The Thorntree Monument

Colonel Gardiner’s last stand. That’s what draws many to the Thorntree Monument in Prestonpans. The Thorntree Monument isn’t grand like some monuments. It’s a modest, triangular pillar. Yet, it marks a significant spot on the battlefield. The Thorntree Monument stands near where a hawthorn tree once stood. This tree wasn’t just any tree. It was the place where Colonel Gardiner fell during the Battle of Prestonpans in 1745. The original hawthorn became a focal point after the battle. It appeared in engravings and paintings. People even took cuttings as souvenirs. As the tree aged, it began to die. Iron rods propped it up for a time. Eventually, though, the remnants blew down in the 1920s. Pieces of the original tree are preserved. You can find them at the National War Museum and the East Lothian Council Museums Service. Another piece is on display at The Prestoungrange Gothenburg. The Battle of Prestonpans (1745) Heritage Trust even features the tree in their logo. The Thorntree Monument was erected in 1998. Housing was expanding westward onto the battlefield. The monument marks the approximate location of Colonel Gardiner’s last stand and the lost thorntree. Carved by Michelle de Bruin, the monument features carved text and hawthorn designs. It’s a quiet reminder of a pivotal moment in history. A testament to a fallen soldier, and the tree that marked his passing. The Thorntree Monument stands near a children’s playpark, off Preston Crescent. It offers a poignant reflection on the past amidst the present.