Published: Thursday, 17th January, 2008 09:30
Battles to boost tourism
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HISTORIANS and archaelogists will lend their expertise at a two-day conference in Prestonpans geared to promoting important East Lothian battles as tourist attractions.
The Battle of Prestonpans Heritage Trust 1745 is behind the move which will also include representatives keen to give higher profile to the battles of Dunbar and Pinkie, Musselburgh.
Scottish Power (who own the land at the Prestonpans battlefield), archaeologists, artists and local historians will be discussing the best way forward for a proposed £7 million visitor centre by 2011 at the site of the famous battle near Meadowmill Sports Centre.
The symposium will see the three battle groups uniting to press for laws to protect the battlefield sites as conservation or listed areas.
The various battle trustees and history societies will be asked to educate the symposium and explore how each can share and support the individual battles.
Battle of Prestonpans trustee, the Baron of Prestoungrange, said: “The purpose is to see how each and every one understands the stunning victory (at Prestonpans) and the hope and ambition it fostered across Scotland.
“We also want to highlight how the symposium can play a role in the conservation and presentation of the battle to today’s youngsters, newcomers to the area and visitors, for posterity in Scotland at large.
“We hope to have a visitor centre in the Pans by 2011 and in it will be an interpretation of all the major East Lothian battles. Not to steal the other battles’ own rightful place, but to show that East Lothian was the route along which the invaders came from England.”
The battle trust has also been in regular contact with the National Trust for Scotland and Culloden which have invited it to share in joint marketing schemes if the centre becomes a reality.
Trustee Herbert Coutts, former director of culture and leisure at City of Edinburgh Council, will chair the symposium on September 18 and 19 at the community centre.
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