Scotland > 1837 - Pigot and Co.'s national commercial directory for the whole of Scotland and of the Isle of Man

Muttox^i
MID CALDER, &c.
lEftinSuvffj&iSfifii
dispensed the sacrament of the Lord's supper after the
reformation. The house of Greenbank, in the vicinity,
is celebrated as the birth-place of John Spotteswood,
Archbishop of St. Andrew's. Fairs are held on the
second Tuesday in the months of March and October.
East-Calder is a small village, lying one mile east
from MId-Calder, on the south road from Edinburgh
to Glasgow.
The village of West-Calder is very small, and des-
titute of any trading establishment; but the parish is
rather extensive, being about ten miles in lengtii by
five and a half in breadth. The village is about five
miles from that of Mid-Calder, and Sixteen and a iialf
from Edinburgh ; it contains an established church and
an associate congregational meeting-house. Two miles
and a half hence, on the estate of Harburn, is a place
called ' Cromwell's Wit,' from Cromwell having com-
manded at a battle there; several stone coffins have
been dugup from beneath the surface of this spot, con-
taining the bimes of those who were buried in them.
In the immediate vicinage, al a place called Ca.'-tk
Craig, are the traces of a Roman encampment.
POST OFFICE, Mid-Calder, James Crnickshank, Post il/ffs<er.— Letters from Edinburgh
arrive every morning at seven in summer and eight in winter, and afttmoon at half-past one, and are des-
patched every afternoon at a quarter before four and night at nine.
NOBILITV, GENTRY AND
CLERGY,
Bauchope Thomas, esq. Brucefield
Bruce William, esq. of Alderston
Duncan Rev. Alexander,Mid Calder
Fleming Rev. William, West Calder
Hair Stewart B. esq Calder hall
Hogg James, esq. Muriston
Keir John, esq. of Westfield
Learmonth Rev. Wm. West Calder
Martin John Darid, esq. Gaveside
Mowbray John, esq. Harwood
IMurray Major, West Calder
Summers RtT. Dr. John, Manse
Torphicben the Right Honourable
Lord, Calder house
White Mrs. Elizabeth, of Howden
Young Alexander, esq. (of Harburn)
West Calder
SHOPKEEPERS & TRADERS,
IN MID CALDER
Brownlee Geo. grocer & spirit dealer
Campbell Alexander, grocer
Gray Cathrne. grocer & spirit dealer
Hunter Robert, wright
Kippen William, innkeeper
M'Gill Maiion, grocer
Miller Henry, grocer
Muirhead J no. grocer & spirit dealer
Rennie William, blacksmith
Robertson Adam, paper maker
Robertson William, paper maker
Roxburgh — , master of parochial
school, West Calder
Russell Alexander, eiocer
Scott Joseph Murray, master of
parochial school
Scouler David, grocer
COACHES.
To AYR, the Marquess of Hastings, every
morning (Sunday excepted) at tialf-past
nine; goes through Stratbaven & KiU
marnock.
To EDINBURGH, the Royal Mail (from
Glasgow), every afternoon at four ; and
the Commercial, every night (Sunday
excepted) at eight.
To GLASGOW, the Royal Mail (from
Edinburgh), every afternoon at half-past
one, and the Commercial, every after-
noon (Sunday excepted) at half-past
tive; both go through Holylown.
