Heritage consultant David Hicks brings us the stories behind some of East Lothian’s historic properties. The phrase ‘hidden gem’ can be a little overused, but it really is an apt description of Chalmers Memorial Church. This is a building with a distinctive sense of place, built and decorated to serve the local fishing community. It…

Heritage consultant David Hicks brings us the stories behind some of East Lothian’s historic properties. In terms of architectural history, Gullane deserves a place on the map for its significant collection of Arts and Crafts homes. The movement was at its height in Scotland when the Edwardian tourism boom brought the wealthy to the village,…

Heritage consultant David Hicks brings us the stories behind some of East Lothian’s historic properties. One of the most noticeable landmarks as you travel up the A1 is Bankton House near Prestonpans, a splash of colour in the landscape that grabs your attention as you head into Edinburgh. Once described as ’a standing disgrace’ to…

Heritage consultant David Hicks brings us the stories behind some of East Lothian’s historic properties. Historic houses often have a tale of survival against the odds, but there can be few as dramatic as Archerfield House. Only twenty years ago, this grand old building was a derelict shell with boarded-up windows and a grand entrance…

Heritage consultant David Hicks brings us the stories behind some of East Lothian’s historic properties. St Michael’s Church in Inveresk has to be one of the most noticeable buildings in East Lothian, perched on top of a hill and with its steeple easily seen as you speed along the A1. Legend has it that a…

Heritage consultant David Hicks brings us the stories behind some of East Lothian’s historic properties. As garden features go, re-creating an active volcano is certainly a dramatic talking point. Of course, it needs a bit of imagination to bring to life, but you can see the remains of just such a building in the grounds…

Heritage consultant David Hicks brings us the stories behind some of East Lothian’s historic properties. After a long and chequered history, Cockenzie House finally has a bright future as a thriving community hub. This intriguing complex of buildings has been a centre for evacuated children in the Second World War, a teaching college, a residence…

Heritage consultant David Hicks brings us the stories behind some of East Lothian’s historic properties. The Marine Hotel in North Berwick is a reminder of when the town was known as the ‘Biarritz of the North’, a place that attracted the glamorous and the powerful of the day. The hotel dates to 1875 and was…