Winter Talks

Drawing on a rich mixture of archive photographs, cinema programmes and personal reminiscence, Tom Brownlee will transport audiences back to a time when almost every town in East Lothian boasted its own picture house. Do you remember those long lines of excited bairns waiting for the Saturday matinees?

The conventional view is that by 1706 Scotland was economically desperate and forced into union with England. But does the evidence support this interpretation, or was there in fact significant pressure on England to secure a union with Scotland? Drawing on contemporary sources, this illustrated talk will explore the events leading up to the Union, the public reaction to it, and its implications for Edinburgh.

While researching an article on Gosford House, historian and author Ailsa stumbled upon a treasure trove of forgotten history — a bundle of unpublished letters written by Annie Anson, who married Francis Charteris, the 9th Earl of Wemyss and March, in 1843. Ailsa will bring Annie’s story to life — a powerful tale of love, torment, and personal tragedy, told in her own voice through the letters she left behind.

North Berwick’s outdoor pool existed for just short of 100 years before it was demolished, leaving behind only the changing rooms and strong memories. In this nostalgic film, local film-maker Ann Reilly combines the enduring power of community spirit with photos and footage of this iconic pool.

Our final talk on Thursday 20 March has the intriguing title of ‘The Importance of Being Ruined’. Local archaeologist and Chair of the North Berwick Environment and Heritage Trust, Olwyn Owen will escort us on a verbal tour of historic sites of North Berwick.

A talk by Sir Hew Dalrymple, who will share the delightful and intimate correspondence between his ancestor, MP Sir Hew Dalrymple and his wife Margaret. Sir Hew offers a view into a very different world which is still relatable to us today.

North Berwick's early development owes much to its role as a staging post on the Way of St Andrews, providing lodging, food and spiritual refreshment for the pilgrims crossing the Firth of Forth.

Bondagers were the community of mainly women workers who laboured on farms in Northumberland and South East Scotland in the 18th to early 20th centuries.

In 1773 the literary Scottophobe Samuel Johnson and his friend and biographer James Boswell embarked on a tour of Scotland from the central belt to the Western Isles. Come along for the ride as Joe Waterfield uses Historic Environment Scotland (HES) archive photographs and drawings to recreate this unforgettable journey.

Join us as we welcome Sir David Tweedie, Chair of North Berwick Trust to talk about the work the Trust has been involved in recently. North Berwick Trust is a local charity working to help make North Berwick a more sustainable, resilient, vibrant, inclusive and equitable place to be.