Cockenzie, a fishing village in Tranent parish, Haddingtonshire, 1¾ mile NNE of Tranent station, and 1 NE of Prestonpans, under which it has a post office. At it are an hotel, saltworks, a harbour, a handsome public school, an Established chapel of ease (1838; 450 sittings), and a Free church; and a model fishing village is now (Nov. 1881) in course of erection between it and Port Seton, which lies ½ mile to the east-north-eastward. The harbour, Port Seton, opened in 1880, and constructed of concrete at a cost of £11,800, including £2000 from Lord Wemyss, has a draught at high-water of 16 feet, and covers nearly 8 acres. The parapeted E wall, 730 feet long and 21½ feet high, with a cross-pier or 'hammerhead,' and the W breakwater, 450 feet long, from 12 to 6 broad, and 19½ high, leave an entrance 125 feet wide. In Nov. 1881 there belonged to this harbour 35 deep-sea boats and 24 yawls, the former manned each by 7, the latter by 5, hands. Cockenzie House adjacent has long been a seat of the Cadells, distinguished members of which family are Scott's publisher, Rt. Cadell (1788-1849), and the Australian explorer, Francis Cadell (b. 1822). Here the victors of Prestonpans discovered Cope's military chest, containing £2500. Pop. of Cockenzie and Port Seton (1861) 649, (1871) 1055, (1881) 1612.
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