Scotland > 1868, 1878 - Slater's (late Pigot & Co.'s) Royal national commercial directory and topography of Scotland > 1878 > Part 1

EDINBURGQsaiRE.
SLATER'S
I. A S S W A D E ,
BONNYRIGG, LIBERTON, GILMERTON, GREENEND, LOANHEAD, ROSLIN, AND ROSEWELL.
JjASSWADE is a smaU neat village and parish— the former six
miles south from Edinburgh, and two from Dalkeith, delightfully
situated on both sides of the North Esk, which is here crossed by a
good stone bridge. With its handsome modern church, crowning
the height on the north bank of the stream, and its modest rural
cottages below, embosaomed in luxuriant gardens and umbrageous
trees, it may be esteemed one of the prettiest and most picturesque
villages in Scotland. Within the last thirty years this place haq
been greatly improved by the erection of manysubstantial dwellings,
and the opening of several manufacturing establishments; among
the latter are four paper mills, aud a carpet manufactory. The Pol-
ton Mills, belonging to Messrs. Annandale and Son, are extensive
works for making both writing and printing papers, of various
qualities. The North Esk runs through the whole length of the
parish, and on its banks are presented a continuous succession of
charming seats, in the most iuviting situations, such as Melville
castle, Mavisbauk, and Hawthornden— the latter rerap.rkable for hav-
ing belonged to Drumraond, the poet and historian, and for the
caves under it. These caves are three in number; the largest is
twelve feet wide at the entrance, gradually tapering inwards; the
height is six feet, and the length ninety; above there is a tunnel
cut, for the admissiou of light and the circulation of air; in a recess
tliere is a well, several fathoms deep. These caves are said to have
afforded shelter to the Scots in turbulent times. At a little distance
stand the ruins of Roalin Castle ; and adjacent is Roslin chapel, one
of the most entire and beautiful pieces of Gothic architecture now
remaining in Scotland. In the cemetery of Lasswade church are
interred the remains of Drummond.the poet before mentioned; a jd
an aiste of the old structure is appropriated as a burial vault for the
noble family of Melville, and hero lie the remams of the first vis-
count of that title, whose prominent situation during the ministry
of Mr. Pitt will still be recollected. The whole parish abounds in
coal mines. Which have been wrought for more than two centuries.
The parish, which embraces an area of 10,675 acres in 1871, had a
population of 7,098, of that number the viUage contamed 944.
RosEWELL is arising village in the parish of Lasswade, situated
about four miles from Dalkeith, and two from Bonnyrigg. There
is a neat church of the estabhshment, and a public school in the
village. The Peebles Railway pa^-ses the village about half a mile
distant, there being a station at Hawthornden. In the neighbour-
hood there is an abundance of coal, aud the manufacture of fire-
clay goods and mineral oils is can-led on to a considerable extent.
Population in 1871, 790.
The parish of Liberton includes three villages of its name—
Upper (or Over) Liberton, Liberton Kirk, and Nether Liber- ^
TON, with GiLMERTON and Greenend— all of great antiquity, but ^
none of them now of extensive importance. The kirk town is about |
three miles from the capital, and the like distance from Dalkeith :
and Lasswade. Gilmerton the most considerable village in the
parish, ia situated about midway between Edinburtrh and
Dalkeith. There is a neat church or chapel of ease to ;
Liberton in the village, which is chiefly occupied by colliers. .
Greenend village is about four miles from Lasswade, on the road to
Edinburgh. The old church of Liberton, which was of Gothic
architecture, survived till a recent date, when it was removed to
make way for the present handsome semi-Gothic structure, whose
square turrets and pinnacles can be seen at a great distance; an
excellent manse is adjacent, and the village is contiguous. The
pariah, which lies at the base of the Pentland hills, is exceedingly
POST OFX*IC£f Lasswade, George Storie, Po8t Master. — Letters from all parts are delivered at seven morning and half-past
nine (called for), forty-five minutes past twelve noon and five afternoon, and are despatched at twenty minutes past eleven morning, ten
minutes before three afternoon, ten minutes past seven and half-past nine night.
