Midlothian (; gd, Meadhan Lodainn) is a
historic county,
registration county
A registration county was, in Great Britain and Ireland, a statistical unit used for the registration of births, deaths and marriages and for the output of census information. In Scotland registration counties are used for land registration purpose ...
,
lieutenancy area
Lieutenancy areas are the separate areas of the United Kingdom appointed a lord-lieutenant – a representative of the British monarch. In many cases they have similar demarcation and naming to, but are not necessarily coterminate with, the coun ...
and one of 32
council areas of Scotland
For local government purposes, Scotland is divided into 32 areas designated as "council areas" ( gd, comhairlean), which are all governed by single-tier authorities designated as "councils". They have the option under the Local Government (Ga ...
used for local government. Midlothian lies in the east-
central Lowlands
The Central Lowlands, sometimes called the Midland Valley or Central Valley, is a geologically defined area of relatively low-lying land in southern Scotland. It consists of a rift valley between the Highland Boundary Fault to the north and ...
, bordering the
City of Edinburgh,
East Lothian and the
Scottish Borders.
Midlothian emerged as a county in the
Middle Ages
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...
under larger boundaries than the modern council area, including Edinburgh itself. The county was formally called the "shire of Edinburgh" or Edinburghshire until the twentieth century. It bordered
West Lothian to the west,
Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire, also called the County of Lanark ( gd, Siorrachd Lannraig; sco, Lanrikshire), is a historic county, lieutenancy area and registration county in the central Lowlands of Scotland.
Lanarkshire is the most populous county in Scotl ...
,
Peeblesshire and
Selkirkshire
Selkirkshire or the County of Selkirk ( gd, Siorrachd Shalcraig) is a historic county and registration county of Scotland. It borders Peeblesshire to the west, Midlothian to the north, Roxburghshire to the east, and Dumfriesshire to the south. ...
to the south, and
East Lothian,
Berwickshire
Berwickshire ( gd, Siorrachd Bhearaig) is a historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area in south-eastern Scotland, on the English border. Berwickshire County Council existed from 1890 until 1975, when the area became part of t ...
and
Roxburghshire to the east. Traditional industries included mining, agriculture and fishing – although the modern council area is now
landlocked.
History
Following the end of the
Roman
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...
occupation of Britain,
Lothian was populated by Brythonic-speaking ancient Britons and formed part of
Gododdin
The Gododdin () were a Brittonic people of north-eastern Britannia, the area known as the Hen Ogledd or Old North (modern south-east Scotland and north-east England), in the sub-Roman period. Descendants of the Votadini, they are best known ...
, within the
Hen Ogledd
Yr Hen Ogledd (), in English the Old North, is the historical region which is now Northern England and the southern Scottish Lowlands that was inhabited by the Brittonic people of sub-Roman Britain in the Early Middle Ages. Its population sp ...
or Old North. In the seventh century, Gododdin fell to the
Angles
The Angles ( ang, Ængle, ; la, Angli) were one of the main Germanic peoples who settled in Great Britain in the post-Roman period. They founded several kingdoms of the Heptarchy in Anglo-Saxon England. Their name is the root of the name ...
, with Lothian becoming part of the kingdom of
Bernicia
Bernicia ( ang, Bernice, Bryneich, Beornice; la, Bernicia) was an Anglo-Saxon kingdom established by Anglian settlers of the 6th century in what is now southeastern Scotland and North East England.
The Anglian territory of Bernicia was ap ...
. Bernicia united into the
Kingdom of Northumbria
la, Regnum Northanhymbrorum
, conventional_long_name = Kingdom of Northumbria
, common_name = Northumbria
, status = State
, status_text = Unified Anglian kingdom (before 876)North: Anglian kingdom (af ...
which itself became part of the early
Kingdom of England
The Kingdom of England (, ) was a sovereign state on the island of Great Britain from 12 July 927, when it emerged from various History of Anglo-Saxon England, Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, until 1 May 1707, when it united with Kingdom of Scotland, ...
. Lothian came under the control of the Scottish monarchy in the tenth century.
In the Middle Ages, Lothian was the scene of several historic conflicts between the kingdoms of Scotland and England. The
Battle of Roslin
The Battle of Roslin on 24 February 1303 was a Scottish victory in the First War of Scottish Independence. It took place near the village of Roslin, where a force led by the Scots John Comyn and Sir Simon Fraser ambushed and defeated an Eng ...
took place in 1303 at
Roslin as part of the
First War of Scottish Independence
The First War of Scottish Independence was the first of a series of wars between English and Scottish forces. It lasted from the English invasion of Scotland in 1296 until the ''de jure'' restoration of Scottish independence with the Treaty ...
. A Scottish army led by
Simon Fraser and
John Comyn
John Comyn III of Badenoch, nicknamed the Red (c. 1274 – 10 February 1306), was a leading Scottish baron and magnate who played an important role in the First War of Scottish Independence. He served as Guardian of Scotland after the forced ...
defeated an army led by English commander
John Segrave.
Along with other parts of the Lothians, the county was involved in the
Rough Wooing
The Rough Wooing (December 1543 – March 1551), also known as the Eight Years' War, was part of the Anglo-Scottish Wars of the 16th century. Following its break with the Roman Catholic Church, England attacked Scotland, partly to break the ...
when
Roslin Castle
Roslin Castle (sometimes spelt Rosslyn) is a partially ruined castle near the village of Roslin in Midlothian, Scotland. It is located around 9 miles south of Edinburgh, on the north bank of the North Esk, only a few hundred metres from the fa ...
, seat of the
Earl of Caithness
Earl of Caithness is a title that has been created several times in the Peerage of Scotland, and it has a very complex history. Its first grant, in the modern sense as to have been counted in strict lists of peerages, is now generally held to have ...
