Musselburgh is the largest settlement in
East LothianEast Lothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy Area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Midlothian. Its administrative centre is Haddington, although its largest town is Musselburgh....
,
ScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, on the coast of the
Firth of ForthThe Firth of Forth is the estuary or firth of Scotland's River Forth, where it flows into the North Sea, between Fife to the north, and West Lothian, the City of Edinburgh and East Lothian to the south...
, six miles east of
EdinburghEdinburgh 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...
city centre.
History
The name Musselburgh is
Old EnglishOld English or Anglo-Saxon is an early form of the English language that was spoken and written by the Anglo-Saxons and their descendants in parts of what are now England and southeastern Scotland between at least the mid-5th century and the mid-12th century...
in origin with
mussel referring to the shellfish, and
burgh derived from the Old English for 'town'.
Musselburgh was first settled by the
RomansRoman Britain was the part of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire from AD 43 until ca. AD 410.The Romans referred to the imperial province as Britannia, which eventually comprised all of the island of Great Britain south of the fluid frontier with Caledonia...
in the years following their invasion of Scotland in AD80. They built a fort a little inland from the mouth of the
River EskThe River Esk is a river which flows through Midlothian and East Lothian, Scotland.It initially runs as two separate rivers, the North Esk and the South Esk....
and bridged the river here. In doing so they established the line of the main eastern approach to Scotland's capital for most of the next two thousand years.
The bridge built by the Romans outlasted them by many centuries. It was rebuilt on the original Roman foundations some time before 1300, and in 1597 it was rebuilt again, this time with a third arch added on the east side of the river. The Old Bridge is also known as the Roman Bridge and remains in use today by pedestrians. To its north is the New Bridge, designed by John Rennie the Elder and built in 1806. This in turn was considerably widened in 1925.
The
Battle of Pinkie CleughThe Battle of Pinkie Cleugh, on the banks of the River Esk near Musselburgh, Scotland on 10 September 1547, was part of the War of the Rough Wooing. It was the last pitched battle between Scottish and English armies, and is seen as the first modern battle in the British Isles...
was fought south of Musselburgh.
Musselburgh is known as "The Honest Toun", and celebrates this by the annual election of the Honest Lad and Lass.
The town motto "Honesty" dates back to 1332, when the Regent of Scotland,
Randolph, Earl of Moray, died in the burgh after a long illness during which he was devotedly cared for by its citizens. His successor offered to reward the people for their loyalty but they declined, saying they were only doing their duty. The new regent, the
Earl of MarDomhnall II of Mar was Regent of Scotland for just over a week during the minority of David II....
, was impressed and said they were a set of honest men, hence "Honest Toun".
The town and its population grew considerably throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, with major local authority and private housing developments on both the eastern and western outskirts. Prior to 1975, Musselburgh was in
MidlothianMidlothian 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....
, not East Lothian. It became part of the East Lothian District following the
Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973The Local Government Act 1973 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, that reformed local government in Scotland, on May 16, 1975....
and subsequently East Lothian unitary council area in 1996. There is an anecdote that this caused disappointment within the rest of the county, as, prior to that point, East Lothian had no traffic lights.
Education
Schools include
Loretto SchoolLoretto School is an independent school in Scotland, founded in 1827. The campus occupies in Musselburgh, near Edinburgh.-History:Loretto was founded by the Reverend Thomas Langhorne in 1827. Langhorne came from Crosby Ravensworth, near Kirkby Stephen. The school was later taken over by his son,...
, a private boarding school, and
Musselburgh Grammar SchoolMusselburgh Grammar School is a large state secondary school that serves as the main secondary school for Musselburgh and the surrounding areas. It dates back to the sixteenth century, although the present building was erected in 1835. Until the 1950s the school was a 'proper' Grammar School, and...
, the local large comprehensive that is one of the oldest Grammar schools in the country, dating from 1608. Some students also attend
St. David's R.C. High SchoolSt David's RC High School is a Catholic secondary state school located at Cousland Road in Dalkeith, Midlothian, Scotland.-Pupils:The school has a current roll of 841 pupils. 75% of St David's pupils come from associated Catholic primary schools in Midlothian and East Lothian.-Staff:St David's has...
in nearby
DalkeithDalkeith 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...
. Primary Schools include;
Campie Primary SchoolCampie Primary School is a school in Musselburgh, Scotland uk. It was built in 1902 and was used as a hospital during World War II. Campie is the largest primary school in Musselburgh, and the third-oldest school in the town, after Loretto and Musselburgh Grammar School.In their after school club...
, Musselburgh Burgh Primary School, Stoneyhill Primary School, Pinkie St Peter's Primary School, Loretto RC Primary School and Loretto Nippers (Private).
Edinburgh's Queen Margaret University relocated all its schools from Edinburgh to Musselburgh as of 2007. The Queen officially opened the QMU
campusA campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
in July 2008.
