Makeover for flagging centre

Published on Wednesday 21 June 2006 11:37

A MAJOR makeover is being planned for a Lothians visitor centre celebrating the history of the saltire.

The Scottish Flag Heritage Centre in Athelstaneford, East Lothian, desperately needs funding to save its 400-year-old home from decay.

Frost damage has left the historic building, which attracts thousands of visitors every year, looking worn with plastering falling off the walls in some places.

The independent charity that runs the centre hopes to begin major renovation work as soon as possible and has appealed for donations to help raise the 4000 it needs for the restoration.

The Scottish Flag Trust has secured 1000 funding from East Lothian Council, but is still well short of its target.

Bosses are hoping to secure the remaining cash from private donations or lottery funding.

The centre has been awarded four stars by VisitScotland, making it one of the top tourist attractions in the country.

The building that houses the main attraction - an audiovisual tour based in a centuries-old doo'cot - is due to be reharled and limewashed on advice from Historic Scotland.

The trust will ensure that the exact colour of the limewash, which has faded over the last ten years, will follow that originally applied hundreds of years ago.

David Williamson, chairman of the Scottish Flag Trust, said:

"We've been aware of the deterioration problem for a couple of years now but it's go to the stage that it's got to be tackled - we can't put it off any longer.

"We heard two weeks ago that we still have our four-star rating for tourist attractions from VisitScotland, which we're delighted about. But it's vital that you keep improving and maintaining the site, especially if you want to keep this rating.

"The trust hopes to begin the renovation work as soon as all the funding is in place, ideally by this autumn, but it's very difficult for a small charity like ours."

The visitor centre was established in 1997 to tell the story of Scotland's national flag. The site is steeped in history and historians believe that the origins of the saltire, which is the oldest flag in Europe, may lie in the battle of Athelstaneford in 832 AD.

It is thought that, immediately before the battle, clouds formed the shape of a saltire - the diagonal cross upon which St Andrew was crucified - in the sky.

This so encouraged the Picts and Scots that they defeated the Angles of Northumbria.

East Lothian Council will be helping to fund the renovation work through a special fund.

A council spokesman said: "The centre at Athelstaneford is a key historical attraction - it's an iconic site that attracts tourists from all over the place. The council believes it is worth helping to keep such sites well preserved. Funding for the renovation is part of our contribution to the area's tourism, which is worth a tremendous amount to the local economy."

A Historic Scotland spokeswoman said: "The Scottish Flag Heritage Centre is a particularly good reuse of a charming historic building.

"Historic Scotland is always in favour of retaining important buildings and this one not only benefits the community, but also attracts visitors to East Lothian."