Prospectus for the Nation - it's time to Build Our Living History Centre in Prestonpans

It's time to ask, formally, for the Nation's support to create our Living History Centre in Prestonpans.

Since 2000, when Peter MacKenzie began his annual Battlefield Walks each September 21st, an ever increasing number of members of our community locally in the Pans, and much further afield, have campaigned for a permanent Living History Battle Centre in Prestonpans.

The Battle Trustees have gathered together snapshots of the myriad activities undertaken since 2000 to make the 'formal' case to Scotland's Government at Holyrood, through the Minister of Culture and Historic Scotland. These are now formally published as the Trust's PROSPECTUS TO THE NATION - December 2010.

The Trust is seeking £5 million of government capital investment at Prestongrange Heritage Museum that will go a long way towards [i] building a new circular pavilion for the Tapestry linked to [ii] the old Miners' BathHouse which will be restored to provide space for the balance of the Trust's ambitious plans. The Trust needs to raise an additional £2 million from private donors as well, and that Appeal has already begun. [Several thousand pounds have been collected as the Tapestry has toured the Highlands and East Coast and most recently at The Dovecot in Edinburgh.] A grand total of £7 million is ultimately required.

Once the Living History Centre is created, economic feasibility studies show it has every chance of being self-sustaining from entrance fees and retail sales to more than 100,000 expected visitors a year - provided of course that it is of world class standard, which rest assured it will be. Hence the very substantial capital expenditure required.

IF YOU DOWN LOAD THE PROSPECTUS LINKED BELOW YOU WILL SEE PRECISELY WHAT IS ENVISAGED

The PROSPECTUS is a large, full colour, 38pp file so it will take a few minutes to download for many computers, but it's worth the wait. It is available:

CLICK DIRECTLY HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Hard copies of the PROSPECTUS are also available at The Prestoungrange Gothenburg on request there [closed Mondays].

The Trustees will welcome any and all comments ... so please be in touch. Our email address is:

waukin@battleofprestonpans1745.org

Many thanks to all our Supporters for fine support thus far. If you are able and willing to make a contribution to the Private Donors Appeal Fund which needs to raise £2 million, and/ or know 'likely' others, please be in touch via the above web address. Very shortly, an online Donations facility will be provided. All Supporters at this website will of course be notified. And remember, the Battle Trust is a Scottish Charity so any donation made by a UK taxpayer enables the Trust to reclaim the 20p/ £1 tax already paid on that donation.