, was destroyed in 1544 by forces of
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is best known for his six marriages, and for his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. His disa ...
.
In the 17th century, the county featured in the
War of the Three Kingdoms
The Wars of the Three Kingdoms were a series of related conflicts fought between 1639 and 1653 in the kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland, then separate entities united in a personal union under Charles I. They include the 1639 to 1640 B ...
, where General
George Monck
George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle JP KG PC (6 December 1608 – 3 January 1670) was an English soldier, who fought on both sides during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. A prominent military figure under the Commonwealth, his support was cruc ...
had his base at
Dalkeith Castle
Dalkeith Palace is a country house in Dalkeith, Midlothian, Scotland. It was the seat of the Dukes of Buccleuch from 1642 until 1914, and is owned by the Buccleuch Living Heritage Trust. The present palace was built 1701–1711 on the site of t ...
as the
Commonwealth's Commander in Scotland. Following the Restoration of the monarchy, the "Pentland Rising" in the region culminated with the
Battle of Rullion Green
The Battle of Rullion Green took place on 28 November 1666, near the Pentland Hills, in Midlothian, Scotland. It was the only significant battle of the Pentland Rising, a brief revolt by Covenanter dissidents against the Scottish government.
...
in 1666, a decisive victory for the
Government forces against
Covenanter rebels.
In 1650,
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English politician and military officer who is widely regarded as one of the most important statesmen in English history. He came to prominence during the 1639 to 1651 Wars of the Three K ...
's army came to Dalkeith. His officer General
George Monck
George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle JP KG PC (6 December 1608 – 3 January 1670) was an English soldier, who fought on both sides during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. A prominent military figure under the Commonwealth, his support was cruc ...
, was Commander in Scotland, and the government of the country was based out of Dalkeith castle.
The 1878-80
Midlothian campaign
The Midlothian campaign of 1878–80 was a series of foreign policy speeches given by William Gladstone, leader of Britain's Liberal Party. It is often cited as the first modern political campaign. It also set the stage for Gladstone's comeback ...
by British Liberal politician
William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone ( ; 29 December 1809 – 19 May 1898) was a British statesman and Liberal politician. In a career lasting over 60 years, he served for 12 years as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, spread over four non-conse ...
entered history as an early example of modern political campaigning, resulting in Gladstone taking the
Midlothian constituency from the long-time Conservative Member of Parliament
William Montagu Douglas Scott and going on to become
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The prime minister of the United Kingdom is the head of government of the United Kingdom. The prime minister advises the sovereign on the exercise of much of the royal prerogative, chairs the Cabinet and selects its ministers. As modern ...
.
On 1 June 1978, Midlothian became Sister Cities with
Midlothian, Illinois
Midlothian () is a village in Bremen Township, Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is a southwestern suburb of Chicago. As of the 2020 census the population was 14,325.
History
Like many southwest suburbs of Chicago in the 1800s and ear ...
.
Governance
The modern council area of Midlothian is governed by
Midlothian Council
Midlothian Council is the local authority for Midlothian, one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, covering an area immediately south of the city of Edinburgh. The council is based in Dalkeith. Since the last boundary changes in 2017, eighteen c ...
, based in
Dalkeith.
Shire and county
The origins of the historic county of Midlothian are obscure; it emerged as a
shire (the area controlled by a
sheriff) in the
Middle Ages
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...
, and was certainly in existence by the reign of
David I David I may refer to:
* David I, Caucasian Albanian Catholicos c. 399
* David I of Armenia, Catholicos of Armenia (728–741)
* David I Kuropalates of Georgia (died 881)
* David I Anhoghin, king of Lori (ruled 989–1048)
* David I of Scotland ...
(reigned 1124–1153). It covered the central part of the former kingdom or
province
A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman '' provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions ou ...
of
Lothian, and was formally called the "shire of Edinburgh" or "Edinburghshire", although the alternative name "Midlothian" was also used from a very early date. The
burgh of Edinburgh became administratively independent from the surrounding county in 1482 when
James III granted the burgh the right to appoint its own sheriff and coroner, making it a
county of itself.
Commissioners of Supply
Commissioners of Supply were local administrative bodies in Scotland from 1667 to 1930. Originally established in each sheriffdom to collect tax, they later took on much of the responsibility for the local government of the counties of Scotland. ...
were established for each shire in 1667, and served as the main administrative body for the county until elected
county council
A county council is the elected administrative body governing an area known as a county. This term has slightly different meanings in different countries.
Ireland
The county councils created under British rule in 1899 continue to exist in Irel ...
s were created in 1890 under the
Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889
The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889 (52 & 53 Vict. c. 50) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which was passed on 26 August 1889. The main effect of the act was to establish elected county councils in Scotland. In this it foll ...
, taking most of the commissioners' functions. The commissioners for Edinburghshire, and the county council which followed them, did not have jurisdiction over the city of Edinburgh, which was administered by the
town council of the burgh.
From its creation in 1890 the county council called itself "Midlothian County Council". However, the legal name of the county remained the "county of Edinburgh" or "Edinburghshire". In 1913 the county council petitioned the government to formally change the name to Midlothian. The government responded that it would direct all government departments to use Midlothian rather than Edinburghshire, but that a formal change of name needed to be done by statute and it could not justify the parliamentary time to make such a change. The statutory change of name from Edinburghshire to Midlothian eventually took place in 1947, under section 127 of the
Local Government (Scotland) Act 1947
The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1947 (10 & 11 Geo. 6 c. 65) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, that reformed local government in Scotland, on 1 October 1947.
