biel Burn, flows through the Biel Estate, and Biel Mill is situated in a woodland.
The Biel Burn Flood of 1948 is still remembered by local residents. The latest
flooding incident occurred in 2007.Photo gallery
ee also
*
List of places in East Lothian References
* [http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/gardens_search_results.htm/gardenssearchmoreinfo.htm?s=&r=Edinburgh+and+the+Lothians&bool=0&PageID=2311&more_info=Landscape Historic Scotland - Architecture and Gardens of Biel House]
* [http://www.fettes.com/lothian/floods.htm Biel Burn flood]External links
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