Railway
Musselburgh is served by two railway stations
Musselburgh railway stationMusselburgh railway station is a railway station serving the town of Musselburgh, East Lothian near Edinburgh in Scotland. It was opened in 1988 and is located on the North Berwick Line, 8 km east of...
in the west of the town situated adjacent to Queen Margaret University which is served by regular
First ScotRail services from
EdinburghEdinburgh 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...
to
North BerwickThe Royal Burgh of North Berwick is a seaside town in East Lothian, Scotland. It is situated on the south shore of the Firth of Forth, approximately 25 miles east of Edinburgh. North Berwick became a fashionable holiday resort in the 19th century because of its two sandy bays, the East Bay and the...
. It is a relatively new station, opened in 1988. The other station serving the town is
Wallyford railway stationWallyford railway station is a railway station serving the town of Wallyford, East Lothian near Musselburgh in Scotland. It is located on the East Coast Main Line, 12 km east of Edinburgh Waverley...
to the east of the town in the village of
WallyfordWallyford is a village in East Lothian, Scotland. It is close to the larger town of Musselburgh and approximately 7 miles east of Edinburgh.-Amenities:...
, opened in 1994, serves the eastern end of the town. The town's original station was situated close to the town centre at the end of a short branch from Newhailes Junction. Passenger services from there ceased in 1964 and the line ultimately closed to all traffic in the early 1970s. It is now a road bypassing the
FisherrowFisherrow is a harbour and former fishing village at Musselburgh, East Lothian, Scotland, UK, to the east of Portobello and Joppa, and on the left bank of the River Esk.-History:...
area of the town.
Roads
The A1 goes round the town and joins up with the A720
Edinburgh City BypassThe Edinburgh City Bypass, designated as A720, is one of the most important trunk roads in Scotland. Circling around the south of Edinburgh, as the equivalent of a ring road for the coastal city, it links together the A1 towards north-east England, the A702 towards north-west England, the M8...
at the edge of the town before heading into
EdinburghEdinburgh 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...
city centre. The A199 goes through the High Street to
EdinburghEdinburgh 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...
in the west and to
DunbarDunbar is a town in East Lothian on the southeast coast of Scotland, approximately 28 miles east of Edinburgh and 28 miles from the English Border at Berwick-upon-Tweed....
to the east. This was originally the A1 road (Great Britain) until the town's bypass was built in the mid-eighties.
Sport
The Musselburgh Silver Arrow is reputed to be the oldest sporting trophy in United Kingdom, and is competed for annually by the
Royal Company of ArchersThe Royal Company of Archers is a ceremonial unit that serves as the Sovereign's Bodyguard in Scotland, a role it has performed since 1822 and the reign of King George IV, when the company provided a personal bodyguard to the King on his visit to Scotland. It is currently known as the Queen's...
. It dates back to at least 1603
http://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/content/0,1094,662,00.html.
Musselburgh is home to both
Musselburgh RacecourseMusselburgh Racecourse, known until the 1990s as Edinburgh Racecourse, is a horse racing venue located in the Millhill area of Musselburgh, East Lothian, Scotland, UK, close to the River Esk....
and
Musselburgh LinksMusselburgh Links in Musselburgh, East Lothian, Scotland, is generally recognised as the oldest golf course in the world, and the oldest on which play has been continuous...
golf course. The links which are a former venue of
golfGolf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
's Open Championship have recently been acknowledged as the oldest continuously played golf course in the world.
Musselburgh Athletic F.C.Musselburgh Athletic Football Club are a Scottish junior football club based in the town of Musselburgh, East Lothian. Formed in 1934, they have played under different names including Musselburgh Bruntonians, Musselburgh Juniors and Musselburgh Fern since 1898...
are the town's junior football team playing in the Scottish Junior Football at Olivebank Park to the west of the town.
Musselburgh RFCMusselburgh Rugby Football Club is a rugby union side based in Musselburgh, East Lothian.Formed in 1921 the team play their home games at Stoneyhill and currently compete in National League Division 1.-References:...
play in the Scottish Premiership 3 at Stoneyhill.
Notable people
See :Category:People from Musselburgh
- David Macbeth Moir
David Macbeth Moir , Scottish physician and writer, was born at Musselburgh.He studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh, taking his degree in 1816. Entering into partnership with a Musselburgh doctor he practised there until his death...
Physician/writer
- Yvonne Murray
Yvonne Murray MBE , is a Scottish former middle-distance and long-distance track and road-running athlete. She won a bronze medal in the 3000 metres at the 1988 Olympic Games, and gold medals at this distance at the 1993 World Indoor Championships and the 1990 European Championships...
