There are some great local societies in East Lothian offering talks on all sorts of historical topics. We’ll try to keep this list current and hopefully there will be something of interest for you.
7th October 2026, 7.30pm at Fletcher Hall, East Saltoun: The Rough Wooing and the Siege of Haddington presented by Hugo Clark. The Saltoun Local History Group
13th October 2026 at Dunbar Town House at 7pm (Speaker at 7.30pm) on “Mony coistly abilyeaments for hir body” – The clothes of Mary and her court presented by Jenn Chamberlain. Dunbar History Society
14th October 2026, Gullane and Dirleton History Society lecture this month is entitled ‘The Lord Wardens of the Anglo-Scottish Marches’ presented by Wendy Davidson at Gullane Village Hall at 7.30 pm.
15th October 2026, The ‘Real’ King Arthur, Andrew Breeze, FRHistS, FSA, Author and Historian, Haddington’s History Society
4th November 2026, “The Analogue Village – East Saltoun as a model village of the future” will be presented by Ross McKenzie at 7.30pm at Fletcher Hall, East Saltoun. Saltoun Local History Group
19th November 2026, The Foreign Soldiers in East Lothian WWII, David Haire, Historian, Haddington’s History Society
6th January 2027, “Remarkable Women of East Lothian” will be presented by Hanita Ritchie at 7.30pm at Fletcher Hall, East Saltoun. Saltoun Local History Group
21st January 2027, The Neolithic in South East Scotland, Alison Sheridan, Archaeologist, National Museums Scotland, Haddington’s History Society
18th February 2027, Mysterious Case of the Stone of Destiny, David Maule, Author, Haddington’s History Society
18th March 2027, Craft and Kirk: Security, Status and Shelter in the Edinburgh Building Trades, Aaron Allen, University of Edinburgh, Haddington’s History Society
15th April 2027, Gaelic in Scotland, Coinneach Maclean, Author and Blue Badge Guide, Haddington’s History Society
Local History Societies in East Lothian
ACHS – Aberlady Conservation and History Society
C&PS – Cockenzie and port Seton Local History Society
CCM – Coastal Communities Museum, North Berwick
ELAF – East Lothian Antiquarian and Field Naturalists’ Society
FJGC – Friends of the John Gray Centre
GDHS – Gullane and Dirleton History Society
HHS – Haddington’s History Society