Tour Scotland Video Of Old Photographs Of Dalkeith Midlothian

Tour Scotland wee travel video Blog of old photographs of Dalkeith, Scottish Gaelic: Dail Cheith, a town in Midlothian, Scotland. The town is split into four distinct areas: Dalkeith proper with its town centre and historic core, with Eskbank to its west and Woodburn to its east. Eskbank is the well heeled district of Dalkeith with many large Victorian and newer houses. To the south of Eskbank is Newbattle with its abbey. Woodburn is a working class council estate. Dalkeith is the main administrative centre for Midlothian. It is twinned with Jarnac, France. One of the earliest historical references to Dalkeith is found in the Chronicles of Jean Froissart who stayed at Dalkeith Castle for fifteen days. He wrote of the Battle of Otterburn and the death of James Douglas, 2nd Earl of Douglas. In 1650, Oliver Cromwell's army came to Dalkeith. His officer General George Monck, was Commander in Scotland, and the government of the country was based out of Dalkeith castle. In the 17th century, Dalkeith had one of Scotland's largest markets in its exceptionally broad High Street. In 1831, Dalkeith was linked to Edinburgh by a railway line that transported coal, minerals, and agricultural produce. St David's Church in Dalkeith. is a Roman Catholic Parish church founded in 1854 by Lady Cecil, the wife of John Kerr, 7th Marquess of Lothian and daughter of Charles Chetwynd-Talbot, 2nd Earl Talbot. After she converted to Catholicism, Lady Cecil of Lothian decided to build a church for the local Catholic population. Joseph Hansom was the church architect and building started in 1853. On 21 May 1854, the church opened and a Father Mackay was the first parish priest. In 1858, he was replaced by a Father J. S. McCorry. In 1860, Lady Cecil invited the Society of Jesus to serve the parish. In 1944, the Jesuits left the parish and handed over administration of the church to the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh who continue to serve the congregation. Robert Smith, born 1722, died February 11, 1777, he was a Scottish born American architect who was based in Philadelphia. Smith's work includes buildings such as Carpenters' Hall, St. Peter's Church, and the steeple on Christ Church. These structures constituted the greater part of the city's early skyline. Other works include Nassau Hall at Princeton University and the Public Hospital in Williamsburg, Virginia. He was born in Dalkeith Parish, Midlothian, into a family that included many masons. As a young man he apprenticed in the building trades, and emigrated to America, either directly from Scotland or via London, England, it is unknown, in late 1748.

All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

View the most recent Tour Scotland photographs.