Four projects are in the running for Musselburgh Conservation Society’s annual award for good design or sensitive renovation.

They are: refurbishment of the stables courtyard at historic Newhailes House which has a coffee shop and ice cream parlour in what would once have been the dairy; revamp of The Ship Inn in North High Street; sculpture of the Battle of Pinkie soldiers at the new Pinkie housing estate; and the conversion of the former Quay restaurant and leisure complex at Fisherrow into Harbour House care home.

The society will award a plaque to the 2021 winner after the decision is made in December.

Camelia Symes, chairperson, said: “Each year new projects are photographed and displayed at a meeting of the society and members vote for the one they consider the best. A distinctive plaque is presented to the building owner and these can be seen on buildings around the town.”

There have been years when no presentation has been made: 1994, 2016 and 2018.

“Winners must meet our criteria,” stressed Ms Symes.

The 2020 Design Award was presented to Svetlana Kondakova and Maja Quille, the co-designers of the bronze archer statue which is sited in The Mall close to the River Esk.

It is one of two art projects funded in Musselburgh by the supermarket chain Tesco.

The designers are graduates of the Edinburgh College of Art who settled on the figure to represent key periods in Musselburgh history. The statue represents the Roman occupation of the area during the year 80AD. It is also symbolic of the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in 1547 when the Scottish army was dealt a terrible blow by the English invaders.

Musselburgh Conservation Society was formed more than 30 years ago and is a community based, non-profit making organisation run by volunteers.