Section 1 of the Act reads "For the purposes of local government, ...
.
Midlothian County Council was based at
Midlothian County Buildings, built in 1904 on George IV Bridge in Edinburgh on the site of the earlier County Buildings.
Midlothian was abolished as a county for local government purposes in 1975. The boundaries of the historic county of Midlothian, including the city of Edinburgh, are still used for some limited official purposes connected with land registration, being a
registration county
A registration county was, in Great Britain and Ireland, a statistical unit used for the registration of births, deaths and marriages and for the output of census information. In Scotland registration counties are used for land registration purpose ...
.
District
Midlothian County Council was abolished in 1975 under the
Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, which abolished Scotland's counties and burghs as administrative areas and created a new two-tier system of upper-tier regions and lower-tier districts. Most of Midlothian's territory went to a new district called Midlothian within the
Lothian region. The Midlothian district was smaller than the area of the pre-1975 county, with the parts of the pre-1975 county going to other districts being:
*
Currie
Currie ( gd, Currach, IPA: kʰuːᵲəx is a village and suburb on the outskirts of Edinburgh, Scotland, situated south west of the city centre. Formerly within the County of Midlothian, it now falls within the jurisdiction of the City of Edi ...
,
Balerno
Balerno (; gd, Baile Àirneach, IPA: paleˈɛːɾʲnəx Scots: Balerno or Balernie) is a village on the outskirts of Edinburgh, Scotland situated south-west of the city centre, next to Currie and then Juniper Green. Traditionally in the cou ...
,
Ratho
Ratho ( gd, Ràthach) is a village in the Rural West Edinburgh area of Edinburgh, Scotland. Its population at the 2011 census was 1,634 based on the 2010 definition of the locality. It was formerly in the old county of Midlothian. Ratho Stati ...
and
Newbridge to the city of Edinburgh.
*
Musselburgh burgh and parish of
Inveresk
Inveresk (Gaelic: ''Inbhir Easg'') is a village in East Lothian, Scotland situated to the south of Musselburgh. It has been designated a conservation area since 1969. It is situated on slightly elevated ground on the north bank of a loop o ...
(which included the villages of
Inveresk
Inveresk (Gaelic: ''Inbhir Easg'') is a village in East Lothian, Scotland situated to the south of Musselburgh. It has been designated a conservation area since 1969. It is situated on slightly elevated ground on the north bank of a loop o ...
,
Wallyford
Wallyford is a village near Musselburgh and approximately east of Edinburgh in East Lothian, Scotland.
History
The village was initially populated by coal miners and later grew as an overspill/commuter town for workers in Musselburgh and Edi ...
and
Whitecraig
Whitecraig is a village in East Lothian, Scotland. It lies between Musselburgh and Dalkeith, to the east of the city of Edinburgh
Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotla ...
) to
East Lothian.
*The Calders (
East Calder
East Calder is a village located in West Lothian, Scotland, about a mile east of Mid Calder and a mile west of Wilkieston. It forms part of 'the Calders (together with Mid and West Calder), three small neighbouring communities situated west o ...
,
Midcalder
Mid Calder ( sco, Mid Calder; gd, Caladar Mheadhain) is a village in West Lothian, Scotland. It is located on a steep hill overlooking the River Almond and Calder Wood, around west of Edinburgh. The settlement has been on a major crossroads ...
and
West Calder
West Calder ( sco, Wast Cauder, gd, Caladar an Iar) is a village in the council area of West Lothian, Scotland, located four miles west of Livingston. Historically it is within the County of Midlothian. The village was an important centre in th ...
) and the Midlothian part of
Livingston to
West Lothian.
*
Heriot
Heriot, from Old English ''heregeat'' ("war-gear"), was originally a death-duty in late Anglo-Saxon England, which required that at death, a nobleman provided to his king a given set of military equipment, often including horses, swords, shields ...
and
Stow
Stow may refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Stow, Lincolnshire or Stow-in-Lindsey, a village
* Stow of Wedale or Stow, Scottish Borders, a village
* Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire, a small town
* Stow, Shropshire or Stowe, a village
* Stow ...
parishes to the
Ettrick and Lauderdale
Ettrick and Lauderdale (''Eadaraig agus Srath Labhdair'' in Scottish Gaelic) was one of four local government districts in the Borders region of Scotland from 1975 to 1996.
History
The district was created on 16 May 1975 under the Local Govern ...
district of the
Borders
A border is a geographical boundary.
Border, borders, The Border or The Borders may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media Film and television
* ''Border'' (1997 film), an Indian Hindi-language war film
* ''Border'' (2018 Swedish film), ...
region.
For
lieutenancy purposes, the last
lord-lieutenant of the county of Midlothian was made lord-lieutenant for the new district of Midlothian when the reforms came into effect in 1975. The former county council's headquarters in Edinburgh became the offices of the new Lothian Regional Council, whilst the Midlothian District Council established its headquarters in Dalkeith. In 1991 the council built itself a new headquarters called Midlothian House at 40-46 Buccleuch Street in Dalkeith.
Council area
![Midlothian House, Dalkeith](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ea/Midlothian_House%2C_Dalkeith.jpg)
The Lothian region was abolished in 1996. The four districts in the region, including Midlothian, became unitary
council area {{Unreferenced, date=May 2019, bot=noref (GreenC bot)
A council area is one of the areas defined in Schedule 1 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 and is under the control of one of the local authorities in Scotland created by that Act. ...
s. The reconstituted Midlothian Council continues to be based at Midlothian House in Dalkeith. The Midlothian lieutenancy area corresponds to the current council area rather than the historic county.
Central government
There is a
Midlothian constituency of the House of Commons.
