IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Masons Wynd, EYEMOUTH, TD14 5HG

This dramatic statue of local fisherman hero, Willie Spears, is rather spoilt by the backdrop of mundane shops. For more details, see Image

http://rls.org.uk/database/record.php?usi=000-000-001-567-L

Leading off Main Street towards the harbour

What is going on here? The roof, chimneys and stepped skewput are all fairly typical Scottish vernacular but the horizontal emphasis of the fenestration and black banding as well as the flagpole look typical 1930s "moderne". Was this building formerly a cinema?

Willie Spears led a revolt against the custom of the Church of Scotland taking tithes of the fishing catch. The dispute ran for some twenty years before in 1861 the fishermen agreed to buy themselves of out of the tithe at a cost of £2000.

This bronze figure, in the market place, commemorates William Spears, a local fisherman who led a revolt against the tithes levied on fish by the Church of Scotland. Spears prophesised a disaster which would occur a few years after the tithes were removed, on 14 October 1883 which became known locally as 'Black Friday'. After a week of poor weather, fishermen were anxious to get to sea and did so, ignoring the advice of their barometers. In one of the costliest fishing disasters, a total of 189 men were lost when a great storm occurred. 129 of the men were from Eyemouth itself.

The statue, standing in Eyemouth market place, commemorates William Spears, who in 1841 led a peaceful rebellion against tithes placed on fish by the Church of Scotland. In this pose he is pointing to Ayton which is where the protest took place.

Descriptive plaque commemorating the admission of Robert Burns to the Royal Arch Mason Lodge St. Ebbe No.70, Royal Arch Chapter Land of Cakes No.15.

Lodge St. Ebbe No.70 on the corner of Church Street and Masons Wynd.

Celebrities have always opened doors. The Lodge Minute for 19th May 1787, records, "At a general encampment held this day, the following Brethren were made Royal Arch Masons, viz, Robert Burns from the Lodge of St. James, Tarbolton, Ayrshire, and Robert Ainslie, from the Lodge of St. Luke's, Edinburgh, by James Carmichael, William Grieve, Daniel Dow, Robert Grieve etc, etc. Robert Ainslie paid one guinea admission dues, but on account of R. Burns' remarkable poetical genius, the encampment unanimously agreed to admit him gratis and considered themselves honoured by having a man of such shining abilities for one of their Companions." I'm intrigued by the mysterious reference to the 'Land Of Cakes'. Normally I'd assume it must mean oatcakes, but in the case of Eyemouth, could it be fishcakes?