Bing to hold battlefield centre

Published on Friday 22 September 2006 12:17

THE proposed £7.5 million visitor centre to commemorate the Battle of Prestonpans would be built in a dilapidated coal bing, under plans unveiled today.

Architects have revealed an innovative blueprint including a pyramid-style roof, four imposing entrances and a raised walkway across the battlefield.

The Battle of Prestonpans Heritage Trust also wants to recreate the battle, using life-sized models of Highlanders and Redcoats and bleak fields of corn-stubble.

Gordon Prestoungrange, the Baron of Prestoungrange, has been heavily involved in the development of the proposals.

He said: "The plans are brilliant. It's a very imaginative design and I couldn't be more pleased with what we have so far."

He said the next stage was to draw up a feasibility study and he believes the centre, which the trust estimates would attract up to 250,000 visitors a year, could be built within five years.

The plans were drawn up by architect Gareth Jones, who lives locally and worked for free.

Mr Jones, who works for the Pollock Hammond Partnership in Linlithgow, came up with the idea of incorporating the coal bing.

Local historian Peter McKenzie, one of the founders of the trust, said:

"We're hoping that not only will the battle itself be recreated, using mannequins, but also commemorate what was the start of the industrial revolution. The railway that carried coal from Tranent to Cockenzie at the time of the battle was one of the first in Britain. We want to show all of this."

The next step in the campaign is to raise the 250,000 needed for a full-scale feasibility study, Mr Prestoungrange said.

"In December we are going to Derby to hold our next meeting, but unlike Bonnie Prince Charlie, we're not going to stop there. We going to go all the way to London. Then we will be able to get started raising the millions needed." He said he was confident the 250,000 could be in place by spring, adding: "Then we can get started with the bigger plans. If all goes well it should be completed in five years."

The campaign has attracted many supporters. Actor Brian Cox has lent his weight to the plans, calling Bonnie Prince Charlie's victory at Prestonpans a "defining Scottish moment".

On September 21, 1745, the rebel Highlander army launched a surprise attack on King George II's troops, leaving 800 dead and taking 1500 prisoners.

The victory spurred the Jacobites on and they marched on as far south as Derby before they were eventually forced to retreat.