MUSSELBURGH, FISHERROW AND IJNVERESK
lUSSELBURGH, a town of considerable antiquity
and a burgh of regality, in the parish of Inveresk, is
six miles E. from Edinburgh, 49 e. from Glasgow, and
three from Portobello ; situate on the shore of the
Frith of Forth, occupying a low site on a flat expanse
of ground, betwixt the eminence on which the church
of inveresk is placed and the sea, on the right bank of
the river Esk — the town of Fisherrow lying on the op-
posite side. It is said to have obtained its name from
a muscle-bank near the mouth of the Esk. This town
is noticed in history eight hundred years since, being
thciSsfee-mM^Aeofthe Northumbrian Saxons, in whose
time it was a seat of population. Before the reforma-
tion it belonged to the abbey of Dunfermline, from
which it was wrested by James VI, who gave the su-
periority to the Lauderdale family, with whom it re-
mained until the year 1709, when it was purchased by
the Dutchess of Monmouth and Buccleugh. It is ge-
nerally .supposed that the first charter was granted by
the Earl of Marr, in 1340, in gratitude for certain at-
tentions paid by the inhabitants to the great Randolph,
Earl of Murray, who died here in 1332, and who, it is
said, bestowed upon the place the appellation which it
still contiimes to bear — ' the honest town.' But the
most ancient charter now extant is that bearing date
11th December, 1562; this was obtained from Robert,
C(mimendator of Dunfermline, and has been confirnitd
by subsequent charters and acts of parliament — more
particularly by one from the Duke of Lauderdale, dated
1670, in which all the ancient rights and privileges are
acknowledged ; previous to which (in the year 1632)
it was erected into a royal burgh, by a charter under
the great seal. It is governed by a provost, three bai-
lies, and a treasurer; and there are seven incorporated
trades. The burgh unites with Leith and Portobello in
returning one member to parliament; the present re-
presentative is the Lord Advocate, J. A. Murray. The
magistrates are empowered to hold a court of record,
and to grant enfeoffments.
The town consists of one main street, in the direc-
tion of nearly east and west— extending from the Ebk,
on the west, to the beautiful inclosures of Loretto and
Pinkie on the east ; and through which the road pro-
ceeds from Edinburgh to Berwick and London. The
central part of the High-street is spacious, with a good
Inn on the north side (the ' Musselburgh Arms'), and
the gaol, the latter partly renewed and ornamenied in
ahanflsiime manner, on the west; it contains a con-
siderable number of houses in the villa style, and is
surrounded by rich and luxuriant gardens. 'J'he town
is lighted with gas by a company, who ha<e erected
works for that purpose at the mouth of the Esk, from
which Portobello is also supplied. The connexion with
Fisherrow is maintained by two stone and two wooden
bridges, all of considerable length ; the uppermost
bridge, which stands a little above the town, is of great
antiquity, and was in former times a pass of some mo-
ment — and it is remarkable as being that by which the
Scottish army ciossed the Esk when marching to the
battle of Pinkie, fought in 1547. This interesting old
structure is now used only by foot passengers, the
raaiti road being by a more modern and handsome
bridge, eiected within the piesent century.
The trade of Musselburgh is considerable, and gives
employment to numerous individuals: tan- works,
haircloth and net mauufacioiies, the making of hats,
ropes and sailcloth, starch and earthenware, are
carried on; there is a distillery doing good business,
and the trade in corn and timber is of some impor-
tance. The most remarkable and peculiar in the class
of manufactures are those of the haircloth and heii-ing
net : the hair is dyed various colours, and wrought up
into fabrics for covering sofas, chairs, &c.; it is also
employed in making hats, hunting-caps, shoes, vests,
&c. In the manufacture of the ' patent heriing net,'
the article is produced from looms of an ingenious
and novel construction, the invention of Mr. James
Paterson, of Fisherrow ; and as they can be rendered
much cheaper than those constructed in the old way,
they are gradually superseding that description. In-
land, Musselburgh is surrounded by a rich agricultural
country, and by a number of coal-pits in full opera-
tion, enetaging the industry of a large population.
Besides these sources of wealth, the town is benefited
by the residence of a number of retired families in the
upper class of society; and its trade and commerce
facilitated by two branches of highly respei table bank-
ing-houses. The places of worship are the paiish
church of Inveresk, and episcopalian, relief, and Wes-
leyan chapels. The church, which is a conspicuous
edifice, and its steeple a well-known object on ap-
proaching the coast here, is inconveniently situated
for the majority of the population, and too small for
its grtatly augmented congregation : it is intendcjd,
therefore, to erect an additional church in Fisherrow,
in furtherance of whi( h subscriptions to a consideiable
amount have been raised. Musselburgh has long been
distinguished for its seminaries, amongst which; the.
burgh giammar-school takes a distinguished stand".':
The 'links' here have, from time immemorial, been in ■
gieat repute for their excellence as a golfing-ground ;
a silver cup :s played foi annually by the club, which
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