There was a
Midlothian constituency of the Scottish Parliament up to the 2011 elections when it was divided between
Midlothian North and Musselburgh and
Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale.
Geography
![Glencorse Reservoir - geograph](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/97/Glencorse_Reservoir_-_geograph.org.uk_-_412620.jpg)
The Midlothian
council area {{Unreferenced, date=May 2019, bot=noref (GreenC bot)
A council area is one of the areas defined in Schedule 1 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 and is under the control of one of the local authorities in Scotland created by that Act. ...
contains the towns of
Dalkeith,
Bonnyrigg and
Penicuik
Penicuik ( ; sco, Penicuik; gd, Peighinn na Cuthaig) is a town and former Police burgh, burgh in Midlothian, Scotland, lying on the west bank of the River Esk, Lothian, River North Esk. It lies on the A701 road, A701 midway between Edinburgh a ...
, as well as a portion of the
Pentland Hills Regional Park
The Pentland Hills are a range of hills southwest of Edinburgh, Scotland. The range is around in length, and runs southwest from Edinburgh towards Biggar and the upper Clydesdale.
Etymology
The name is first recorded for the farm of Pentla ...
,
Rosslyn Chapel
Rosslyn Chapel, formerly known as the Collegiate Chapel of St Matthew, is a 15th-century chapel located in the village of Roslin, Midlothian, Scotland.
Rosslyn Chapel was founded on a small hill above Roslin Glen as a Catholic collegiate church ...
and
Dalkeith Palace
Dalkeith Palace is a country house in Dalkeith, Midlothian, Scotland. It was the seat of the Dukes of Buccleuch from 1642 until 1914, and is owned by the Buccleuch Living Heritage Trust. The present palace was built 1701–1711 on the site of th ...
.
The historic county has a roughly trapezoidal shape; it consists of a fairly flat area along the
Firth of Forth, which is heavily urbanised and dominated by the Edinburgh conurbation. Off the coast lie the small islands of
Inchmickery
Inchmickery is a small island in the Firth of Forth in Scotland. It is about north of Edinburgh.
Its name comes from the Scottish Gaelic, ''Innis nam Biocaire'', meaning ''Isle of the Vicars'', implying that there may have been an old ecclesi ...
and
Cramond Island
Cramond Island (Scottish Gaelic: ''Eilean Chathair Amain'') is one of several islands in the Firth of Forth in eastern Scotland, near Edinburgh. It lies off the foreshore at Cramond. It is long and covers .Wilson, Rev. John ''The Gazetteer o ...
. The land gradually rises to the south, with the
Pentland Hills
The Pentland Hills are a range of hills southwest of Edinburgh, Scotland. The range is around in length, and runs southwest from Edinburgh towards Biggar and the upper Clydesdale.
Etymology
The name is first recorded for the farm of Pentla ...
in the south-west,
Moorfoot Hills
The Moorfoot Hills are a range of hills south of Edinburgh in east central Scotland, one of the ranges which collectively form the Southern Uplands.
Etymology
The name ''Moorfoot'' was recorded as ''Morthwait'' in 1142. The second element is O ...
in the centre-south and the
Lammermuir Hills in the far south-east.
Blackhope Scar
Blackhope Scar is a hill in the Moorfoot Hills range, part of the Southern Uplands of Scotland. It lies to the northeast of the town of Peebles
Peebles ( gd, Na Pùballan) is a town in the Scottish Borders, Scotland. It was historically a ...
on the border with Peeblesshire is the highest point in the county at 651 m (2,136 ft). The county contains no lochs of any size, though there are many reservoirs, most notably
Gladhouse Reservoir
Gladhouse Reservoir, formerly known as Moorfoot Loch, is a reservoir in Midlothian, Scotland, five miles (8 km) south of Penicuik. It is the most southerly reservoir in Midlothian, as well as being the largest area of freshwater in the Lot ...
, Rosebery Reservoir,
Edgelaw Reservoir
Edgelaw Reservoir is an artificial reservoir in Midlothian, Scotland, UK, four miles west of Temple.
It was created in 1880 by James Leslie and his son Alexander.
See also
*Gladhouse Reservoir
*Glencorse Reservoir
*North Esk Reservoir
*Rosebe ...
,
Loganlea Reservoir
Loganlea Reservoir is a small reservoir in the Pentland Hills, Midlothian, Scotland, UK. The Logan Burn connects the reservoir with Glencorse Reservoir.
History
The reservoir was constructed by the Edinburgh Water Company under the provisions o ...
,
Glencorse Reservoir
Glencorse Reservoir is a reservoir in Midlothian, Scotland, two miles west of Glencorse, in the Pentland Hills.
It is retained by an earth dam, and it was built between 1820 and 1824 by James Jardine to provide water for the mills of Auchendin ...
,
Threipmuir Reservoir,
Harlaw Reservoir,
Harperrig Reservoir
Harperrig Reservoir is a reservoir in West Lothian, Scotland, to the north of the Pentland Hills, south of Mid Calder. The Water of Leith flows through it, and nearby are Harlaw Reservoir and Threipmuir Reservoir. It has been proposed that th ...
, Crosswood Reservoir, Morton Reservoir and
Cobbinshaw Reservoir
Cobbinshaw Reservoir is a reservoir in West Lothian, Scotland. It is situated near the Pentland Hills, 5 km south of West Calder. The site is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is popular with wildfowl.
History
Cobbinshaw Re ...
.
Settlements
![Modern & Historic Midlothian](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5d/Modern_%26_Historic_Midlothian.svg)
Settlements within both historic and modern Midlothian
*
Arniston
*
Auchendinny
Auchendinny (Scottish Gaelic: Achadh an t-Sionnaich, meaning field of the fox) is a small village in Glencorse near Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland. The village had a paper mill at Dalmore, until its closure in 2005. This was Midlothian's last r ...
