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General Information 

Midlothian, council area and historic county in southeastern Scotland, south of the Firth of Forth. The historic county and council area cover somewhat different territories. The council area encompasses a suburban and rural area south and southeast of Edinburgh. The northern part of the council area occupies the low coastal plain bordering the Firth of Forth. The rest is gently rolling country that gradually slopes upward to the Moorfoot Hills in the south. The River Esk flows northward through the area to drain into the Firth of Forth. The council area lies entirely within the historic county, which also encompasses the southeastern portion of West Lothian council area, a hilly region south of the Moorfoot Hills surrounding the upper valley of Gala Water in the Scottish Borders council area, the town of Musselburgh in East Lothian council area, and most of the council area of the city of Edinburgh, including the city's historic core.

Historic Importance

The remains of prehistoric forts are found on several hilltops in the historic county of Midlothian, and Roman settlements have been identified at Inveresk and Cramond, which probably lay along the main Roman road leading northward from England. Along with the rest of the Lothian region, Midlothian was subsequently held by the Angles of Northumbria, but in the 11th century AD King Malcolm II of Scotland (reigned 1005–34) conquered the area. Edinburgh became the capital of Scotland in the 15th century. Midlothian's history from that time is essentially that of Edinburgh, and until the 20th century the county was known as Edinburghshire.

Aside from the architectural riches of Edinburgh, Midlothian has the remains of many ecclesiastical buildings, including the great Cistercian abbey at Newbattle and a church of the Knights Templar at Temple. Numerous castles and country mansions built after 1400 survive, particularly near Edinburgh. Famous battle sites are at Pinkie (1547), Carberry Hill (1567), and Rullion Green (1666).

Cities and Towns

Dalkeith is the administrative centre. Other large towns include Bonnyrigg, Loanhead, Penicuik, Mayfield Gorebridge and Newtongrange.

Source:  Britannica.com (complete article - http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?eu=53893&tocid=0 )

Genealogical Resources

Archives and Libraries

General Register Office for Scotland
New Register House
3 West Register Street
Edinburgh
Scotland
EH1 3YT

Ladywell House
Ladywell Road
Edinburgh
Scotland
EH12 7TF

GRO - Frequently Asked Questions page

City of Edinburgh District Council Archives City Chambers
High Street
Edinburgh EH1 1YJ

Edinburgh Room
Edinburgh City Libraries
George IV Bridge
Edinburgh
EH1 1EG

Edinburgh University Library
Department of Manuscripts
30 George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ

Heriot-Watt University Archives
Riccarton
Currie
Edinburgh EH14 4AS

Midlothian District Libraries
2 Clerk Street
Loanhead EH20 9DR

National Library of Scotland
George IV Bridge
Edinburgh
EH1 1EW

National Library of Scotland Map Room
137 Causewayside
Edinburgh EH9 1PH

Genuki-Midlothian

 
Genuki-Midlothianshire is an excellent resource for researchers to this region.  Please make sure to stop by and visit this wonderful website.

Local Information

Mailing Lists - Electronic (FREE)

Parish Information

Other Parish Information Links

Queries and Surnames

This site has been using the GenConnect at RootsWeb message board system to collect surname and queries from passing researchers.  As of June 22, 2001, this system was merged with the FamilyHistory.Com message board system (owned and operated by Ancestry.Com).  While the message board system remains free all users MUST NOW login before they can post information to the message system.  Some researchers may not want to register with Ancestry.Com to post queries so as a courtesy to researchers another query board has been created that is free and that requires no registration to use.

Other Message Forums

Societies

The Lothians Family History Society
Lasswade High School Centre
Eskdale Drive
Bonnyrigg
Midlothian EH19 2LA
Scotland
Contact: Anne Agnew or Dorothy Blackie

Scottish Genealogy Society
15 Victoria Terrace
Edinburgh, EH1 2JL
Scotland

User Homepages

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