What's on in our museums

Exhibitions

Earthscapes

Thursday 5 February to Saturday 28 March.

Wednesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 1pm to 5pm. Free admission.

John Muir’s Birthplace, High Street, Dunbar, EH42 1JJ.

Aerial landscapes of East Lothian and Scotland by Emma Duncan show both man’s impact and ‘wilder’ areas and feature a range of landscapes including moorland, forestry, highlands and coastal areas. The viewer is invited to explore the diversity of our Scottish landscapes when seen from a different perspective and consider the fragile balances upon which our landscapes are built.

Visions of Haddington 

Friday 16 January to Thursday 2 April. Free admission.

John Gray Centre - Museum, 15 Lodge Street, Haddington, EH41 3DX.

An exhibition combining mixed media images by local illustrator Thomas Small, with artworks from the East Lothian Council collection. Dating from the 1700s to the present day, they show Haddington people and places and are brought to life with fascinating captions by Haddington’s History Society. 

Summers in Dunbar

Saturdays 7, 14 and 21 March 2pm to 4pm courtesy of Dunbar and District History Society. Free admission.

Dunbar Town House Museum and Gallery, High Street, Dunbar EH42 1ER.

In this exhibition we celebrate Dunbar as a tourist destination and as a place where locals and visitors have all enjoyed summers in the past. Many still recall the heyday of Dunbar’s outdoor swimming pool, golf championships, horse events, pony trekking and children’s summer activities.

Dunbar and District History Society holds a large collection of early tourist brochures. The exhibition invites you to look at just some aspects of summers in our town, while also allowing the brochures to tell the story.

We would be delighted to receive new photographs or other material from the past, to add to this collection. All original images can be copied and returned.

Other opportunities

Historic records and online exhibitions

Our museums’ Collections Officer Dr Claire Pannell has been updating the John Gray Centre website information about the banner and flag collection. The oldest item dates back to 1761 and is a flag flown by Haddington Weaver's Guild.  This flag was used for around a century after it was made in 1761. It was flown by Haddington Weaver's Guild when the membership was assembled on public occasions, such as parades marking royal events or other national celebrations. Weavers were one of Haddington's nine 'Incorporated Trades'.

Explore more historic records and online exhibitions at www.johngraycentre.org 

The Museums Service Team have been exploring opportunities with the Eco-Museum of Scottish Mining Landscapes and are excited to highlight the first East Lothian contribution in the form of a self-guided walk that you can enjoy on foot, by bike or from a comfy seat!

Historic Wallyford

Take a step back in time as you walk/cycle the hidden history of Wallyford. From historic industries of coal mining and brick manufacturing to famous footballers, golfers, authors and the largest and last battle between Scotland and England (Battle of Pinkie Cleugh 1547). This route, mostly to the south side of Wallyford, is suitable for walking bikes, buggies with certain parts not suitable for wheelchairs and will take approximately two hours to walk. https://www.mining-landscapes.org/routes

East Lothian Council Museums:

John Gray Centre (Museum)

15 Lodge Street, Haddington, EH41 3DX.            

Thursday and Friday 10am to 1pm, 2pm to 5pm, Saturday 10am to 1pm, 2pm to 4pm.

www.johngraycentre.org

John Muir's Birthplace

126 High Street, Dunbar, EH42 1JJ.

Wednesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 1pm to 5pm.

www.jmbt.org.uk

Dunbar Town House Museum and Gallery

High Street, Dunbar, EH42 1ER.

Saturday 2pm to 4pm courtesy of Dunbar and District History Society volunteers.

www.eastlothian.gov.uk/dunbar-town-house