*
Bilston
Bilston is a market town, ward, and civil parish located in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England. It is close to the borders of Sandwell and Walsall. The nearest towns are Darlaston, Wednesbury, and Willenhall. Historically in Staffordshi ...
*
Bonnyrigg
*
Borthwick
Borthwick is a hamlet, parish and stream in Midlothian, Scotland. The parish includes the 15th century Borthwick Castle, which is to the east of the village and the villages of Gorebridge and North Middleton.''Gazetteer of Scotland'', publ. b ...
*
Carrington
*
Cornbank
*Cousland
*Crichton, Midlothian, Crichton
*
Dalkeith
*Danderhall
*Deanburn
*Dewartown
*Easthouses
*Easter Howgate
*Edgehead
*Eight Mile Burn
*Eskbank
*Fala, Midlothian, Fala
*Ford, Midlothian, Ford
*Gorebridge
*Gowkshill
*Hillend, Edinburgh, Hillend
*Hopefield, Bonnyrigg, Hopefield
*Howgate, Midlothian, Howgate
*Lasswade
*Leadburn
*Loanhead
*Mayfield, Midlothian, Mayfield
*Millerhill
*Milton Bridge
*Newbattle
*Newtongrange
*Nine Mile Burn
*North Middleton, Midlothian, North Middleton
*Pathhead, Midlothian, Pathhead
*
Penicuik
Penicuik ( ; sco, Penicuik; gd, Peighinn na Cuthaig) is a town and former Police burgh, burgh in Midlothian, Scotland, lying on the west bank of the River Esk, Lothian, River North Esk. It lies on the A701 road, A701 midway between Edinburgh a ...
*Polton
*Rosewell, Midlothian, Rosewell
*Roslin, Scotland, Roslin
*Shawfair
*Silverburn, Midlothian, Silverburn
*Straiton
*Temple, Midlothian, Temple
*Whitehill, Midlothian, Whitehill
*Dalkeith, Woodburn
Settlements historically in Midlothian but since transferred elsewhere
Transferred to the City of Edinburgh
*Abbeyhill
*Alnwickhill
*Ardmillan
*Baberton
*
Balerno
Balerno (; gd, Baile Àirneach, IPA: paleˈɛːɾʲnəx Scots: Balerno or Balernie) is a village on the outskirts of Edinburgh, Scotland situated south-west of the city centre, next to Currie and then Juniper Green. Traditionally in the cou ...
*Balgreen
*Bankhead, Edinburgh, Bankhead
*Barnton, Edinburgh, Barnton
*Beechmount, Edinburgh, Beechmount
*Bingham, Edinburgh, Bingham
*Blackford, Edinburgh, Blackford
*Blackhall, Edinburgh, Blackhall
*Bonaly
*Bonnington, Edinburgh, Bonnington
*Braepark, Edinburgh, Braepark
*Broomhouse, Edinburgh, Broomhouse
*Broughton, Edinburgh, Broughton
*Brunstane
*Bruntsfield
*Bughtlin
*Burdiehouse
*Burghmuirhead
*The Calders
*Cameron Toll
*Cammo
*The Canongate, Canongate
*Canonmills
*Chesser
*Church Hill, Edinburgh, Church Hill
*Clermiston
*Comely Bank
*Comiston
*Corstorphine
*Cowgate
*Craigcrook
*Craigentinny
*Craigleith, Edinburgh, Craigleith
*Craiglockhart
*Craigmillar
*Craigour
*Cramond
*Crewe Toll
*
Currie
Currie ( gd, Currach, IPA: kʰuːᵲəx is a village and suburb on the outskirts of Edinburgh, Scotland, situated south west of the city centre. Formerly within the County of Midlothian, it now falls within the jurisdiction of the City of Edi ...
*Curriehill
*Dalmahoy
*Dalry, Edinburgh, Dalry
*Davidson's Mains
*Dean Village
*Drumbrae
*Drylaw
*Duddingston
*Dumbiedykes
*East Craigs
*East Pilton
*Edinburgh
*Edinburgh Park
*Fairmilehead
*Ferniehill
*Ferry Road
*Firrhill
*Forrester, Edinburgh, Forrester
*Fountainbridge
*Gilmerton
*Gogar
*Gogarloch
*Goldenacre
*Gorgie
*Gracemount
*The Grange, Edinburgh, The Grange
*Granton, Edinburgh, Granton
*Grassmarket
*Greenbank, Edinburgh, Greenbank
*Greendykes
*Greenhill, Edinburgh, Greenhill
*Haymarket, Edinburgh, Haymarket
*Hermiston, Edinburgh, Hermiston
*Holy Corner
*Holyrood, Edinburgh, Holyrood
*Hunter's Tryst
*The Inch, Edinburgh, The Inch
*Ingliston
*Inverleith
*Jock's Lodge
*Joppa, Edinburgh, Joppa
*Juniper Green
*Kaimes
*Kingsknowe
*Lauriston
*Leith
*Liberton, Edinburgh, Liberton
*Little France
*Lochend, Edinburgh, Lochend
*Lochrin
*Longstone, Edinburgh, Longstone
*Marchmont
*Maybury
*Mayfield, Edinburgh, Mayfield
*Meadowbank, Edinburgh, Meadowbank
*Merchiston
*Moredun
*Morningside, Edinburgh, Morningside
*Mortonhall
*Mountcastle, Edinburgh, Mountcastle
*Muirhouse
*Murrayfield
*
Newbridge
*Newcraighall
*Newhaven, Edinburgh, Newhaven
*Newington, Edinburgh, Newington
*Niddrie, Edinburgh, Niddrie
*Northfield, Edinburgh, Northfield
*Oxgangs
*Parkgrove
*Parkhead, Edinburgh, Parkhead
*Piershill
*Pilrig
*Pilton, Edinburgh, Pilton
*Polwarth, Edinburgh, Polworth
*Portobello, Edinburgh, Portobello
*Powderhall
*Prestonfield, Edinburgh, Prestonfield
*
Ratho
Ratho ( gd, Ràthach) is a village in the Rural West Edinburgh area of Edinburgh, Scotland. Its population at the 2011 census was 1,634 based on the 2010 definition of the locality. It was formerly in the old county of Midlothian. Ratho Stati ...
