Elphinstone is a village in
East Lothian
East Lothian (; ; ) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, as well as a Counties of Scotland, historic county, registration county and Lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area. The county was called Haddingtonshire until 1921.
In ...
, Scotland, southwest of
Tranent
Tranent is a town in East Lothian (formerly Haddingtonshire), in the south-east of Scotland. Tranent lies 6 miles from the boundary of Edinburgh, and 9.1 miles from the city centre. It lies south of the A1 road (Great Britain), A1 road that r ...
. The ruins of
Elphinstone Tower, the former seat of the Elphinstone family, lie nearby.
Etymology
The village's name was first recorded in the 13th century. It may mean "estate belonging to Ælfwine", from Old English ''Ælfwinestun''.
A local fairy tale offers a more fantastical origin for the name, tracing it back to an elf who was imprisoned in stone by a witch whom he had crossed.
History
The
Protestant
Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...
reformer
George Wishart was brought to Elphinstone by
Patrick Hepburn, 3rd Earl of Bothwell en route to
St Andrews
St Andrews (; ; , pronounced ʰʲɪʎˈrˠiː.ɪɲ is a town on the east coast of Fife in Scotland, southeast of Dundee and northeast of Edinburgh. St Andrews had a recorded population of 16,800 , making it Fife's fourth-largest settleme ...
where he was tried and burned at the stake on 1 March 1546.
Between 2011 and 2018 the population of the village increased from 520 to 590
and it has basic amenities, including a primary school, a community centre, a newsagent, and a miners welfare club.
Landmarks and economy
Located half a mile west of the village,
Elphinstone Tower, built in the 13th to 15th century, is a former five-storey tower, now a ruin, with only the lower level remaining.
The Elphinstone clan held the lands of Elphinstone and took their name from their lands.
Mines owned by the Edinburgh Colliery Company, Limited were formerly the main employer in the village. Many of the houses in the village were owned by the company.
now Inveresk Research International is one of the main employers in the area. Elphinstone Tower Farm produces cereal crops.
References
External links
Website of Elphinstone Primary SchoolEast Lothian Council Report on Elphinstone village
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Villages in East Lothian