Prestonpans Tapestry Parade

July 23rd / September 26th 2010 then Edinburgh & Derby ...

The finished Tapestry will be paraded along the routes the Prince and Sir John Cope took in 1745

     Requests for the Tapestry to be shown at other locations are always welcome, and more dates are

     currently under discussion. See below for 'general design' but feel welcome to propose alternatives!

1. At elected locations where local stitchers can put the Trust in touch with local 'interested parties' local mini-re-enactments [LMRs] will be given and media attention sought for the contribution of local stitchers. Any local community group able and keen to host such an LMR should inform Gillian Hart as soon as possible.
2. As well as such LMRs, an Exhibition of the completed Tapestry will be given with an introductory talk. N.B. Such Exhibitions can be given with or without an accompanying LMR. Such Exhibitions require ample space for display - see below for details of how the 103 metres will be presented.

The purpose of the Parade is [i] to thank stitchers and their community directly; and [ii] to gain maximum publicity for the Trust's campaign and our Proposal to the Nation for a Living History Centre in Prestonpans.

Along the way we wish to involve the local communities, local dignitaries, Scotland's First Minister and the nation's Minister of Culture.

1. LMR Venue selection will be wholly dependent on 'local' momentum and initiative [with local history groups/ re-enactors as possible] so the Trust's role is to present the Parade at a predetermined venue.
   
   Already we have 'volunteer momentum' at Eriskay, Arisaig, Dunblane, Dunbar, Blair Castle, Perth, Invergordon and Prestonpans. The Trust clearly can't do LMRs for each and every panel and weekends sessions will normally be best. The Trust has acquired a small wardrobe of uniforms for LMRs choreographed by Alan Breck Regiment commanders Arran Johnston and Adam Watters [although they will not always be present]. But the local community must be wholly committed with in essence the LMRs presenting precisely what the local tapestry panel depicts.
   
2. The Exhibition is intended as an occasion with a small Entrance Fee [£1] plus a 'Membership' donation to the Trust's Charity [£4]. It will tell the whole story of the Tapestry and particularise the local panel[s]. The Tapestry will be hung for viewing howsoever. All LMRs will have an associated Exhibition but other localities can have the Exhibition without need of an LMR.
3. Putting up/ taking down the Tapestry will be simplicity itself, achievable in modest sized halls. To enable this the Tapestry will be stitched together as 21 x 5 metre widths - less a wee bit [total length overall of 104 metres]. The 5 metre lengths are easily transported and hung.
   
   The Tapestry is Velcro taped at the top of its backing cloth and this Velcro attaches to Velcro taped exhibition panels that are each a metre wide. Since both the backs and fronts of each exhibition panel can be used, some 52 x 1 metre exhibition boards will be assembled. These can either run up and down the Exhibition space or in a zig zag pattern. They have sturdy legs.
   
   An Exhibition space that is not less than 2000 sq ft e.g. 40' x 50' can display the full Tapestry with adequate scope for viewing.
4. The Prestonpans Tapestry Guide will be published as a paperback book to coincide with the first Exhibition and LMR on Eriskay, July 31st/ August 1st 2010. It is a 275pp full colour Guide including all panels shown with the story behind each of them, plus details and pictures of the stitchers themselves. The soft back version of the Guide will have a RRP of £20 but will be available at Exhibitions for those who make a Membership Donation for £10 [one copy each]. Additional copies at Exhibitions will be £15 as will all pre-publication orders + any necessary postage and packaging.

5. Local communities will be encouraged to take stocks of the Guide on a sale or return basis at £15 for onward sale at not more than £20.
   
   N.B. A dvd of The Prestonpans tapestry, with animations, will be created as soon as posible/ by end 2010 including images from the Private Viewing, the Parade across the nation, LMRs and the Grand Finale in Prestonpans September 24th/ 26th 2010.

6. Complimentary copies of the dvd, and of a clothbound hardback edition of the Guide, will be presented [one] to each stitcher/ group. The hardback will also be available for Library sale at £30 per copy.

7. The Final Home for The Prestonpans Tapestry is to be the Battle's 'Living History Centre' in Prestonpans. Funding for this has not yet been achieved, but it is the permanent intention of the Trust to continue 'parading' the Tapestry across the nation, and further afield. By admiring the beautifully embroidered scenes in the Tapestry, the lessons of Youthful Hope and Ambition exemplified by the Prince's Campaign and Victory at Prestonpans in 1745 will become ever better known and better understood. The Trustees themselves have just such Hope and Ambition that the Scottish nation's Living History Centre will soon be achieved in Prestonpans.

8. Educational Resources echoing the Scottish history curriculum for use by school groups and by youngsters visiting the exhibitions with parents are already available on line [see button to left here] and additions will continually be made.