*Ratho Station
*Ravelston
*Redford, Edinburgh, Redford
*Restalrig
*Riccarton, Edinburgh, Riccarton
*Roseburn
*Saughton
*Sciennes
*Seafield, Edinburgh, Seafield
*Shandon, Edinburgh, Shandon
*Sighthill, Edinburgh, Sighthill
*Silverknowes
*Slateford
*South Gyle
*Stenhouse, Edinburgh, Stenhouse
*Stockbridge, Edinburgh, Stockbridge
*Swanston, Edinburgh, Swanston
*Tollcross, Edinburgh, Tollcross
*Torphin
*Trinity, Edinburgh, Trinity
*Turnhouse
*Warriston
*West Coates
*West Craigs
*West End, Edinburgh, West End
*Westfield, Edinburgh, Westfield
*Wester Broom
*Wester Hailes
*Western Harbour, Edinburgh, Western Harbour
*West Pilton
*Willowbrae
Transferred to East Lothian
![RiverEskRomanBridge](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/63/RiverEskRomanBridge.jpg)
*Fisherrow
*
Inveresk
Inveresk (Gaelic: ''Inbhir Easg'') is a village in East Lothian, Scotland situated to the south of Musselburgh. It has been designated a conservation area since 1969. It is situated on slightly elevated ground on the north bank of a loop o ...
*Monktonhall
*
Musselburgh
*
Wallyford
Wallyford is a village near Musselburgh and approximately east of Edinburgh in East Lothian, Scotland.
History
The village was initially populated by coal miners and later grew as an overspill/commuter town for workers in Musselburgh and Edi ...
*
Whitecraig
Whitecraig is a village in East Lothian, Scotland. It lies between Musselburgh and Dalkeith, to the east of the city of Edinburgh
Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotla ...
Transferred to Scottish Borders
*
Heriot
Heriot, from Old English ''heregeat'' ("war-gear"), was originally a death-duty in late Anglo-Saxon England, which required that at death, a nobleman provided to his king a given set of military equipment, often including horses, swords, shields ...
*Stow of Wedale
Transferred to West Lothian
*Adambrae
*Addiewell
*Bellsquarry
*Breich
*Cobbinshaw
*Craigshill
*Dedridge
*
East Calder
East Calder is a village located in West Lothian, Scotland, about a mile east of Mid Calder and a mile west of Wilkieston. It forms part of 'the Calders (together with Mid and West Calder), three small neighbouring communities situated west o ...
*Harburn
*Howden, Livingston, Howden
*Kirknewton, West Lothian, Kirknewton
*Mid Calder
*Murieston
*Polbeth
*Pumpherston
*
West Calder
West Calder ( sco, Wast Cauder, gd, Caladar an Iar) is a village in the council area of West Lothian, Scotland, located four miles west of Livingston. Historically it is within the County of Midlothian. The village was an important centre in th ...
*Wilkieston
Places of interest
*Arniston House
*Borthwick Castle
*Castle Law, Castlelaw Fort
*Crichton Castle
*Dalhousie Castle
*
Dalkeith Palace
Dalkeith Palace is a country house in Dalkeith, Midlothian, Scotland. It was the seat of the Dukes of Buccleuch from 1642 until 1914, and is owned by the Buccleuch Living Heritage Trust. The present palace was built 1701–1711 on the site of th ...
*Flotterstone
*Hawthornden Castle
*Midlothian Snowsports Centre, Hillend
*National Mining Museum, Scotland, National Mining Museum
*Loanhead Memorial Park
*Mavisbank House
*Melville Castle
*Newbattle Abbey
*
Pentland Hills
The Pentland Hills are a range of hills southwest of Edinburgh, Scotland. The range is around in length, and runs southwest from Edinburgh towards Biggar and the upper Clydesdale.
Etymology
The name is first recorded for the farm of Pentla ...
*
Roslin Castle
Roslin Castle (sometimes spelt Rosslyn) is a partially ruined castle near the village of Roslin in Midlothian, Scotland. It is located around 9 miles south of Edinburgh, on the north bank of the North Esk, only a few hundred metres from the fa ...
*Roslin Glen Country Park
*Roslin Institute
*
Rosslyn Chapel
Rosslyn Chapel, formerly known as the Collegiate Chapel of St Matthew, is a 15th-century chapel located in the village of Roslin, Midlothian, Scotland.
Rosslyn Chapel was founded on a small hill above Roslin Glen as a Catholic collegiate church ...
