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The parish kirk of Athelstaneford, East Lothian

Athelstaneford Athelstaneford is a village in East Lothian, north-east of the county town, Haddington, and about twenty miles east of Edinburgh. According to popular legend, Athelstaneford is where the original Scottish saltire flag was first adopted, when the ninth century Pictish King Óengus facing the Northumbrians saw a vision of St Andrew and a white cross formed by clouds in the sky. The Northumbrians were defeated and their leader, Athelstan, was slain at a nearby ford. The legend has many forms and locations, and sober history is not kind to any of them, but it has cemented Athelstaneford's fame. (Read more)