When regionalisation took place in 1975 the coat of Arms used by the Royal Burgh of Haddington since 1296 disappeared along with the Burgh Council.
The Arms have now re-appeared in a new form on the recently granted coat of Arms for the Royal Burgh of Haddington and District Community Council.
As the Community Council also incorporates the Parish of Athelstaneford, the opportunity has been taken to symbolise the legendary association of that parish with the adoption of the saltire as the National Flag of Scotland. In 1578 John Lesley, Bishop of Ross and a famous Scottish antiquary, wrote in his 'History of Scotland' that Hungus, King of the Picts was being attacked by Athelstan, King of the west Saxons. Hungus sought help from Achains, King of the Scots. The two Kings joined forces and during the night before their battle with Athelstan, St Andrew appeared to Hungus in a vision and promised complete victory. Bishop Ross told how at the dawn of day there appeared in the sky a representation of the X-shaped cross on which St Andrew suffered martyrdom. This sight so inspired the armies of Hungus and Achains that they attacked fiercely and completely routed their enemy at Athelstan's Ford in East Lothian. To celebrate the victory King Hungus adopted the cross of the saint as his symbol and when Picts and Scots joined to form one Kingdom this symbol became the flag of the new Kingdom of Scotland.
Even if this story had been invented by Bishop Ross it has now become part of the folklore of Scotland and gives fame to the parish. In the Council shield we can see a line of clouds and there against blue sky, the white cross of St Andrew.
Beneath this is the goat and vine, used since medieval times as the armoriac insign of Haddington. No one knows why such a subject was adopted but it was quite common in classical times. As this symbol could represent prosperity (no need for the goat to eat grass when a succulent vine is available) the medieval townspeople of Haddington may have thought the goat and vine appropriate for one of the most important burghs in Scotland at that period.
There is a local Haddington tradition that a carved stone goat stood on top of the old mercat cross before it was replaced by the present Victorian structure. Unfortunately this was not so as a fragment remains of the former finial (it is kept in Haddington House) and there is clear evidence that it was a Royal Unicorn which decorated the old cross.
In St Mary's Collegiate church there is a very fine carved stone on the east wall showing the goat and vine.
The new coat of arms is surmounted by the thistle and pine cone coronet which the Lord Lyon devised for all the new community councils following regionalisation.
So the old Arms have been given new life, and will continue to represent the people of a proud and historic burgh. The new Arms for the first time also give official recognition to the place Athelstaneford occupies in the story of Scotland; heraldic colour can again be used to symbolise the area's community and give identity to a unique part of the land we call our own.
C J Burnett, Dingwall Puirsuivant 1986