*Tyne-Esk Walk
*Vogrie Country Park
*Wallace's Cave
Civil parishes in the County of Midlothian
(Unitary authority indicated where not Midlothian. Boundaries defined by Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973)[Census of Scotland 2011, Table KS101SC – Usually Resident Population, published by National Records of Scotland. Website http://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/ retrieved March 2016. See "Standard Outputs", Table KS101SC, Area type: Civil Parish 1930]
![EDINBURGHSHIRE or MIDLOTHIAN Civil Parish map a](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e9/EDINBURGHSHIRE_or_MIDLOTHIAN_Civil_Parish_map_a.jpg)
*
Borthwick
Borthwick is a hamlet, parish and stream in Midlothian, Scotland. The parish includes the 15th century Borthwick Castle, which is to the east of the village and the villages of Gorebridge and North Middleton.''Gazetteer of Scotland'', publ. b ...
*
Carrington
*Cockpen, Midlothian, Cockpen
*Cranston, Midlothian, Cranston
*Crichton, Midlothian, Crichton
*
Currie
Currie ( gd, Currach, IPA: kʰuːᵲəx is a village and suburb on the outskirts of Edinburgh, Scotland, situated south west of the city centre. Formerly within the County of Midlothian, it now falls within the jurisdiction of the City of Edi ...
(Edinburgh)
*
Dalkeith
*Fala, Midlothian, Fala and Soutra
*Glencorse
*
Heriot
Heriot, from Old English ''heregeat'' ("war-gear"), was originally a death-duty in late Anglo-Saxon England, which required that at death, a nobleman provided to his king a given set of military equipment, often including horses, swords, shields ...
(Scottish Borders)
*
Inveresk
Inveresk (Gaelic: ''Inbhir Easg'') is a village in East Lothian, Scotland situated to the south of Musselburgh. It has been designated a conservation area since 1969. It is situated on slightly elevated ground on the north bank of a loop o ...
(East Lothian)
*Kirkliston (Edinburgh)
[Partly in West Lothian. Article on Kirkliston in Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland, by, Francis Groome, 2nd Edition, 1896]
*Kirknewton, West Lothian, Kirknewton (West Lothian)
*Lasswade
*Mid Calder (West Lothian)
*Newbattle
*Newton, Midothian, Newton
*
Penicuik
Penicuik ( ; sco, Penicuik; gd, Peighinn na Cuthaig) is a town and former Police burgh, burgh in Midlothian, Scotland, lying on the west bank of the River Esk, Lothian, River North Esk. It lies on the A701 road, A701 midway between Edinburgh a ...
*
Ratho
Ratho ( gd, Ràthach) is a village in the Rural West Edinburgh area of Edinburgh, Scotland. Its population at the 2011 census was 1,634 based on the 2010 definition of the locality. It was formerly in the old county of Midlothian. Ratho Stati ...
(Edinburgh)
*Stow, Scotland, Stow (Scottish Borders)
*Temple, Midlothian, Temple
*
West Calder
West Calder ( sco, Wast Cauder, gd, Caladar an Iar) is a village in the council area of West Lothian, Scotland, located four miles west of Livingston. Historically it is within the County of Midlothian. The village was an important centre in th ...
(West Lothian)
Former civil parishes outside Edinburgh now merged in the City of Edinburgh
Abolished 1902:
*Duddingston
Abolished 1920
*Colinton
*Corstorphine
*Cramond
*Liberton, Scotland, Liberton
''The above list does not include parishes which have been within the City of Edinburgh for county purposes since 19th century, namely within the "County of the City" of which the Lord Provost was and is Lord Lieutenant.''
Transport
Midlothian has a modern road network as well as some rural single-track roads. The Borders Railway runs between Tweedbank to Edinburgh, with four stations in Midlothian – Shawfair railway station, Shawfair, Eskbank railway station, Eskbank, Newtongrange railway station, Newtongrange and Gorebridge railway station, Gorebridge.
Notable people associated with Midlothian
*William Drummond of Hawthornden (1585–1649), Scottish poet.
* Margaret of Scotland (1598–1600), Princess Margaret of Scotland (1598–1600), daughter of James VI and I, James VI and I of Scotland and England (born
Dalkeith Palace
Dalkeith Palace is a country house in Dalkeith, Midlothian, Scotland. It was the seat of the Dukes of Buccleuch from 1642 until 1914, and is owned by the Buccleuch Living Heritage Trust. The present palace was built 1701–1711 on the site of th ...
)
*John Clerk of Penicuik, 2nd Baronet (1676–1755), was a Scottish politician, lawyer, judge, composer and architect.
*William Robertson (historian), William Robertson (1721–1793), historian, minister in the Church of Scotland, and Principal of the University of Edinburgh
*Robert Smith (architect), Robert Smith (1722–1777), American architect, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, born in Dalkeith
*Hector Macneill (1746–1818), poet and songwriter, born near
Roslin
*John Clerk, Lord Eldin (1757–1832), Scottish judge, lived in Lasswade for several years.
*Sir Walter Scott (1771–1832) wrote the novel ''The Heart of Midlothian'' and lived at Lasswade Cottage (now Sir Walter Scott's Cottage) in Lasswade from 1798 to 1804, where he wrote his ''Grey Brother'', translation of ''Goetz von Berlichingen'', etc. and was visited by Wordsworth.
*William Tennant (poet), William Tennant (1784–1848), the author of ''Anster Fair'', was parish schoolmaster in Lasswade from 1816 to 1819.
*Thomas de Quincey (1785–1859), author of ''Confessions of an English Opium-Eater'' (1822), lived in Man's Bush Cottage (now De Quincey Cottage), Polton, from 1840 until his death in 1859.
*Thomas Murray (writer), Thomas Murray (1792–1872), the Gallovidian author, died in Lasswade.
*
William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone ( ; 29 December 1809 – 19 May 1898) was a British statesman and Liberal politician. In a career lasting over 60 years, he served for 12 years as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, spread over four non-conse ...
