Prestongrange Museum
About This Museum
Prestongrange tells the story of Scottish industry on the very ground where it happened for over 800 years. You're not just walking through a museum; you're exploring a sprawling, open-air site where monks once mined coal and a massive Victorian beam engine still stands sentinel. The sheer scale of the Cornish beam engine, a rusting giant preserved in its original engine house, is enough to make you stop and stare. It’s a place that feels quietly powerful, where history isn't behind glass but is part of the landscape itself.
Collection Highlights
The star of the show is undoubtedly the towering Cornish Beam Engine, the last of its kind left on its original site in Scotland. Don't miss the dramatic Hoffmann Kiln, a massive brick structure that looks like something from an ancient civilization, which was used to fire bricks for over 70 years. Scattered around the grounds you'll also find a mine shaft and a pithead wheel, silent reminders of the deep coal mining that defined this place.
Visitor Information
It's free to wander the site, which is mostly outdoors, so dress for the Scottish weather. The on-site museum in the old power station building provides more context and a welcome cup of tea.
Architecture & Building
The site is less about one grand building and more an eclectic mix of industrial archaeology; think red-brick ruins like the colossal Hoffmann Kiln standing beside sturdy stone engine houses, all set against a coastal backdrop.
Contact & Location
Address: Prestongrange Mining Museum, B1348, Westpans, Levenhall, Prestonpans, East Lothian, Alba / Scotland, EH32 9RU, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 131 653 2904
Website: Visit Website
