The main hall of our museum houses our permanent exhibition about the Battle of Prestonpans. Although there is no formal route to follow, we recommend visitors begin on their left. This will take them through the dynastic dispute which underpinned the Jacobite conflicts, after which they should explore our impressive battlefield diorama to discover the events of the battle itself.
Behind the diorama you will find our Prestonpans Tapestry display, which is not to be missed either. The stage area is overseen by Prince Charles Edward Stuart himself (or at least, our mannequin of him!), whilst the final area is devoted to the legacy of Colonel James Gardiner.
Highlights of our exhibition include: a lock of the prince’s hair and a reputed piece of the tartan he wore during the battle; a selection of newspaper reports covering the battle from Edinburgh, London and Paris; a letter written by Sir John Cope; and a first edition of Doddridge’s biography of Colonel Gardiner. You will also find replica uniforms and equipment, and a special encampment area for our younger visitors!
The main hall also displays our collection of large-scale paintings by Andrew Hillhouse, a sequence which illustrates key events from the day of the battle including the Riggonhead march, the charge of the Camerons, the death of Colonel Gardiner, the surrender of the baggage train, and the aftermath of the fighting.
The hall is the venue for many of our events, from illustrated talks to tabtletop wargames, object handling sessions, and musical performances.