(1809–1898), MP for Midlothian 1880–1895 and conducted his famous
Midlothian campaign
The Midlothian campaign of 1878–80 was a series of foreign policy speeches given by William Gladstone, leader of Britain's Liberal Party. It is often cited as the first modern political campaign. It also set the stage for Gladstone's comeback ...
across the UK in 1880
*Patrick Edward Dove (1815–1873), mainly remembered for his book ''The Theory of Human Progression'', born at Lasswade
*John Lawson Johnston (1839–1900), the creator of Bovril, born at Roslin.
*Charles W. Nibley (1849–1931), Scottish-American religious leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Nibley was served as second counselor in the First Presidency (LDS Church), First Presidency to Heber J. Grant (1925–31), and Presiding Bishop (LDS Church), Presiding Bishop (1907–25).
*Charles Thomson Rees Wilson (1869–1959) of Glencorse, Nobel prize-winning physicist.
*George Forrest (botanist), George Forrest (1873–1932), a plant collector who gained fame with his expeditions to the far east who spent a significant part of his early years in Loanhead.
*William MacTaggart, Sir William MacTaggart (1903–1981), artist, and grandson of the artist William McTaggart, he became President of the Society of Scottish Artists, President of the Royal Scottish Academy, and Trustee of the National Museum of Antiquities (Scotland), National Museum of Antiquities.
*Charles Forte, Baron Forte (1908–2007), the hotelier, worked in an Italian cafe in Loanhead, on his arrival in Scotland from Italy.
*Karl Miller (1931–2014), founding editor of the ''London Review of Books'' and Lord Northcliffe Professor of Modern English Literature at University College, London (1974–1992), born in Straiton, Loanhead, Straiton.
*Annette Crosbie (born 1934), actress, born in Gorebridge
*Ishbel MacAskill (1941–2011), heritage activist and traditional Scottish Gaelic singer and teacher
*Gary Naysmith from Loanhead (born 1978), Scottish International Footballer who played for Heart of Midlothian F.C., Heart of Midlothian and Everton F.C., Everton. He was named Scottish PFA Young Player of the Year in 1998. He won the Scottish Cup with Hearts in 1998.
*Darren Fletcher (born 1984), from Mayfield Dalkeith. Scotland International footballer and holds the record of being the youngest player to captain his national side, and was part of the Manchester United squad that won the UEFA Champions League in the 2007–2008 season.
*Steven Whittaker from Bonnyrigg, (born 1984), Scotland International footballer, ex-Hibernian F.C. and Rangers F.C.
Schools in Midlothian
Primary schools
*Bilston Primary School, Bilston
*Bonnyrigg Primary School,
Bonnyrigg
*Burnbrae Primary School, Hopefield, Bonnyrigg, Hopefield
*Cornbank St James Primary School,
Penicuik
Penicuik ( ; sco, Penicuik; gd, Peighinn na Cuthaig) is a town and former Police burgh, burgh in Midlothian, Scotland, lying on the west bank of the River Esk, Lothian, River North Esk. It lies on the A701 road, A701 midway between Edinburgh a ...
*Cuiken Primary School, Penicuik
*Danderhall Primary School, Danderhall
*Gore Glen Primary School, Gorebridge
*Gorebridge Primary School, Gorebridge
*Hawthornden Primary School, Bonnyrigg
*King's Park Primary School,
Dalkeith
*Lasswade Primary School, Lasswade
*Lawfield Primary School, Mayfield, Midlothian, Mayfield
*Loanhead Primary School, Loanhead
*Mauricewood Primary School, Penicuik
*Mayfield Primary School, Mayfield
*Moorfoot Primary School, North Middleton, Midlothian, North Middleton
*Newtongrange Primary School, Newtongrange
*Paradykes Primary School, Loanhead
*Rosewell Primary School, Rosewell, Midlothian, Rosewell
*Roslin Primary School,
Roslin
*Sacred Heart RC Primary School, Penicuik
*St Andrews's RC Primary School Gorebridge
*St David's RC Primary School Dalkeith
*St Luke's RC Primary School, Mayfield
*St Margaret's RC Primary School, Loanhead
*St Mary's RC Primary School, Bonnyrigg
*St Matthew's RC Primary School, Rosewell
*Stobhill Primary School, Gorebridge
*Strathesk Primary School, Penicuik
*Tynewater Primary School, Pathhead
*Woodburn Primary School, Woodburn, Midlothian, Woodburn
Secondary schools
*Beeslack High School,
Penicuik
Penicuik ( ; sco, Penicuik; gd, Peighinn na Cuthaig) is a town and former Police burgh, burgh in Midlothian, Scotland, lying on the west bank of the River Esk, Lothian, River North Esk. It lies on the A701 road, A701 midway between Edinburgh a ...
*Dalkeith High School,
Dalkeith
*Lasswade High School Centre,
Bonnyrigg
*Newbattle Community High School, Dalkeith
*Penicuik High School, Penicuik
*St. David's RC High School, Dalkeith
Special schools
*Saltersgate School,
Dalkeith
*Top Services Pathhead, Midlothian, Pathhead
Twin towns and sister cities
Midlothian is Twin towns and sister cities, twinned with Komárom-Esztergom, Hungary and Kreis Heinsberg, Germany. It is a sister city with
Midlothian, Illinois
Midlothian () is a village in Bremen Township, Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is a southwestern suburb of Chicago. As of the 2020 census the population was 14,325.
History
Like many southwest suburbs of Chicago in the 1800s and ear ...
, a suburb of Chicago a town of Illinois.
References
External links
*
*
{{Authority control
Midlothian,
Lieutenancy areas of Scotland
Districts of Scotland
Counties of Scotland
Council areas of Scotland
Counties of the United Kingdom (1801–1922)