Bethune - Heritage & Media

09/07/2024

GIVE US A BOOST BY DONATING A PIECE OF WAGGONWAY!

Many of you have asked us recently if, at some stage, you can donate a piece of actual waggonway - and now you can!

We've assembled a wish list of waggonway components which we'll need, from treenails and cobbles to sleepers and rails, there's a whole range of items - so please do have a browse: https://www.1722waggonway.co.uk/waggonway-fundraising

You can find out more about the project here:
https://www.1722waggonway.co.uk/about-the-project

21/05/2024

A salt pan will return to Cockenzie House & Gardens after planning permission was granted.

31/01/2024

If you like a bit of bold atmospheric Scottish art, check out Ian Darling's great prints and originals here on his new website.

Ian Darling Artist. Scottish Prints and Originals

31/01/2024

Thursday 21st March 20247.30pm (doors open 7pm)VENUE: Battle of Prestonpans Jacobite Museum, Prestonpans Town Hall. Dr Adrian Maldonado joins us to speak about the Galloway Hoard, the world-famous viking-age treasure. Adrian is currently Galloway Hoard Researcher at National Museums Scotland. He rec...

28/09/2023

What on earth! 😰

Northumberland National Park Authority officials asked people to stay away from the site.

07/07/2023

Thursday 7 September – Sunday 10 September 10:00 am – 4:00 pm daily The Waggonway Project return to Cockenzie Harbour for a dig at the historic salt pans and waggonway, which lie buried at the north-east corner. An exploratory excavation in 2018 revealed surviving remnants of salt pan houses whi...

30/06/2023

19/05/2023

History Scotland is your number one online resource for Scottish history and nostalgia, bringing you daily news and expert articles on Scottish heritage, history and events.

22/03/2023

The books are in! 😀

If you pre-ordered a copy for collection from the Waggonway Museum, the first opportunity to do this will be Thurs 23rd & Fri 24th March, between 10am - 4pm. We’ll be messaging out to you all as well :)

https://www.1722waggonway.co.uk/product-page/natural-history-guide-preston-seton-gosford

04/03/2023

13/02/2023

Spring book deal - 3 books for just £30!1xJournals of William Dickson1x1722 Waggonway History Guide1xQuietus Account of Tranent ParishLimited time only - offer ends 30th April 2023

10/02/2023

A collection of four murals have appeared at Prestonpans train station depicting old railway scenes.

05/02/2023

A team from the 1722 Waggonway Project go in search of a lost Waulk Mill near Gifford, East Lothian.

05/02/2023

Whilst looking for a waulk mill at Gifford, the team stumbled across an intriguing industrial site close to the old station… but what is it…?

28/01/2023

Unbelievable discovery in Wakefield!

The frame uncovered in Wakefield is thought to date back as far as the 1500s.

13/11/2022

As we again remember those who have fallen during conflict, a new chapter begins at Prestonpans War Memorial. Over the past few years, a project to repair and refresh the Civic Square and War Memorial has been ongoing and has now reached a quite stunning conclusion. Refreshed and repaired stonework....

17/09/2022

Very proud to finally introduce the Work Journals of William Dickson to the wider public 😊

Last night’s launch event was a wonderful celebration of a book which will provide unique insights into 18th century industrial working life in Scotland. Thanks to all who attended and made it such an enjoyable occasion!

The book is now available for online sales here: https://www.1722waggonway.co.uk/shop-1

(photo - Dr.H.Ritchie)

12/09/2022

The first weekend in September saw our dig team pick up their trowels again to excavate in the historic coal depot at Cockenzie - the Coalfauld. This short f...

15/08/2022

Work on site this summer has focused on completing repairs to the Doocot and installing the footpath and contemplation circle. The path is now in, providing easy access for everyone to the Doocot and the North side of the gardens whilst complementing the existing formal garden design. New turf has b...

13/07/2022

We’re delighted to announce that the launch of our new publication, “The Work Journals of William Dickson - Wright at Cockenzie 1717-1745”, will be held on 16th September 2022 at the Fraser Centre in Tranent. These journals represent a unique cultural resource which can not only tell us about ...

12/07/2022

What a phenomenal find! The 3D scan of this will be unbelievably good!

Experts describe cobalt mine at Alderley Edge as ‘time capsule’ thanks to lack of oxygen

01/07/2022

A fantastic piece of heritage from one of the organisations I work with!

"It was the one place where I couldn't wait for Monday morning, to go to work." Dorothy Clyde talks about her memories of working in the potteries at Preston...

04/06/2022

Today’s activities - interesting results!

31/05/2022

Great working with Aaron and Hanita on this!

27/05/2022

Delighted that one of our wonderful heritage destinations enjoyed their retro advert and picture which I shared the other day - these were from 1973 and featured in a tourist guide to East Lothian.

24/05/2022

This mornings heritage activity - recording a podcast with partner in crime Dr Aaron Allen and East Lothian Local History Officer Dr Hanita Ritchie - this will be a good one and will be available next week.

Ed and Aaron were delighted to record a podcast with Hanita at the John Gray Centre today - it’ll be available next week on their socials and is packed with riveting chat on the waggonway, archaeology happening this year and the publication of the William Dickson Journals. We can’t wait to share it with you!

20/05/2022

Incredible piece of work, which will soon be published and ready for the big wide world!

Very excited! The proofs are here for our forthcoming Scottish Records Society edition of the work journals of the wright who built Scotland’s first railway, the 1722 Tranent-Cockenzie Waggonway.

It’s being published as part of our 300th anniversary, and is due out in late summer with a launch event planned for September.

08/05/2022

A great day yesterday as the 1722 Waggonway marked the tercentenary of this waggonway and railways in Scotland.

21/04/2022

What a find!!

Incredible pictures show the discovery.

26/03/2022

Just some of today’s activities. This was a short notice bonus test pit which turned out to be extremely productive - of course I had to make a video :)