Welcome to East Lothian Antiquarians

Our transactions are an important part of the society’s contribution to East Lothian. Our website is intended to share the wealth of knowledge we have accumulated and encourage wider participation in our passion for our historic and natural heritage.

Stephen Bunyan

President

PRESIDENTS ANNUAL REPORT 2019/2020

The 94th Annual General Meeting of the Society was held at Chalmers Memorial Church Cockenzie on 18th. May 2019. The President welcomed 18  members to the meeting. The following obituaries were noted., Sir Hew Hamilton Dalrymple Bt. GCVO, Sheelagh Dowager Countess of...
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East Lothian Antiquarian & Field Naturalists Society – 10th August 2020

Dear Member, I feel I should make a progress report but it is rather a no progress report. I wrote to you some time ago saying that because of the government imposed Lock Down we could not meet. I had hoped then that if we abandoned the summer meetings, we would be...
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A mystery solved: Guns at Bourhouse

The guns at Bourhouse were known to have existed but nothing else was known about them locally. By an amazing chance this position changed in 2005 when The Rev L Twaddle forwarded to me a letter he had received about ten years before. I decided to telephone the sender...
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Brian Young, 16 April, 1934 – 28 May, 2020

Member of the Forth and Borders Committee AHSS (1997 – 2003), Founder of the East Lothian Panel (2003 – 2020) Seán O’Reilly comments: “How sad about Brian; I remember him very fondly, not least for his quiet but supportive advice. A genuine classic, with a huge...
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East Lothian Antiquarian and Field Naturalists’ Society – 20 March 2020 – Letter from the President

Dear Member I am writing to you to you to express concern about the present position. We face, as you know, a grave situation where life seems to be closing down around us. Who would have believed a month ago that we would have museums closed, the Boat Race and the...
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About ELAFNS

Founded in 1924 the declared aims were then as they are today:

to study the antiquities of the area, to collect material of interest, to publish relevant articles, to go on appropriate excursions to have lectures and to stimulate general interest in the history of East Lothian

I look forward to seeing you at one of our public talks, member only site visits or ELAFN business meetings, if you want to get involved in developing the programme.

STEPHEN BUNYAN

President

Our Publications

The entire publications archive, comprising over 40 volumes issued since 1924, has been digitised and made available free of charge providing an invaluable resource for members, researchers and the general public.

Only the most recent Transactions volume requires a full membership.

A good number of the past volumes are now available for purchase, including a number of scarce early issues, also discounted for members.

Search All our Past Publications

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Join Us

Joining is easy

Members will get a chance to visit places which are not often open to the general public.

The subscription is excellent value. In 1924 it was 5/- pa, which in today’s terms was £30/pa and equivalent to the pay of 2 days skilled labour.

So do join us, we would love to have you as a member.

If you are a UK tax payer don’t forget the Gift Aid form.

JOIN NOW

Membership benefits

INDIVIDUAL

£15/annual
  • Access to all the online publications
  • Purchase back issues at a strong discount
  • Access to all the latest publications
  • A free copy of the latest transactions
  • Guest winter lectures
  • Attend site visits subject to numbers

JOINT

best value
£20/annual
  • Access to all the online publications
  • Purchase back issues at a strong discount
  • Access to all the latest publications
  • A free copy of the latest transactions
  • Attend guest speaker winter lectures
  • Attend site visits subject to numbers
  • Save £5 each on a single membership

FREE

£0
  • Access to all the online publications
  • Purchase back issues (no discount)
  • Guest winter lectures

The Fourth Statistical Account of East Lothian

In 1997 ELAFNS, in a consortium with the eleven local history societies of East Lothian and the Council’s Library Service, published seven volumes on the county’s recent economic and social history, spanning the period 1945-2000.

These are on sale through local bookshops and libraries.

With the physical archive material now deposited with East Lothian Council’s Local History Centre in Haddington, the extended digital version has been recently revamped.

BROWSE EL4.ORG.UK

East Lothian Events & Lectures

Past Outings

Visit to Marchmont House

Jul 15, 2019

The July outing of the Society saw members visit Marchmont House near Greenlaw in the Scottish Borders. The house is...

Outing to Portmore Gardens

Jul 15, 2019

Members enjoyed their first outing of the summer with a visit to Portmore Gardens at Eddlestone near Peebles. Once...

Guided Walk Around East Linton

May 28, 2019

Saturday 3rd August. A guided walk round the historic village of East Linton with Garry Menzies This historic town...

Outings are members only events.

Events & Lectures

East Lothian Place Names

Feb 9, 2020

Members of the East Lothian Antiquarian and Field Naturalists Society gathered at the Maitlandfield House Hotel on 8th...

Lectures are open to the public, subject to a small admission charge.

Members Forum

Prestonpans West Kirkyard

Mar 12, 2020

On the south side of the High Street Prestonpans (NT384 743) lies the West Kirkyard. Entered by a central double...

The Society and Haddington House

Mar 7, 2020

Haddington House has just undergone extensive refurbishment and restoration and is now available as offices for local...

New Members Forum

Nov 21, 2019

We are setting up of a members area section of the website. The purpose of the new section is to encourage and widen...

We welcome informative contributions to the website from all members.

ELAFNS

East Lothian Antiquarian & Field Naturalists Society, SC007701
Registered Charity from 06 November 1953
© East Lothian Antiquarian & Field Naturalists’ Society