The Scottish Flag Heritage Centre has reopened today in Athelstaneford after the first stage of restoration work was completed.

The Scottish Flag Trust is a registered Scottish charity which maintains the Saltire Memorial and the Flag Heritage Centre and promotes the proper use of the Saltire.

The village is said to be the birthplace of the Saltire, Scotland’s national flag after it appeared in the sky during battle, inspiring the Picts and Scots to victory in 832AD.

The centre is currently housed in the 16th century Hepburn doocot in the village which has now undergone an £100,000 restoration to revive the building by specialist heritage contractors.

Megan Leishman, grants manager of Historic Environment Scotland, said: “HES are delighted to have been able to support the Scottish Flag Trust in their repair of the Hepburn doocot and hope that many more people will be able to visit and enjoy this important national site for years to come.”

However, the restoration project is only the first in a number of developments to improve the birthplace of Scotland’s national flag.

A new accessible pathway will be built with an “interpretive timeline” telling the history and adoption of the Saltire from the dark ages to present.

New paving and landscaping will be present around the Saltire Memorial, telling the story of St Andrew’s and Scot’s societies across the globe.

Additionally, a new audio-visual experience will provide an immersive telling of the Battle of Athelstaneford and the birth of Scotland’s flag.

David Williamson, chair of the Scottish Flag Trust, said: “This has been a major project and great to see the building restored and looking its best.

“With the building secure we hope the public will get behind our funding drive at saltire.scot to radically improve the birthplace of Scotland’s flag.”