Edgehead
Encyclopedia
Edgehead is a village in Midlothian
, Scotland.
and Mayfield
, north-west of Pathhead
and south-east of Dalkeith
. Two areas of woodland, Windmill Wood and Chesterhill Wood, are located beside the northern end of the village.
road Dere Street
, and remains linear in nature. It expanded in the 19th century when a coal mine was opened in Windmill Woods. The village once contained four shops supplying both residents and local farms. It was designated a conservation area by Midlothian Council
in 1982, and redesignated following a review in 1996. The population of Edgehead was 115 in August 2008.
. Around 1930 ownership transferred to the Fordel Mains (Midlothian) Colliery Company, and it became part of the National Coal Board
in 1949. The colliery was closed in 1959, and the site is now owned by the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland
. In 1842 the mine employed 127 workers; by 1959 this had fallen to 40.
Cranston Primary School was located at the south of the village. In 2004 it had 57 pupils. However it has since been closed following the opening of a number of new primary schools in Midlothian and the site sold for redevelopment.
to join an unnumbered road north of Whitehill which leads to Dalkeith. The road into Dalkeith previously formed part of the trunk A68 road
, but was bypassed in September 2008 to relieve traffic congestion in Dalkeith town centre. There is some evidence from 17th-century maps to suggest that the road through Edgehead was part of the main route between Edinburgh
and Lauder
now part of the A68. It was originally part of the Roman road Dere Street
, which ran from York
to Cramond
.
The village is served by Munro's of Jedburgh
bus routes 51 (Edinburgh-Jedburgh
), 52 (Edinburgh-Kelso) and 53 (Dalkeith-Lauder), which combine to provide an hourly service in each direction Monday to Saturday daytimes.
Midlothian
Midlothian 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....
, Scotland.
Location
Edgehead is situated east of DewartownDewartown
Dewartown is a small hamlet in Midlothian, Scotland, UK, near Pathhead and Mayfield.Its name relates to the Dewar family who owned the nearby Vogrie House and Estate which is now in Vogrie Country Park...
and Mayfield
Mayfield, Midlothian
Mayfield is a community in Midlothian, Scotland, located just South of Dalkeith between the A68 and the A7 south.This housing development was built, in the 1950s, as overspill accommodation for the colliery workers of nearby Newtongrange and Easthouses and for other essential workers, as well as to...
, north-west of Pathhead
Pathhead, Midlothian
Pathhead is a conservation village in Midlothian, Scotland.-Location:Pathhead is located around south east of Dalkeith and south of Scotland's capital city, Edinburgh. It lies above the east bank of the River Tyne. The name of the village is due to its position. It stands above sea level and is...
and south-east of Dalkeith
Dalkeith
Dalkeith is a town in Midlothian, Scotland, lying on the River North Esk. It was granted a burgh of barony in 1401 and a burgh of regality in 1540...
. Two areas of woodland, Windmill Wood and Chesterhill Wood, are located beside the northern end of the village.
History
The village developed along the long straight RomanRoman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
road Dere Street
Dere Street
Dere Street or Deere Street, was a Roman road between Eboracum and Veluniate, in what is now Scotland. It still exists in the form of the route of many major roads, including the A1 and A68 just north of Corbridge.Its name corresponds with the post Roman Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Deira, through...
, and remains linear in nature. It expanded in the 19th century when a coal mine was opened in Windmill Woods. The village once contained four shops supplying both residents and local farms. It was designated a conservation area by Midlothian Council
Midlothian Council
Midlothian Council is one of the 32 local authorities of Scotland. Midlothian's administrative centre is based in Dalkeith and it covers an area from the south of Edinburgh to the Borders.It covers an area of 355.27 km² and a population of 79,710...
in 1982, and redesignated following a review in 1996. The population of Edgehead was 115 in August 2008.
Edgehead Colliery
Edgehead Colliery was a coal mine located in Windmill Woods in the 19th and 20th century. It was initially owned by the Earl of StairEarl of Stair
Earl of Stair is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1703 for the lawyer and statesman John Dalrymple, 2nd Viscount of Stair. He actively supported William III's claim to the throne and served as Secretary of State for Scotland. However, he was forced to resign after he authorised...
