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.
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
Recent Updates
- Visit to Papple Steading Saturday 11th June
Guided tour by George Mackintosh ending with tea / coffee and cake. Largely outside – internal viewing optional. Self discovery of adjacent Papple Wood. An opportunity to find out more about George Mackintosh’s potential home, in this exciting… - ELAFNS AGM & Outline Summer Programme
This year the AGM will be held on Saturday 14th May 2022 at 2.30pm. Venue the Stables, behind Prestonkirk church. There is ample parking. The AGM will be followed by a talk on the History of Whitekirk Church… - East Lothian Antiquarian and Field Naturalists’ Society Annual Report 2022Due to Covid, an AGM was held on Zoom on 13th May 2021. It was decided that the existing Council should carry on pro tem. This was followed by a talk by George Mackintosh on the Papple project.
Our Publications Archive
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.
Research Tools
Our website has been augmented with some simple research tools that will retrieve content from our print publications and more. Powered by Google technologies, searches can be modified with refinements and images are also retrieved.
Join Us
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.
Choose a Membership
Individual
£15
- 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/Family
£20
- 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
- s libero sit
Free
£0
- Access to all the online publications
- Purchase back issues (no discount)
- Guest winter lectures
for a small fee
The Fourth Statistical Account
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.