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.
2nd October 2026 to 6th March 2027 – Local History Centre’s 50th Anniversary Exhibition entitled ‘Cinematic East Lothian’, which is currently held in the temporary gallery of the John Gray Centre Museum.
To complement the exhibition, a series of other short local history film shows has also been scheduled to take place in the Local History main room on selected dates from 13th November until 23 February 2027.
10th November 2026, 7pm. Shipwrecks of the Forth – The Maritime Archaeology of the Forth and beyond, Dr. Dan Atkinson at Port Seton Bowling Club. C&PS – Cockenzie and port Seton Local History Society
12th November 2026, 7.30 pm. An Overview of New Hailes House and Gardens. Colin Wren , Dirleton Kirk Hall. GDHS – Gullane and Dirleton History Society
14th November 2026, 2.30pm. Newhailes and The Enlightenment Professor David Purdie. Holy Trinity Church, Church Street, Haddington. East Lothian Antiquarian and Field Naturalists’ Society
19th November 2026, 7.30pm. The Foreign Soldiers in East Lothian WWII, David Haire, Historian, at Holy Trinity Church, Church Street. Haddington’s History Society
19th November, 7.30pm, The Life and Times of the Richardson Family in North Berwick by David Richardson. Abbey Church, Church Road/High Street, North Berwick. Coastal Communities Museum
30th November, 2.30pm. Impact of the Romans in East Lothian. Dr Fraser Hunter, Principal Curator, Iron Age & Roman Collections, Museum of Scotland. Holy Trinity Church, Haddington. East Lothian u3a Event.
8th December 2026, 7pm. Landmarks of Haddington. Hanita Ritchie – East Lothian Council Local History Officer at Port Seton Bowling Club. C&PS – Cockenzie and port Seton Local 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, 7.30pm. The Neolithic in South East Scotland, Alison Sheridan, Archaeologist, National Museums Scotland, at Holy Trinity Church, Church Street. Haddington’s History Society
18th February 2027, 7.30pm. Mysterious Case of the Stone of Destiny, David Maule, Author, at Holy Trinity Church, Church Street. Haddington’s History Society
18th March 2027, 7.30pm. Craft and Kirk: Security, Status and Shelter in the Edinburgh Building Trades, Aaron Allen, University of Edinburgh, , at Holy Trinity Church, Church Street. Haddington’s History Society
15th April 2027, 7.30pm. Gaelic in Scotland, Coinneach Maclean, Author and Blue Badge Guide,, at Holy Trinity Church, Church Street. 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
HRG – Haddington Remembered Group
MMHG – Musselburgh Museum & Heritage Group