Topographical, statistical, and historical gazetteer of Scotland > Volume 1
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DAL
297
DAL
tury. Additions, however, have been made to it,
which bear marks of a later date. There is no par-
ticular branch of trade in this parish, except what
arises from the coal and salt-works here, carried on
to a considerable extent on the estate of Fordel.
The greatest part of the coal and salt is exported
from St. David's, a harbour at the western extremity
of the parish, in Inverkeithing bay, where vessels of
a burthen not exceeding 500 tons can load in safety.
The distance from the pits to the shore is 4 miles,
along which the coals are carried on a railway. The
annual export is about 70,000 tons ; and the coal is
reckoned of a very superior quality. The salt is
chiefly made at St. David's, a village of 150 inhabi-
tants. The village of Crossgate in this parish has a
population of 180. The valued rent, according to
the old valuation, is ,£5,394 Scots. Assessed pro-
perty, in 1S15, £4,203. In the New Statistical Ac-
count the total value of the yearly produce of this
parish is estimated at £38,000, of which £28,000 is
from coal, and £1,600 from salt. Population, in
1801, 890; in 1831, 1,300. Houses 212 This par-
ish, formerly a vicarage, is in the presbytery of Dun-
fermline, and synod of Fife. Patron, the Earl of
Moray. Stipend £227 7s. Id.; glebe £20 There
are 2 schools in the parish. Salary of parochial
schoolmaster £34 4s. 4Jd. Fees £18.
DALGINROSS. See Comrie.
DALHOUSIE. See Cockpen.
DALKEITH,* a small parish in the county of
Mid-Lothian, being only about 2 miles square,
lying on the banks of the North and South Esk
rivers ; bounded on the north by Newton and In-
veresk parishes ; on the east by Inveresk and Cran-
ston ; on the south and west by Newbottle and Lass-
wade ; and on the west by Lasswade and Newton.
Its greatest length is 3£ miles ; greatest breadth 2±
miles. The surface is gently undulated, but in no
quarter rises into hills ; indeed the whole might be
considered a plain, did not the steep banks of the
rivers give it an uneven and broken appearance.
The soil is light on the lower grounds, and, on a
deep clay, well-adapted for raising either fruit or
forest-trees, which arrive here at great perfection.
— Adjoining to the town is Dalkeith park, of 800
Scots acres, within which, about half-a-mile from
the town, is Dalkeith house, the seat of the Duke
of Buccleuch, erected about the beginning of the
last century, on the site of the old castle of Dal-
keith. In ancient times, Dalkeith castle appears to
have been a place of considerable strength, and to
have stood some sieges. It was situated on a per-
pendicular rock of great height, and inaccessible on
all sides, except on the east, where it was defended
by a fosse, through which the river is said to have
formerly run. It was, for some centuries, the prin-
cipal residence of the noble family of Morton ; and
history records, that James, last Earl of Douglas,
exasperated against John Douglas, Lord of Dalkeith,
for espousing the cause of James II., who had basely
murdered William, Earl of Douglas, at Stirling, laid
siege to the castle of Dalkeith, binding himself by a
solemn oath not to desist till he had made himself
master of it. It was, however, so gallantly defended
by Patrick Cockbum and Clerkington, that the Earl
of Douglas, and his followers, found themselves un-
able to reduce it, and were obliged to raise the siege.
On the defeat of the Scotch army at Pinkie, in 1547,
many fled to the castle of Dalkeith for refuge, among
whom was James, Earl of Morton, afterwards regent
of Scotland, and Sir David Hume of Wedderburn.
* Dal-cqcih, or Iceitli, that is, ' the Narrow dale, 1 according
to Chalmers. Some suppose ketth equivalent to vath, signify-
ing ' Battle :' in which case Daf/ieilh would mean • the Field
ol Battle.'
It was besieged by the English, and defended for
some time ; but as it contained not a sufficient store
of provisions for such a number of men as had fled to
it, and as the besieged had no hopes of succour against
the victorious army, it was obliged to surrender ; in
consequence of which, the Earl and Sir David were
made prisoners. "Morton's character," says Gilpin,
" is marked in history with those vices which un-
bounded ambition commonly ingrafts upon the fiercer
passions, cruelty and revenge ; to which we may add
an insatiable avarice. Popular odium at length over-
powered him, and he fotmd it necessary to retire
from public life. This castle was the scene of his
retreat ; where he wished the world to believe he
was sequestered from all earthly concerns. But the
terror he had impressed through the country during
his power was such, that the common people still
dreaded him even in retirement. In passing towards
Dalkeith, they generally made a circuit round the
castle, which they durst not approach, calling it, the
lion's den. While he was thus supposed to be em-
ployed in making his parterres, and forming his ter-
races, he was planning a scheme for the revival of
his power. It suddenly took effect, to the astonish-
ment of all Scotland. But it was of short continu-
ance. In little more than two years, he was obliged
to retreat again from public affairs ; and ended his
life on a scaffold." When Morton was executed, the
barony of Dalkeith was included in his attainder,
and although the estate was finally restored to the
Earl of Morton, yet the castle seems long to have
been considered as public property, and to have been
used as such. It was General Monk's residence
while in Scotland. In the year 1642, the estate of
Dalkeith came into the possession of the family of
Buccleuch by purchase from the Earl of Morton.
