THE rich heritage of the Musselburgh area is playing a part in this year’s East Lothian Archaeology & Heritage Fortnight.
There is a chance to join local historian Alister Hadden for a historic walk around Wallyford this Saturday, 10am-noon.
He will explore its past, from the historic industries of mining and brickworks to famous footballers and authors.
The event is free and no booking is required. Meet at the Wallyford Mining Memorial stone at the St Clements housing estate just off Salters Road.
Living history group Catching The Past leads a guided walk – ‘Musselburgh Firsts’ – next Thursday (September 8), 2.30-4pm.
Some of the stories and people behind the Honest Toun, which has seen the birth of many events of historical importance from the Romans to the present day, will be examined.
Living history group Catching The Past will lead a guided walk in Musselburgh
All children must be accompanied by an adult. Meet at the Pinkie Pillars opposite St Peter’s Church on High Street.
The walk costs £4 for adults. Booking is preferred by sending a message via the Catching The Past Facebook page.
Musselburgh Museum on High Street is hosting ‘Made in Musselburgh’, an exhibition on Musselburgh’s mills, next Friday (September 9), 2-4pm.
The town was once dominated by Brunton’s Wire Mill, Stuarts Net Mill and Inveresk Paper Mill. The products made at these mills were famous across the globe and put Musselburgh firmly on the map.
Brunton's Wire Mill closed in 1997. Image courtesy of the John Gray Centre
The event is free and no booking is required.
A talk entitled ‘Pinkie Cleugh beyond Musselburgh: the reaction to the battle’ is also held next Friday, 7.30-9.30pm in St Peter’s Church Hall, High Street.
The speaker is Dr Amy Blakeway, of the University of St Andrews.
On September 10, 1547, the Scottish royal army was heavily defeated by an English invading force in the fields between Inveresk and Wallyford.
As many as 10,000 Scots were massacred in the rout that followed.
The English invasion was intended to bring about the betrothal of the four-year-old Mary, Queen of Scots to the boy king Edward VI.
It failed in this purpose – a decade later, Mary married Francis, heir to the throne of France.
Dr Blakeway’s lecture will consider the response to these dramatic events in the courts of Britain and Europe.
This event has been organised by Musselburgh Conservation Society. It is free but visitors will be asked to make a voluntary contribution to the society. Booking is required for non-members.
People can also join the Old Musselburgh Club for its annual commemoration of the battle at the memorial stone at Salters Road at the A1 junction, Wallyford, next Saturday (September 10).
The ceremony is preceded by a battlefield walk starting at the Roman Bridge.
The events are free, with no booking needed.
Go to www.johngraycentre.org/about/archaeology/archaeology-events/east-lothian-archaeology-heritage-fortnight for more information and to book.
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