Midlothian (; ) is

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 (), officially counties and areas for the purposes of the lieutenancies, are the separate areas of the United Kingdom that are appointed to a lord-lieutenant – a representative of the British monarch. In many cases they have s ...

and one of 32

council areas of Scotland For local government purposes, Scotland is divided into 32 areas designated as "council areas" (), which are all governed by single-tier authorities designated as "councils". They have the option under the Local Government (Gaelic Names) (Sc ...

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 council area The City of Edinburgh Council (Scottish Gaelic: ''Comhairle Baile Dhùn Èideann'') is the Local government in Scotland, local government authority covering the City of Edinburgh council area. Almost half of the council area is the built-up are ...

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 ...

and the

Scottish Borders The Scottish Borders is one of 32 council areas of Scotland. It is bordered by West Lothian, Edinburgh, Midlothian, and East Lothian to the north, the North Sea to the east, Dumfries and Galloway to the south-west, South Lanarkshire to the we ...

. The modern council area was formed in 1975 when the historic county of Midlothian, also known as Edinburghshire, was altered substantially as part of local government reforms; its southern part formed a new Midlothian

District A district is a type of administrative division that in some countries is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or county, counties, several municipality, municip ...

within the

Region In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as areas, zones, lands or territories, are portions of the Earth's surface that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and ...

Lothian Lothian (; ; ) is a region of the Scottish Lowlands, lying between the southern shore of the Firth of Forth and the Lammermuir Hills and the Moorfoot Hills. The principal settlement is the Scottish capital, Edinburgh, while other signific ...

, whilst areas on the peripheries were assigned to other districts and the city of Edinburgh, which had always been autonomous to an extent, was formally separated as the

City of Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, a constituent country of the United Kingdom. City of Edinburgh may also refer to: *City of Edinburgh (council area), a unitary district established in 1996 **City of Edinburgh Council The City of Edi ...

District. In 1996 Midlothian became a unitary authority area, using the same name and territory as in 1975.

History

Midlothian County Council was abolished in 1975 under the

Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (c. 65) is an Act of Parliament (UK), act of Parliament of the United Kingdom that altered local government of Scotland, local government in Scotland on 16 May 1975. The act followed and largely impleme ...

, 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

region. The Midlothian district was smaller than the area of the pre-1975 county, parts of which went to other districts:

Currie Currie 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 Edinburgh Council. It is situated be ...

Balerno Balerno () 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 county of Midlothian it now administratively falls within the jurisdiction o ...

Ratho Ratho () is a village in the rural west part of the City of Edinburgh council area, 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 (historic), ...

and Newbridge to the

city of Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, a constituent country of the United Kingdom. City of Edinburgh may also refer to: *City of Edinburgh (council area), a unitary district established in 1996 **City of Edinburgh Council The City of Edi ...

;

Musselburgh Musselburgh (; ; ) is the largest settlement in East Lothian, Scotland, on the coast of the Firth of Forth, east of Edinburgh city centre. It had a population of as of . History The name Musselburgh is Old English language, Old English in ...

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 ...

(which included the villages of

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 Ed ...

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 is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The c ...

) to

;

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 wes ...

, Mid Calder and West Calder) and the Midlothian part of Livingston, West Lothian, Livingston to West Lothian; Heriot, Scottish Borders, Heriot and Stow, Scottish Borders, Stow parishes to the Ettrick and Lauderdale district of the Scottish Borders, Borders region. 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

. The Midlothian lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area corresponds to the current council area rather than the historic county. 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. The Lothian region was abolished in 1996. The four districts in the region, including Midlothian, became unitary council areas. The reconstituted Midlothian Council continues to be based at Midlothian House in Dalkeith.

Central government

There is a Midlothian (UK Parliament constituency), Midlothian constituency of the House of Commons. There was a Midlothian (Scottish Parliament constituency), Midlothian constituency of the Scottish Parliament up to the 2011 elections when it was divided between Midlothian North and Musselburgh (Scottish Parliament constituency), Midlothian North and Musselburgh and Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale (Scottish Parliament constituency), Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale.

Geography

The Midlothian council area contains the towns of Dalkeith, Bonnyrigg and Penicuik, as well as a portion of the Pentland Hills Regional Park, Rosslyn Chapel and Dalkeith Palace.

Settlements

Largest settlements by population:

Places of interest

*Arniston House *Borthwick Castle *Castle Law, Castlelaw Fort *Crichton Castle *Dalhousie Castle *Dalkeith Palace *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 *Roslin Castle *Roslin Glen Country Park *Roslin Institute *Rosslyn Chapel *Tyne-Esk Walk *Vogrie Country Park *Wallace's Cave

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) *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, Midlothian, 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. *Anne Richelieu Lamb (1807–1878), feminist writer *William Ewart Gladstone (1809–1898), MP for Midlothian 1880–1895 and conducted his famous Midlothian campaign 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 * Fish (singer) (born 1958), former lead singer Marillion 1981-1987 and song based on his birth county, Heart of Midlothian (Royal Mile) *Gary Naysmith from Loanhead (born 1978), international Footballer, played for Heart of Midlothian F.C., Heart of Midlothian and Everton F.C., Everton, named Scottish PFA Young Player of the Year in 1998, won the Scottish Cup with Hearts in 1998 *Darren Fletcher (born 1984), from Mayfield. international footballer, holds the record of being the youngest player to captain the national side, was part of the Manchester United squad that won the UEFA Champions League in 2008 *Steven Whittaker from Bonnyrigg, (born 1984), international footballer, played mainly for Hibernian and Rangers

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 *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, Midlothian, 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 *Dalkeith High School, Dalkeith *Lasswade High School Centre, Bonnyrigg *Newbattle Community High School, Mayfield *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. Since 1978 it is a sister city with Midlothian, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago a town of Illinois.

References

External links

* {{Authority control Midlothian, Lieutenancy areas of Scotland Districts of Scotland Council areas of Scotland 1975 establishments in Scotland