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Lower Burnmouth, EYEMOUTH, TD14 5SP

A terrace of seven houses specifically designed for the local fishing community, with garage/store space at the road level and two storeys of living accommodation above, by William Kininmonth of Rowand Anderson, Kininmonth & Paul, dating from 1948 http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/200393761-burnmouth-14-lower-burnmouth-ayton#.WVop5FEo_Gg .

A street level view of one of the 1948 fisherman's houses at Lower Burnmouth Image

An unexpected delight - some pastel painted postwar modernism in a remote coastal location. I had an inkling that this could be an early work by Basil Spence or someone of that ilk and, sure enough, a quick search of RCAHMS, and Historic Scotland websites confirmed this as Basil Spence, 1948: "A relatively intact example of Basil Spence's post-war council housing. Although not as obviously 'Scottish' as his more renowned work at Dunbar, Lower Burnmouth displays a similar attempt to combine old and new - the coloured harl, sandstone pilasters and tiled roof being set against the cantilevered balconies, thin iron railings and flush casement windows (most of which are used again in New Lane, Newhaven, 1957 - see separate list entry, Edinburgh). Like all Spence's later housing schemes, Lower Burnmouth combined practicality and modernity - accommodating fishing stores and fishermen in a high quality terrace specifically designed to take advantage of its sea views. Edwards dates the Burnmouth Housing Scheme to 1932. However, this is a separate scheme by Kininmonth and Spence which bears some resemblance to the development to the SE known as Cowdrait and Ross. Title deeds in possession of a current occupant suggest Lower Burnmouth itself dates from the mid 20th century" Source : Historic Scotland

Hats off to the architect Basil Spence for including cantilevered balconies in this 1948 terrace of fishermen's houses.

An unexpected example of early post-war modernism on the Berwickshire Coast (architect : Basil Spence, 1948). This is the rear of the block shown in Image . Grade B listed, Historic Scotland outlines its significance thus : "A relatively intact example of Basil Spence's post-war council housing. Although not as obviously 'Scottish' as his more renowned work at Dunbar, Lower Burnmouth displays a similar attempt to combine old and new - the coloured harl, sandstone pilasters and tiled roof being set against the cantilevered balconies, thin iron railings and flush casement windows (most of which are used again in New Lane, Newhaven, 1957 - see separate list entry, Edinburgh). Like all Spence's later housing schemes, Lower Burnmouth combined practicality and modernity - accommodating fishing stores and fishermen in a high quality terrace specifically designed to take advantage of its sea views. Edwards dates the Burnmouth Housing Scheme to 1932. However, this is a separate scheme by Kininmonth and Spence which bears some resemblance to the development to the SE known as Cowdrait and Ross. Title deeds in possession of a current occupant suggest Lower Burnmouth itself dates from the mid 20th century." Source : Historic Scotland

Architect : Basil Spence, 1948. Grade B listed. See Image and Image for other views and information. When I planned this morning's visit to Burnmouth I was unaware of the existence of these buildings. They were, therefore, an unexpected delight on a grim, wet and misty midsummer morning. As a resident of Dunbar (20 miles up the coast) I should be able to recognise the work of Spence when I accidentally stumble upon it!

Upper Burnmouth is sited at the top of the cliff. Lower Burnmouth is hidden away at the foot of cliff and stretches out along the foreshore. Lower Burnmouth is further split into four smaller communities: Lower Burnmouth, Partanhall, Cowdrait and Ross. Lower Burnmouth sits beside the harbour and Partanhall is located to the north. The tiny community of Ross is viewed beyond Lower Burnmouth. Ross was once considered a separate community, as it lies just across the parish boundary, in the parish of Mordington.

A couple of older pictures in this grid-square refer to this property as Old Lobster Cottage, so it seems likely that it has relatively recently changed its name. If so, it is quite right it has done so, as it isn't an old cottage, but an old lobster storage house converted into a residential property about 20 years ago. It is currently rented out as a holiday home for a minimum of a week at a time, with prices hovering around the £400 mark. It appears on the first 1850s OS map of the area. Lovely nests!