According to Chalmers, the Douglases of Lothian
obtained in early times a baronial jurisdiction over
many lands, in several shires, which was called the
Regality of Dalkeith. In 1541, James, 3d Earl of
Morton, obtained a charter from James V., con-
firming this regality. In January 1682, George, Earl
of Dalhousie, was appointed bailie of the regality of
Dalkeith. After the death of the Duke of Mon-
mouth, James, his son, was created Earl of Dalkeith.
His mother, Anne, Duchess of Buccleuch and Mon-
mouth died, in 1732, aged 81, when she was suc-
ceeded by Erancis, her grandson. On the abolition
of hereditary jurisdictions, in 1747, the Duke claimed
£4,000 for the regality of Dalkeith ; but was al-
lowed only £3,400. The beauty of the situation is
greatly heightened by the serpentine windings of the
two Esks, which unite in the park about half-a-mile
below the house, and the fine woods with which it is
surrounded. " It stands on a knoll," says Gilpin,
" overlooking a small river. The knoll is probably
in part artificial ; for an awkward square hollow hard
by, indicates that the knoll has been dug out of it.
Beyond the river are woods ; and a picturesque view
of the town and church of Dalkeith. But the house
fronts the other way, where it is not only confined,
but the ground rises from it. It might have stood
with great advantage, if it had been carried two or
three hundred yards farther from the river ; and its
front turned towards it. A fine lawn would then
have descended from it, bounded by the river, and
the woods. We often see a bad situation chosen :
but we seldom see a good one so narrowly missed.
There are several pleasing pictures in Dalkeith
house ; one of the most striking, is a landscape by
Vernet, in Salvator's style. It is a rocky scene
through which a torrent rushes : the foaming vio-
lence of the water is well expressed. I have not
often met with a picture of this fashionable master
which I liked better. And yet it is not entirely free
297
DAL
tury. Additions, however, have been made to it,
which bear marks of a later date. There is no par-
ticular branch of trade in this parish, except what
arises from the coal and salt-works here, carried on
to a considerable extent on the estate of Fordel.
The greatest part of the coal and salt is exported
from St. David's, a harbour at the western extremity
of the parish, in Inverkeithing bay, where vessels of
a burthen not exceeding 500 tons can load in safety.
The distance from the pits to the shore is 4 miles,
along which the coals are carried on a railway. The
annual export is about 70,000 tons ; and the coal is
reckoned of a very superior quality. The salt is
chiefly made at St. David's, a village of 150 inhabi-
tants. The village of Crossgate in this parish has a
population of 180. The valued rent, according to
the old valuation, is ,£5,394 Scots. Assessed pro-
perty, in 1S15, £4,203. In the New Statistical Ac-
count the total value of the yearly produce of this
parish is estimated at £38,000, of which £28,000 is
from coal, and £1,600 from salt. Population, in
1801, 890; in 1831, 1,300. Houses 212 This par-
ish, formerly a vicarage, is in the presbytery of Dun-
fermline, and synod of Fife. Patron, the Earl of
Moray. Stipend £227 7s. Id.; glebe £20 There
are 2 schools in the parish. Salary of parochial
schoolmaster £34 4s. 4Jd. Fees £18.
DALGINROSS. See Comrie.
DALHOUSIE. See Cockpen.
DALKEITH,* a small parish in the county of
Mid-Lothian, being only about 2 miles square,
lying on the banks of the North and South Esk
rivers ; bounded on the north by Newton and In-
veresk parishes ; on the east by Inveresk and Cran-
ston ; on the south and west by Newbottle and Lass-
wade ; and on the west by Lasswade and Newton.
Its greatest length is 3£ miles ; greatest breadth 2±
miles. The surface is gently undulated, but in no
quarter rises into hills ; indeed the whole might be
considered a plain, did not the steep banks of the
rivers give it an uneven and broken appearance.
The soil is light on the lower grounds, and, on a
deep clay, well-adapted for raising either fruit or
forest-trees, which arrive here at great perfection.