Money Onh:r and Telegraph O^ffice and Sai'ings Bank.
Post Office, Bonnyrigg, William Buchanan, Post Master.— Ijeitevs from all parts are delivered at half-past seven and nine
morning and at half-past one afternoon, and are despatched at twenty minutes past twelve noon, half-past two afternoon, and twenty
minutes past six and twenty minutes past eight night.
Moitcy Order Office.
Post Office* Liberton, John Kerr, Post 3/as^er.— Letters arrive from all parts at a quarter-past six morning and lialf-past twelve
noon, and are despatched at twenty minutes past four afternoon and ten minutes past nine night.
Money Order and Telegraph Office and Savijigs Banl-.
Post office, LoANHEAD, James Glover, Post Master.— LicttevB from all parts arrive at seven morning and half-past one afternoon,
and are despatched at half-past eleven forenoon, a quarter-past three afternoon, and a quarter-past eight night.
Money Order and Telegraph Office and Savings Bank.
Post Office. RosLiN, George Bryce, Post Master.— hettera arrive from all parts at seven morning and ten minutes past two after-
noon, and are despatched at a quarter before three afternoon and ten minutes past eight night.
Post Office, RosEWELL, Robert Riach, P(*j{t itfasffr.— Letters arrive from all pai-ts at half-past nine morning and half-past two
afternoon , and are despatched at thi'ee afternoon and eight night. *
Money Order Office,
populous ; and its mines of coal aud its lime works are most exten-
sive aud valuable. The celebrated cave, dug by George Paterson,
a blacksmith, out of the solid rock, was finishi^d in 1724, after five
years' hard labour. In this cave are several apartments with beds,
a table with a largo punchbowl, all formed from the same un-
malleable material; there are also a smith's forge, a well, and a
washing house. Here Paterson lived several year-s, and here he
died about 17:17. Craigmillar castle, sometime a favourite residence
of Quceu Mary, stands on a rising ground of moderate elevation,
and commands a beautiful aud extensive prospect over the nur-
roundiug country. Liberton parish embraces an area of 6,617 acres,
and in 1871 contained a population of 3,791. Population of GiU
merton, 1,062.
Bonnyrigg is a large and rising village iu the parish of Cockpeu,
situated six miles south from Edinburgh and two from Dalkeith.
There is a haur1some;Freechurch,two large and commodious schools,
with an attendance of about 250 pupils in c;ich; a Town Hall, cap-
able of holding about six hundred persons, and a bowling green,
which is largely frequented by the inhabitants and others. There
is also a branch of the Bank of Scotland, and two Railway Stations,
viz:— Broomicknowe on the Esk Valley Railway, aud Bonnyrigg on
the Peebles Railway. Carpet weaving is carried on to a very consider-
able extent, about 400 hands being employed in the manufacture of
this very useful article ; and in the immodi:ite neighbourhood there
are several coal mines, and two brick manufactories employing a
large number of bands. Broomieknowe. which is a part of the
viUage being iu close proximity thereto, is resorted to by a large
number of summer visitors. The Esk Valley which is admired by
all who visit it can be seen from here to great advantage, and the
view is open for miles around. Population in 1871, 1,857.
LoANHj^AD is a neat aud populous village in the parish of Lasa-
wade, one mile from that town, rather more than two from Liberton,
and five south-east from Edinburgh. It contains many respectable
houses, and in the neighbourhood several families of distinction are
resident. A considerable proportion of the population is employed
in the collieries, and some in the neighbouring paper mills. This
village has the advantage of being well supplied with water, which
is conveyed to the houses by pipes. Population in 1871, 1,759.
