Prestongrange Museum

About the museum

The land at Prestongrange has been worked for more than 400 years. Monks from Newbattle Abbey began mining coal here in the 12th century, and later the site also had a harbour at Morrison's Haven, glassworks, a pottery and brickworks. Salt boiling, soap making and chemical manufacture are also recorded in the area. The colliery closed in the early 1960s.

The most striking exhibit is a Cornish beam engine, which was bought in 1874 by the Prestongrange Coal and Iron Company and shipped north from Cornwall to pump water out of the mine. It worked until 1954, when electric pumps replaced it, and it is the only engine of its type in Scotland. A Hoffmann continuous kiln used for brickmaking and the old power house are both listed buildings, and the site also has winding gear, coal wagons and a steam crane.

A retired mining engineer, David Spence, proposed a museum here, and a steering committee was formed in 1968. The site opened as the National Mining Museum on 28 September 1984. In 1992 East Lothian District Council took it back from the national museum and renamed it Prestongrange Industrial Heritage Museum. It is now run by East Lothian Council Museums Service, and a visitor centre houses an exhibition and a café.

Highlights

• Cornish beam engine, the only one of its type in Scotland
• Hoffmann brick kiln and colliery power house
• Winding gear, coal wagons and a steam crane
• Engine Shed with locomotives and wagons, seen on a site tour
• Free audio tour and guided site tours

Permanent exhibition

• Prestongrange industrial heritage site – An exhibition in the visitor centre and an outdoor site with a beam engine, kiln and winding gear tell the story of over 400 years of coal, brick, glass and pottery making.

Founded

1984

Operated by

East Lothian Council Museums Service

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free; donations are welcome. Some events and activities may carry a small charge.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

A sloping path leads to the visitor centre, which has level access, and the power house is reached by a ramp. A staircase leads to the beam engine building and there are more flights of stairs inside, with no stair lifts. An accessible toilet is in the public areas. Blue Badge parking is available near the entrance. The council points visitors to Euan's Guide for more detail and asks them to get in touch with questions.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum is signposted from the A1, B1348 and B1361 and lies just off the John Muir Way. Electric vehicle charging is available at Wallyford Park and Ride.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Wi-Fi

Pithead Canteen Café is inside the visitor centre and runs with it from April to September. Free guest Wi-Fi (network "ELC-Guest Wifi") is available outside the visitor centre all year. Secure bike locking is just outside the visitor centre.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit