Terracotta pantiles became the roofing material of choice in eighteenth century East Lothian. The pantiles replaced thatch on the oldest buildings. Slate tiles supplanted them in the nineteenth century but characteristic red roofs are a still a signature feature of urban and rural East Lothian in the present day.

This painting details the pantiled roofs of some buildings in Haddington. The large grey roofed building is part of the George Hotel, situated near to the Hardgate area of the town.

Dorothea Nimmo Smith was born in Haddington in 1889. A keen amateur artist, she painted many scenes in and around Haddington. East Lothian Council Museum Service holds a large collection of her work. This collection is a rich visual source for those who are interested in recent local history.