RosLiN is a small village* and parish, the latter separated from
Lasswade some years ago, and erected into a distinct parish of
itself. The village is reached by a cross road leading southward
from the line betwixt Peebles and Edinburgh, distant from Edin*
burgh seven miles, from Lasswade two and a half, and from Loan-
head two miles. It is much visited by tourists and parties from the
metropolis, both on account of the beauties of the scenery aud of
the ruins of Roslin castle and its chapel. These stand south from
the village, the former on the bank of the North Eak. The chapel
is one of the most perfect specimens of Gothic architecture that
time has spared in this part of the kingdom. These interesting
relics, in connection with the loveliuesa of the district by which
thej' are surrounded, form an attraction that invariably delights the
visitor of cultivated taste aud the admirer of the picturesque and
beautiful. Agriculture is the prevailing occupation of the iuhabit-
ants of the parish; but there are the Roalin Gunpowder Mills and
the extensive carpet works of Messrs. HenryWidnell & Co. which pro-
duce gome beautiful specimens of weaving both in carpets, rugs, and
table covers, and which furnish employment to other industrious
hands. Population of the village iu 1871, 511.
NOBILITY, GENTRY, & CLERGY.
Addie Mr. John, Green Park, Liberton
Ainslie Mrs, Rachel, Roslin
Aitchison Mr. C. Linden Lodge, Loanhead
Aitchison John,Esq. Mount Vernon.Liberton
Anderson i\Irs. Ann, Broomieknowe
Anderson David, Esq. Moredon, Green end
Anderson Mrs. Haiiet, Dalhousie Grange,
Lasswade
Anderson Mrs. John, Eckford
Anderson Mr. Lawrence, Northfield, Liberton
Annandale James H. Esq. Esk Tower
Arclibald JMr. Thomas. View bank
Arnot Mia. John, Union Park, Bonnyrigg
Baird Sir James Gardiner. Inch House,
Liberton [wade
Balbirnie Mrs. John, Calderwood bank,La3s-
Barnetson Rev. David, Free Church Manae,
Roslin
Barton Mr.Robert,Pentland House, Loanhead
Boyd Miss Jessie, Mount Chassie, Broomie-
knowe
Boyd Thomas J. Esq. Midfield House
Brodie Rev. William C. Lasswade
Burdon Rev. J. A. The Mause, Lasswade
Burton Miss — , Liberton bank
Calder Mr. Thomas, Jane bank [end
Christie Mr. William, Craigend Park, Green-
Church Mr. Duncan M.Fairnie bank. Liber-
ton
Cole Rev. Robert, Greenlaw park
Colquhoun Miss — , Fountain, Loanhead
Crawford Mr. E. T. Gowanlee Cottage, Lass-
wade
Cioal David, Esq. Sonthfleld, Liberton
Cumming Rev. Alexander, Elm bank
Curror Mr. Adam, Seafleld House, Roslin
Dalgleish Mr. James, Glenkevock House,
Lagswade
1-1
Italhousie Right Hon. the Earl of, Dal-
housie Cfistle [Itnowe
Daviilson Mr. John, John's Cott<i|?e,Brooraie-
Deas the Eight Hon. Lord, Pittendreigh
House [Liberton
Dobbie Mr. George, St. Catherine's Cottage,
Donaldson Mrs. Agnes, Hawthornden
Douglas Mr. Sholto, Crawford bank.Laaswade
Druuinii'Ud Colonel Francis, Hawthorn.len
Duncan Colonel F. K. Firth, Roslin
Duncan Mrs. — , Woodfield, Koslin
Dundas Robert, Esq. Arniston
Durham Mrs. L. Dundas, Polton
Eadie Mrs. A. Hawthorn Cottage, Bonnyrigg
Fog Rasmus, Esq. Springbank Villa, Lass-
wade [ton
Fullerton Mr.Anrlrow.Mount pleasant, Liber-
Galloway Mr. Jobn.Tower Cottage, Liberton
Gibson George, Esq. O.K. Laurel bank
Goldia Mi«9 Jnnet, Bonnyrigg