Athlete
- Rhona Cameron
Rhona Cameron is a Scottish comedian. She rose to prominence via the stand-up comedy circuit, and became a regular on British TV in the 1990s.-Television career:...
comedian
- Kenny Miller
Kenneth "Kenny" Miller is a Scottish footballer who plays as a striker for Cardiff City and the Scotland national football team...
footballer
- Colin Nish
Colin Nish is a Scottish footballer who currently plays as a striker for Hartlepool United.-Early life:Nish grew up in Musselburgh and was a fan of his local side Hibernian as a child.-Dunfermline Athletic:...
footballer
- Kris Renton
Kris Joseph Renton is a Scottish footballer who currently plays as a striker for Musselburgh Athletic. He is most notable for being the youngest Norwich City player in the club's history.-Youth team at Norwich:...
footballer
- Jason Holt
Jason Holt is a professional football player currently playing for Raith Rovers in the Scottish First Division on loan from Scottish Premier League side Heart of Midlothian. Holt has represented Scotland at under 19 level.-Youth career:Holt grew up in Musselburgh as a Hearts fan and attended...
, Professional footballer
- John McGlynn football manager
- Billy Brown
Billy Brown is a Scottish football former player and coach. He is currently the caretaker manager of Hibernian. Brown played in the Scottish Football League for Motherwell and Raith Rovers...
,football coach
- Jim Jefferies
James "Jim" Jefferies is a Scottish football former player and manager. Jefferies played for Heart of Midlothian for almost his whole playing career and enjoyed a successful first managerial spell with the club, winning the 1998 Scottish Cup...
football manager
- Willie Ormond
William 'Willie' Esplin Ormond OBE was a Scottish football player and manager. As a player, Ormond was well known as one of Hibernian's Famous Five forward line, winning three league championships in the late 1940s and early 1950s. He then returned to prominence as a manager, first with a...
footballer and manager
- Steven Black
Steven "Steve" D. Black is the former Vice-Chairman of JP Morgan Chase & Co.. He previously served as the Co-Chief Executive Officer of JP Morgan, the investment banking subsidiary of JP Morgan Chase. He is a 1974 graduate of Duke University, and has served on the New York Development Council...
media personality
- John White footballer
- Scott Murray rugby player
- Alexander Carrick
Alexander Carrick 1882–1966 was one of Scotland’s leading monumental sculptors of the early part of the 20th century. He was responsible for many architectural and ecclesiastical works as well as many war memorials executed in the period following World War I...
sculptor
- Jimmy Martin actor
- Susan Deacon
Susan Deacon is a Scottish politician, academic, commentator and a former Scottish Cabinet Minister.She was Labour MSP for Edinburgh East & Musselburgh from 1999–2007 and served as Scotland’s first Cabinet Minister for Health and Community Care following the creation of the Scottish Parliament in...
former Member of the Scottish ParliamentMember of the Scottish Parliament is the title given to any one of the 129 individuals elected to serve in the Scottish Parliament.-Methods of Election:MSPs are elected in one of two ways:...
- Bill McPhillips
Bill McPhillips was a Scottish professional football goalkeeper who played his club football for Newcastle United. He was in the Newcastle squad that won the FA Cup in 1932.-Professional career:...
, footballer
- According to his autobiography, Sir Harry Lauder
Sir Henry Lauder , known professionally as Harry Lauder, was an international Scottish entertainer, described by Sir Winston Churchill as "Scotland's greatest ever ambassador!"-Early life:...
's parents lived at Musselburgh after he was born, where Harry's brothers Matthew, John, and Alexander, and a sister, Isabella, were all born. They moved to Derbyshire sometime after April 1881.
Areas
FisherrowFisherrow is a harbour and former fishing village at Musselburgh, East Lothian, Scotland, UK, to the east of Portobello and Joppa, and on the left bank of the River Esk.-History:...
,
InvereskInveresk is a civil parish and was formerly a village that now forms the southern part of Musselburgh. It is situated on slightly elevated ground at the south of Musselburgh in East Lothian, Scotland...
,
Levenhall LinksLevenhall Links is a coastal, industrial, and recreational area at Musselburgh, East Lothian, Scotland, UK; it is adjacent to Musselburgh Racecourse, Morrison's Haven and Prestongrange Industrial Heritage Museum....
,
PinkiePinkie House is a historic house, built around a three-storey tower house located in Musselburgh, in East Lothian, Scotland. The house dates back to the sixteenth century, although it was substantially enlarged in the early 17th century, and has been altered several times since. Its location at...
, Stoneyhill/Clayknowes/Denholm,
Stoneybank,
Queen Margaret University Student Village, Monktonhall,
WallyfordWallyford is a village in East Lothian, Scotland. It is close to the larger town of Musselburgh and approximately 7 miles east of Edinburgh.-Amenities:...
, Wimpy Estate
See also
- Burgh
A burgh was an autonomous corporate entity in Scotland and Northern England, usually a town. This type of administrative division existed from the 12th century, when King David I created the first royal burghs. Burgh status was broadly analogous to borough status, found in the rest of the United...
- John Muir Way
The John Muir Way is a continuous coastal path in East Lothian, Scotland, UK. It is named in honour of the Scottish 19th-century conservationist John Muir, who was born at Dunbar, East Lothian, in 1838 and became a founder of America's national park system...
- List of places in East Lothian
- Musselburgh Cricket Club
- Musselburgh Festival
External links