Midlothian

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For other uses of the term "Midlothian", see Midlothian (disambiguation).
Midlothian
Midlowden
Meadhan Lodainn
Location
Geography
Area Ranked 21st
 - Total 354 km2 (137 sq mi)
 - % Water  ?
Admin HQ Dalkeith
ISO 3166-2 GB-MLN
ONS code 00QW
Demographics
Population Ranked 28th
 - Total (2007) 79,500
 - Density 225 /km2 (583 /sq mi)
Politics
Midlothian Council
http://www.midlothian.gov.uk/
Control Labour
MPs
MSPs

Midlothian (Scots: Midlowden, Scottish Gaelic: Meadhan Lodainn) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy area. It borders the Scottish Borders, East Lothian and the City of Edinburgh council areas.

The council area was created in 1996, under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, with the boundaries of the Midlothian district of the Lothian region. The district had been created in 1975, under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, and it consisted of the local government county of Midlothian, minus the burgh of Musselburgh and Calder, Cramond, Currie and Inveresk areas.

Contents

[edit] Midlothian and Edinburgh

The county of Midlothian was known, officially, as the County of Edinburgh until 1921. The ancient county had alternative names; Midlothian or Edinburghshire[1]

Edinburgh was a part of the county of Midlothian; traces of this can be found in the name of the Heart of Midlothian mosaic on the Royal Mile, and Heart of Midlothian F.C., both of which are based firmly within the city boundaries, and are no longer part of the Midlothian council area at all.

[edit] Constituencies

There is a Midlothian constituency of the Scottish Parliament and a Midlothian constituency of the House of Commons.

[edit] Towns and villages

[edit] Places of interest

[edit] Notable People Associated with Midlothian

Further information: Category:People from Midlothian
  • 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 Drummond of Hawthornden (1585-1649), Scottish poet.
  • William Gladstone (1809-1898), MP for Midlothian 1880-1895 and conducted his famous Midlothian campaign across the UK in 1880
  • Thomas de Quincey (1785-1859), author of Confessions of an English Opium-Eater (1822), lived in Lasswade from 1840 until his death in 1859. He had his headquarters and family abode at Man's Bush Cottage (now De Quincey Villa).
  • John Clerk, Lord Eldin (1757-1832), Scottish Judge, lived in Lasswade for several years.
  • William Tennant, the author of Anster Fair, was parish schoolmaster in Lasswade from 1816 to 1819.
  • Thomas Murray (1792-1872), the Gallovidian author, died in Lasswade.
  • John Clerk of Penicuik, 2nd Baronet (1676–1755), was a Scottish politician, lawyer, judge, composer and architect.
  • William McTaggart (1835-1910), Scottish landscape painter, lived in Lasswade
  • Gary Naysmith from Loanhead. (1978-present) Scottish International Footballer who currently plays for Sheffield United and formerly for Heart Of Midlothian and Everton. He was named Scottish PFA Young Player of the Year in 1998. He won the Scottish Cup with Hearts in 1998.
  • Darren Fletcher from Mayfield Dalkeith. Scotland International fotballer and holds the record of being the youngest player to aptain his national side, currently plays for Manchester United and was part of the squad that won the UEFA Champions League in the 2007 - 2008 season.

[edit] Schools in Midlothian

[edit] Primary schools

[edit] Secondary schools

[edit] Special schools

[edit] Twinning

Midlothian is twinned with Komárom-Esztergom in Hungary.

[edit] Famous Battle

The Battle of Roslin was a battle of the First War of Scottish Independence, taking place on 24 February 1303 at Roslin, Scotland. A Scottish army led by Simon Fraser and John Comyn defeated the English. The English force was raised in Northumberland and was tasked with intervening in support of the occupation forces of Edward I. The much smaller Scottish force rode through the night from Biggar, intercepted them and defeated them in two, possibly three, sharp fights. The site of the battle has been said to be the field opposite the old and new burial grounds. Members of the Comyn, Fraser and possibly Sinclair families fought at the Battle of Roslin.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Early example of "Edinburghshire" in the Records of the Parliament of Scotland: Ultimo Julii 1649: Act anent the localitie of the forces, horse and foot, within this kingdom; "of the maintenance of Edinburgh shire,It is now separate counties 2,120 l.," [1]

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Council areas of Scotland

Coordinates: 55°53′39″N 3°04′07″W/55.89417°N 3.06861°W/55.89417; -3.06861

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midlothian"
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