. Around 1930 ownership transferred to the Fordel Mains (Midlothian) Colliery Company, and it became part of the National Coal Board
National Coal Board
The National Coal Board was the statutory corporation created to run the nationalised coal mining industry in the United Kingdom. Set up under the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946, it took over the mines on "vesting day", 1 January 1947...
in 1949. The colliery was closed in 1959, and the site is now owned by the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland
Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland
The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland is an executive non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government 'sponsored' [financed and with oversight] through Historic Scotland, an executive agency of the Scottish Government...
. In 1842 the mine employed 127 workers; by 1959 this had fallen to 40.
Naming
Although the village is often called Edgehead, this name is in fact technically applied only to the farmhouse located at the top of the hill. The correct name for the remainder of the village is Chesterhill. Chesterhill is descended from an ancient cattlefold which later became a Roman camp; Edgehead literally means "fold".Facilities
Edgehead has no local shops as of 2010. A small park and children's play area is located near the top of the village. A telephone box and letter box are found near the top of the village.Cranston Primary School was located at the south of the village. In 2004 it had 57 pupils. However it has since been closed following the opening of a number of new primary schools in Midlothian and the site sold for redevelopment.
Historic buildings
Edgehead contains three listed buildings:- The Old Windmill, one of very few remaining 18th-century windmillWindmillA windmill is a machine which converts the energy of wind into rotational energy by means of vanes called sails or blades. Originally windmills were developed for milling grain for food production. In the course of history the windmill was adapted to many other industrial uses. An important...
s in Scotland, was converted for residential use in the 19th century and has been category B listed since January 1971. - Edgehead Farmhouse is an early 19th-century two-storey building located to the north of the village. Although the farm is still in use, the house is no longer lived in. It has been category C(s) listed since February 2003.
- Edgehead Lodge, a mid-19th-century sandstone construction initially part of the estate of nearby Oxenfoord CastleOxenfoord CastleOxenfoord Castle is a country house in Midlothian, Scotland. It is located north of Pathhead, and south-east of Dalkeith, above the Tyne Water. Originally a 16th-century tower house, the present castle is largely the result of major rebuilding in 1782, to designs by the architect Robert Adam....
, was category C(s) listed at the same time as Edgehead Farmhouse.
Transport
Edgehead is located on a minor road which runs from PathheadPathhead
Pathhead is an area of Kirkcaldy, in Fife, Scotland. Formerly an independent village, Pathhead was incorporated into the Royal burgh of Kirkcaldy....
to join an unnumbered road north of Whitehill which leads to Dalkeith. The road into Dalkeith previously formed part of the trunk A68 road
A68 road
The A68 is a major road in the United Kingdom, running from Darlington in England to the A720 in Scotland.From Darlington, the road runs north, bypassing Bishop Auckland, and running through West Auckland, Toft Hill and Tow Law, past Consett and Corbridge...
, but was bypassed in September 2008 to relieve traffic congestion in Dalkeith town centre. There is some evidence from 17th-century maps to suggest that the road through Edgehead was part of the main route between Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
and Lauder
Lauder
The Royal Burgh of Lauder is a town in the Scottish Borders 27 miles south east of Edinburgh. It is also a royal burgh in the county of Berwickshire. It lies on the edge of the Lammermuir Hills, on the Southern Upland Way.-Medieval history:...
now part of the A68. It was originally part of the Roman road Dere Street
Dere Street
Dere Street or Deere Street, was a Roman road between Eboracum and Veluniate, in what is now Scotland. It still exists in the form of the route of many major roads, including the A1 and A68 just north of Corbridge.Its name corresponds with the post Roman Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Deira, through...
, which ran from York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
to Cramond
Cramond
Cramond is a seaside village now part of suburban Edinburgh, Scotland, located in the north-west corner of the city at the mouth of the River Almond where it enters the Firth of Forth....
.
The village is served by Munro's of Jedburgh
Munro's of Jedburgh
Munro's of Jedburgh is a bus operating company based in the Scottish Borders town of Jedburgh. They operate a number of local routes both in the Scottish Borders and in Midlothian.-History:...
bus routes 51 (Edinburgh-Jedburgh
Jedburgh
Jedburgh is a town and former royal burgh in the Scottish Borders and historically in Roxburghshire.-Location:Jedburgh lies on the Jed Water, a tributary of the River Teviot, it is only ten miles from the border with England and is dominated by the substantial ruins of Jedburgh Abbey...
), 52 (Edinburgh-Kelso) and 53 (Dalkeith-Lauder), which combine to provide an hourly service in each direction Monday to Saturday daytimes.