The Repair Shop journeyed to East Lothian to restore a historic 19th-century carriage for the Musselburgh Festival.
The town asked them to fix a carriage from the 19th century. It is very special and used at the Musselburgh Festival each year. Margaret Elgin, a local resident and community member, asked for the repair help because the carriage wasn’t safe after the 2022 festival.
The festival started in 1936 and happens yearly. The carriage carries the Honest Lad and Lass who represent the town’s young people. Margaret mentioned the carriage’s importance, saying that repairing it means a lot to the town. She told Kirsten Ramsay it was vital for tradition.
Margaret wanted the carriage restored to its original look. She hoped for its original colors too. The team got to work quickly on the carriage, repairing the wheels’ structure carefully. Ross Hastie handled the design and paint.
Ross wanted the design correct for the era, true to its original time. He studied old carriages to learn more about the style. The carriage was ready for the big festival day.
People were eager to see the repaired work. Ross revealed the finished carriage to everyone. Kirsten called the update “unbelievable” and impressive. Margaret reacted with shock and delight, loving the details of the finished work.
Margaret thought the paint and crest were lovely. She believes the carriage is much better now, bringing the past smoothly into the future.
You can stream “The Repair Shop” on BBC iPlayer. See the carriage’s amazing restoration easily, and check it out whenever you have time.