A hunt for descendants of officials and guests who attended the official opening of an historic East Lothian town hall has been launched ahead of its 125th anniversary.
Prestonpans Town Hall was built in 1896 by public subscription and officially opened a year later by local MP Robert Haldane, who would become Viscount Haldane.
Now the hall's current tenants are planning to mark the anniversary of its formal opening with a weekend of celebrations and want to invite descendants of the original attendants to take part.
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The Battle of Prestonpans Trust has leased the hall from East Lothian Council for five years and opened its own museum in it in April this year displaying its collection dedicated to the famous Jacobite victory.
The Trust has invested thousands of pounds into refurbishing the Victorian building and creating a main exhibition area along with additional rooms dedicated to the town’s own history as well as the battle and a gift shop.
Now it wants to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the hall's opening with events planned for August.
The Trust has struck a commemorative 125th anniversary medal bearing an image of hall and logo of the Burgh of Prestonpans which it hopes to present to representatives of the original participants of the opening.
And it is appealing to families to get in touch to share any information about their ancestors.
The opening in 1897 is being re-enacted as part of the weekend commemorating it with script as reported in the local newspaper of the time the Haddingtonshire Courier.
When opening the hall Robert Haldane MP referred to the commuity's own history of the Battle of Prestonpans before telling them "(A town hall) is a place in which the common spirit of those thrown together by a great common bond makes itself manifest.
"They could not keep such a spirit alive without some building in which that spirit might be manifest, and at last they have got it in this hall, which is worthy of you as a Burgh."
The battle trust has a five year lease of the hall as it works to raise funds for a permanent home in the new town of Blindwells, next to Prestonpans.
Dr Gordon Prestoungrange, from the trust, said: "We are seeking to make a use worthy of those exertions and are keen to trace relatives of those at the official opening and to invite them along to the 125th celebrations in August.
"Anyone with a family link, story, picture etc can contact me at prestoungrange@aol.com "
Among those listed as attending the opening were then Prestonpans Provost William McEwen.
Dr McEwen was an early campaigner for better air quality in the industrial town and led the battle for the town hall which he would go on to use as a venue for his many welfare projects.
Guests at the opening includes local Baillie James Taylor and his wife, the Provosts of Tranent and Cockenzie, William Ranken, Chairman Literary Institute Committee and David M Mowat and Robert W Richie, Summerlee & Mossend Iron & Steel Company.
For a full list of guests and more details contact the trust at www.battleofprestonpans1745.org.