— Adjoining to the town is Dalkeith park, of 800
Scots acres, within which, about half-a-mile from
the town, is Dalkeith house, the seat of the Duke
of Buccleuch, erected about the beginning of the
last century, on the site of the old castle of Dal-
keith. In ancient times, Dalkeith castle appears to
have been a place of considerable strength, and to
have stood some sieges. It was situated on a per-
pendicular rock of great height, and inaccessible on
all sides, except on the east, where it was defended
by a fosse, through which the river is said to have
formerly run. It was, for some centuries, the prin-
cipal residence of the noble family of Morton ; and
history records, that James, last Earl of Douglas,
exasperated against John Douglas, Lord of Dalkeith,
for espousing the cause of James II., who had basely
murdered William, Earl of Douglas, at Stirling, laid
siege to the castle of Dalkeith, binding himself by a
solemn oath not to desist till he had made himself
master of it. It was, however, so gallantly defended
by Patrick Cockbum and Clerkington, that the Earl
of Douglas, and his followers, found themselves un-
able to reduce it, and were obliged to raise the siege.
On the defeat of the Scotch army at Pinkie, in 1547,
many fled to the castle of Dalkeith for refuge, among
whom was James, Earl of Morton, afterwards regent
of Scotland, and Sir David Hume of Wedderburn.
* Dal-cqcih, or Iceitli, that is, ' the Narrow dale, 1 according
to Chalmers. Some suppose ketth equivalent to vath, signify-
ing ' Battle :' in which case Daf/ieilh would mean • the Field
ol Battle.'
It was besieged by the English, and defended for
some time ; but as it contained not a sufficient store
of provisions for such a number of men as had fled to
it, and as the besieged had no hopes of succour against
the victorious army, it was obliged to surrender ; in
consequence of which, the Earl and Sir David were
made prisoners. "Morton's character," says Gilpin,
" is marked in history with those vices which un-
bounded ambition commonly ingrafts upon the fiercer
passions, cruelty and revenge ; to which we may add
an insatiable avarice. Popular odium at length over-
powered him, and he fotmd it necessary to retire
from public life. This castle was the scene of his
retreat ; where he wished the world to believe he
was sequestered from all earthly concerns. But the
terror he had impressed through the country during
his power was such, that the common people still
dreaded him even in retirement. In passing towards
Dalkeith, they generally made a circuit round the
castle, which they durst not approach, calling it, the
lion's den. While he was thus supposed to be em-
ployed in making his parterres, and forming his ter-
races, he was planning a scheme for the revival of
his power. It suddenly took effect, to the astonish-
ment of all Scotland. But it was of short continu-
ance. In little more than two years, he was obliged
to retreat again from public affairs ; and ended his
life on a scaffold." When Morton was executed, the
barony of Dalkeith was included in his attainder,
and although the estate was finally restored to the
Earl of Morton, yet the castle seems long to have
been considered as public property, and to have been
used as such. It was General Monk's residence
while in Scotland. In the year 1642, the estate of
Dalkeith came into the possession of the family of
Buccleuch by purchase from the Earl of Morton.
According to Chalmers, the Douglases of Lothian
obtained in early times a baronial jurisdiction over
many lands, in several shires, which was called the
Regality of Dalkeith. In 1541, James, 3d Earl of
Morton, obtained a charter from James V., con-
firming this regality. In January 1682, George, Earl
of Dalhousie, was appointed bailie of the regality of
Dalkeith. After the death of the Duke of Mon-
mouth, James, his son, was created Earl of Dalkeith.
His mother, Anne, Duchess of Buccleuch and Mon-
mouth died, in 1732, aged 81, when she was suc-
ceeded by Erancis, her grandson. On the abolition
of hereditary jurisdictions, in 1747, the Duke claimed
£4,000 for the regality of Dalkeith ; but was al-
lowed only £3,400. The beauty of the situation is
greatly heightened by the serpentine windings of the
two Esks, which unite in the park about half-a-mile
below the house, and the fine woods with which it is
surrounded. " It stands on a knoll," says Gilpin,
" overlooking a small river. The knoll is probably
in part artificial ; for an awkward square hollow hard
by, indicates that the knoll has been dug out of it.
Beyond the river are woods ; and a picturesque view
of the town and church of Dalkeith. But the house
fronts the other way, where it is not only confined,
but the ground rises from it. It might have stood
with great advantage, if it had been carried two or
three hundred yards farther from the river ; and its
front turned towards it. A fine lawn would then
have descended from it, bounded by the river, and
the woods. We often see a bad situation chosen :
but we seldom see a good one so narrowly missed.
There are several pleasing pictures in Dalkeith
house ; one of the most striking, is a landscape by
Vernet, in Salvator's style. It is a rocky scene
through which a torrent rushes : the foaming vio-
lence of the water is well expressed. I have not
often met with a picture of this fashionable master
which I liked better. And yet it is not entirely free
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Gazetteers of Scotland, 1803-1901 > Topographical, statistical, and historical gazetteer of Scotland > Volume 1 > (379) Page 297 - DAL |
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