Balgone House Saturday 7th June, 2 PM for 2.30 PM
Balgone House is about 2 miles south east of North Berwick. It incorporates an early 17th century L-plan tower house. It has since been extensively remodelled, particularly in the 18th and 19th centuries. In the 20th century the house became ruinous but was lovingly restored in the 1990’s by Alan and Fidelity Dean. This visit to their home is by their kind invitation.
Fully Subscribed
Dunbar Harbour Saturday 5th July, 2 PM for 2.30 PM
Led by Alasdair Swan a recent long standing Trustee of Dunbar Harbour Trust. The history and developments of the harbour will be described. As sea birds will be very active at this time it is hoped that bird expert will be in attendance. Further, it is hoped that active will be present to give a current / historical view of fishing. The appearance of the harbour seals is not guaranteed.
The event will end with refreshments and chat – details TBC.
Quite flexible on maximum numbers
Newbattle Abbey Thursday 18th September, 2 PM for 2.30 PM
A private tour of the Abbey and it’s wonderful gardens. Founded as a Cistercian Monastery in 1140 by King David 1st. It then became the Kerr family home in the 16th century and an adult residential college in 1937. The army requisitioned it during World War 2 but opened its doors to a college again in 1950. It has a fascinating history which will be described during the tour. It was her that a Council of Nobles met here in Spring 1320. They drafted a letter asking the Pope to recognise Scotland’s independence and acknowledge Robert Bruce as the lawful king. This letter became The Declaration of Arbroath !
There will also be an opportunity to explore the beautiful Italian Garden.
Preston Tower Saturday 18th October, 2 PM for 2.30 PM
After extensive consolidation Preston Tower is available for private tours. Preston Tower is said to have been a property of the Homes, but is recorded as being held by the Setons in the 13th century before passing to the Liddles. It went by marriage at the end of the 14th century to the Hamiltons of Rossavon, Fingalton and Preston, who probably built the tower. Preston was torched in 1544 by the Earl of Hertford, and then in October 1650 by Cromwell’s forces, when all the family papers were burnt.
The consolidation was a £1.1 million project. The first phase involved repairs to the doo’cot, installation of new interpretation boards, a new garden seating area around a carved stone contemplation circle, and new paths. The second phase featured specialist stonework and plaster repairs, renewal of metalwork in the tower including an external staircase to allow public access to the inside of the tower for the first time in 40 years.
Talks
All at Holy Trinity Church, Haddington, 2.30 PM unless otherwise advised.
“The material landscapes of Scotland’s jewellery craft.” Saturday 1st November 2025
Dr Sarah Laurenson, Principal Curator & Head of Modern and Contemporary History at National Museums Scotland will give a talk based on her recent extensively researched and beautifully illustrated book on Scotland’s jewellery. Whilst fine jewellery will be illustrated, the talk will also explore how jewellers sourced and used a range of materials from Scotland’s varied natural landscape: precious gold and silver, sparking crystals and colourful agates, freshwater pearls and shells. A most interesting and colourful journey into the world of Scottish jewellery is assured.
“New looks at old pasts: the impact of LiDAR on our understanding of the landscape in the Border counties.” Saturday 22nd November 2025.
Stratford Halliday is a researcher from the University of Edinburgh, School of History, Classics and Archaeology. Amongst other topics he has a keen interest in airborne Laser Scanning or LiDAR which is an enormously important innovation for data collection and interpretation in archaeology.
“The travels of the 2nd Sir Hew and his wife”. Saturday 13th December, 2025.
Sir Hew Dalrymple will give a talk based on correspondence between the 2nd Sir Hew and his wife when he travelled north from London to Scotland in the summer of 1744.
January 2026 To be confirmed
A talk on the “Peebles Hoard” is being sought. This is a spectacular collection of bronze, leather and wooden material dating from the Late Bronze Age (c.1000-800 BCE). Many of these objects have never been found before in Scotland. It would be an excellent companion to the Fraser Hunter talk on the Traprain Roman treasure.
“Farm servants of South East Scotland between 1750 and 1914”. Saturday 21st February 2026.
David McLean will give a talk on the farm servants of South East Scotland between 1750 and 1914. This will describe the lives of thousands of farm servants and bondagers who worked on the improved farms of Berwickshire, Roxburghshire and East Lothian through the years of the great agricultural revolution.
“The incredible scientific pioneering life of Lord Kelvin” Saturday 21st March 2026
Professor Martin-Torres FRSE will describe the life of William Thomson, known in history as Lord Kelvin (of the temperature scale). Thomson enrolled at the University of Edinburgh at just 10 years old. He had an insatiable curiosity and interdisciplinary approach to science leading him to explore diverse areas of inquiry – from thermodynamics, electromagnetism to geophysics and navigation and much more besides.
Ian Hardie
Events Manager
May 21 2025