Myreton Motor Museum

Myreton Motor Museum is a privately owned transport museum in East Lothian, Scotland, a little east of the village of Aberlady. Its vehicles tell the story of motoring across most of the twentieth century, and it counts among the oldest motor museums in the United Kingdom.

How did the museum begin?

Willie Dale founded the museum in August 1966, and it stands beside his former farm. That gives the place a personal, homespun feel. It is not a large national institution but a collection built by an enthusiast and grown over decades. Some exhibits belong to the museum, while others are shown on loan.

Where is Myreton and how do you get there?

The museum lies about a mile east of Aberlady, on the coastal side of East Lothian, close to the Firth of Forth. The area is a favourite with visitors heading out from Edinburgh towards the coast and its golf courses. The museum fits easily into a day trip around the district, alongside a stroll through Aberlady itself.

What is in the collection?

Around fifty vehicles are on show: cars, motorcycles, commercial vehicles, bicycles and military vehicles from the Second World War. Visitors see not only glamorous cars but also the machines people used for work, for country life and for war.

Among the oldest exhibits are an 1897 Arnold Benz and an 1898 Léon Bollée, designs from the very dawn of the motor car. Later pieces include a 1927 Rolls-Royce and a 1919 Ford Model TT, a light truck built on the famous Model T.

Is it only vehicles?

No. Beyond the machines, the museum displays period advertising, posters, enamel signs, old petrol pumps, pedal cars and toy vehicles. These smaller items show how motoring looked in everyday life, on the street, at the filling station and in shop windows.

One story stands out: a 1961 Morris Minor nicknamed "Wee Blackie". It was owned by Eddie Anderson, and after his death in 2001 his widow allowed the museum to display it.

Why is there a political Jaguar?

The collection also holds a 1989 Jaguar XJS. Sir Menzies Campbell, a Liberal Democrat MP, donated it in 2006. The gift was linked to an environmental commitment he made during his campaign for the party leadership. As a result the museum owns a car with a political backstory of its own.

Who is it for?

The museum suits fans of classic cars and motorcycles, families whose children enjoy toys and pedal cars, and anyone curious about twentieth-century history. The scale is intimate, so a visit does not take a whole day. It pairs well with other East Lothian attractions.

Frequently asked questions

Who founded Myreton Motor Museum? Willie Dale, in August 1966.

How many vehicles are in the collection? Around fifty, including cars, motorcycles, bicycles, commercial and military vehicles.

What is the oldest exhibit? The oldest include an 1897 Arnold Benz and an 1898 Léon Bollée.

Is it a public museum? No, it is privately owned.

Where exactly is it? About a mile east of the village of Aberlady in East Lothian, Scotland.