The LEGEND OF THE SALTIRE  can be found by following this link.

ATHELSTANEFORD:

Its Significant Place in History

Why should Athelstaneford be a place of pilgrimage to every loyal Scot? Wherein lies the importance of this beautiful part of East Lothian? Here is the answer:

ATHELSTANEFORD IS IMPORTANT HISTORICALLY:

I wonder how many, or for that matter how few, know of the importance and significance of Athelstaneford, and of the ancient and honoured history of the Parish. Just how important can best be judged by what others have said about it.

A Reporter in one of our leading newspapers has written that the day in the year 832AD, when the Scots and Picts defeated the Angles in battle, was the day in which Scotland was born, and that the turning point in the history of Scotland was not Bannockburn, nor Flodden, or Culloden, but that great and glorious day 1165 years ago, when the brave and valiant Scots routed their enemies.

Bold words, and yet a viewpoint which Sir Thomas Innes of Learney strongly supports, for he declares "Probably the history of Scotland may truly derive from the victory gained in East Lothian in the late Autumn of 832."

And still another lends weight to the idea of this Parish being the Historical centre of Scotland. The late Mr. A. Graham, one time Secretary of the Royal Commission on Ancient Monuments, Scotland, in describing the "Kaeheughs", the Fort in the Garleton Hills, to members of the Antiquarian Society present, stated that it was built by the ancient Britons two hundred years before the Roman invasion; and then he prophetically added: "Haddingtonshire (old name for East Lothian) was the real centre of the beginnings of Scottish history."

ATHELSTANEFORD IS IMPORTANT ECCLESIASTICALLY: The original Church was built in 1176 by Ada, wife of Henry Prince of Scotland, and mother of William the Lion, and which continued to be the parish Chuich until 1780. Then a new Church was erected in that year, and which was substantially altered in 1867 when transepts and chancel were added. This means there has been an unbroken Christian witness in this Parish for nearly 800 years. Records show that it has been served since 1576 by twenty-four Clergymen, both by Episcopalians and Presbyterians, and before that date by Roman Priests.

ATHELSTANEFORD IS IMPORTANT ACADEMICALLY: Probably Sir David Lyndsay, writer of the "Three Estates" was born in Garleton Castle. Adam Skirving (1719-1803) East Garleton Farm, wrote the Lyric: "Hey Jonnie Cope" and the "Ballad of Prestonpans". Two of its Ministers, Robert Blair (1730-45) wrote the poem "The Grave", and John Home (1745-57) wrote the dramatic Play: "The Douglas Tragedy".

ATHELSTANEFORD IS IMPORTANT MILITARILY: Sir John Hepburn, born in the village of Athelstaneford in 1598, founded the First or Royal Scots Regiment, of which he became its Colonel, and then in 1636 he was made a Field-Marshal of France.

ATHELSTANEFORD IS IMPORTANT NATIONALLY: Important for all Scotsmen the world over. For tradition says near this place in times remote Pictish and Scottish Warriors about to defeat an army of Northumbrians, saw against a blue sky a great white Cross like Saint Andrew's, and in its image made a banner which became the Flag of Scotland. Thus the Scottish Flag had its origin in 832, an important fact which was commemorated here in Athelstaneford on 30th November 1965 when a Plaque was unveiled, and the Flag of St. Andrew unfurled to fly permanently and proudly in the breeze; and also on that same day, we witnessed to the fact that the Scottish Flag is the oldest Flag in the British Commonwealth.

How to get there:-

The SALTIRE MEMORIAL

The LEGEND OF THE SALTIRE.

The SCOTTISH FLAG HERITAGE CENTRE:

' FRIENDS ' of the SCOTTISH FLAG TRUST

The LION RAMPANT,  Scotland's other flag.

The THISTLE, SCOTLAND ' s  NATIONAL  EMBLEM.