MIDLOTHIAN - - OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Subject:
Living in Norway
Hello - me and my family are living in Norway. Our great, great grandfather was living in Dalkeith some 100-150 years ago. His name was Alexander Thomson. His daughter Evangeline Thomson traveld to Norway, got married and settled here. My family are planning to go to Dalkeith next summer to see where they use to live. It would be fantastic if we still have some distant relatives living there. Is there anybody reading this web-page who can give us any information or maybe advise us where to find information ?
Subject:
Pictures Wanted
I am an ex-Easthouses man now living in Stockton, California, USA.
Message from ED :)
Subject:
Pictures Wanted
Hi, Ann.
Subject:
Orphanages in Dalkeith
Hi Bill, Margaret
Subject:
James Law - Family Tree
I wonder whether anyone can help. thanks Trish
Subject:
Calling - Alex. McTaggart in Australia
Hello!
I hope there is a happy ending to this one!
Julie
Subject:
Great, Great Grandfather – James Montieth Penman
Hello William – thanks for the great site, it is very interesting with some great photos.
I have included some information I have regarding my maternal Great, Great Grandfather – James Montieth Penman who hails from your beautiful part of the world.
My Grandfather Caleb Russell died before WW2 so unfortunately not much family history has come down to me.
I would be grateful for any information anyone has about my ancestors from Dalkeith?
James Montieth Penman was born in or near the town of Dalkeith in the County of Edinburgh, Scotland on the 13th of August 1837.
· Caroline Elizabeth aged 12 born 04/05/1863
The family resided in Wellington, (Capital of New Zealand) for a short period before sailing to Wanganui (a coastal river City 200km North) aboard the ‘Stormbird’ & then by bullock wagon to Bulls (small town 75km away). The family later moved to Palmerston North (a further50km) which was then little more than a bush settlement. James Montieth died in Palmerston North about 1885 as the result of an accident leaving a family of ten children. The youngest born in New Zealand Campbell Montieth was born shortly after his fathers’ death:
· Caleb Russell born 22/01/1875
Subject:
late Tuck (Tom) & Mary Robertson (nee Faulkner)
Good Afternoon
Thanks
Subject:
MacDougall, are there any left ?
Hi, I'm a grand-daughter of Reginald Ramsay MacDougall, who moved to Australia.
Connie.
Subject:
Grandad's in Mexico
I am Ma. Eugenia Scougall, from Puebla Mexico. My grandfather came from Dalkeith, Scotland in 1908, so his family now is mexican, but we would like to know if we have still now some family there. His address was Muir Oarj Road 16, Eskbank, Dalkeith Scotland (1516. His name was Peter Scougall and his father's name was Alexander Scougall, his mother's name was Agnes Fearly. he came to Mexico as an Engineer to work to the government.
I am very happy about your place because is very nice and it permits us to look the places my grandfather enjoyed.
Thank you very much for all.
Maria Eugenia Scougall
Subject:
St Johns primary school
Just wanted to say thanks for your site.
I moved from Dalkeith in 1980 and have always missed the place, visiting as often as I can, having the site enables me to fill my yearning to move back.
And hello to anyone who attended St Johns primary school.
Blair Parrott
Subject:
Dalkeith Police
Hi William
Date: 25 October 2007 09:47:07
Best regards
Jo Viljam Drivdal
Date: 25 April 2007 20:04:12
I wonder if anyone has any pictures of the village of Old Easthouses and including the public park where they used to have the great Galadays.
Jim Louden
Check out FLASH EARTH on my map page Jim for an instant arial view.
Date: 09 April 2007 06:36:48
thoroughly enjoyed the last 2 days looking through your site!
Thankyou.
Have you any idea where i could get pictures of the east end of the High St?
I was born in No 228. Lived in Australia for almost 40 years now though.
Any ideas where i would find the history of that building?
Kind regards.
Date: 08 March 2007 21:00:02
just been on your Dalkeith pages looking at the old pictures etc very interesting, what I am
trying to find out if you or anyone can help is were their any orphanages in Dalkeith round about the 1950,s etc and what was it called and where was it,
appreciate any info thanks.
Date: 08 March 2007 21:00:02
I have been researching my family tree. In my paternal line, I note that in 1830 James Law was born in Dalkeith and had a son in 1851 called Lawrence Gray.
I wonder if any surviving descendants live in Dalkeith at the moment.
Date: 20 October 2006 01:02:26
I have read the request to find a lost friend from Dalkeith called Bill Manuel.
He is my Dad, and I have emailed the chap who requested the information.
Unfortunately it has been returned as the email address does not exist any more.
Alex (Sandy), if you are out there let me know!
Date: 06 April 2006 01:07:33
Kind Regards
Conrad Mark Jansson
A son of Thomas Penman who descended from the Highland Family “The Penman Montieth’s” connected to the clan of Graham Stewart (Royal).
James Montieth Penman enlisted as a Private No 869 in the 2nd Dragoons at Edinburgh on the 11th of October 1855. He was aged 18 & served in the Army for 12 years rising in rank to Sergeant. He was highly decorated as a soldier & veteran of the ‘Indian Mutiny’ & the Crimean War being one of the 63 survivors of ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’.
On the 23rd of June 1861 Aged 25, James Montieth Penman married Caroline Anne Grey 19 (Father Caleb Gray), in the church of All Saints, Wadsworth, England.
On the 29th of April 1873 at the age of 36 he & his wife aged 28 sailed to New Zealand from London in the ship ‘conflict’. With them were their five English born children:
· Sara Maria aged 9 born 01/05/1865
· James Frederick aged 7 born 03/03/1867
· Emily Maud aged 5 born 03/10/1869
· Mary Eliza aged 2 born 22/03/1872
· Ethel Anne born 05/07/1877
· Thomas Robert born 13/09/1879
· Henry Victor born 29/10/1881
· Margaret Rebecca born 14/06/1883
· Campbell Montieth born 02/07/1885
Date: 05 April 2006 04:26:26
I have just been browsing your site & think it's fantastic!
I am trying to find relatives of the late Tuck (Tom) & Mary Robertson (nee Faulkner) of Dalkeith or Newtongrange. Tuck was an engineer in the RAF & Mary worked in the pharmacy in her young days. Anyone know of relatives still living in the area.
If so,please contact via email. krisr@bigpond.net.au
Date: 12 February 2006 11:19
Just wondering how many of the original clan still live in Dalkeith?
Email to :
Connie
Date: 2nd
July 2005 18:00
Email to :
maru scougall
Date: 10th
April 2005 10:00
Again thankyou.
Aw ra best Blair
Email to :
Blair Parrott
Date: 29th
September 2004 10:34
Great website!
I wonder if any of your readers remember any of the police in these photographs.
My uncle, Tom Seath (piper), was a police sergeant at Dalkeith.
Regards,
Maggie


Message from ED :)
Tom Seath was a policeman at Rosewell before policing at Gorebridge, Musselburgh
and eventually becoming sergeant at Dalkeith.
Subject:
hello
Tom Martin
Date: 13 August 2004 4:28
I have just discovered your great web site about dear old Dalkeith and the query
from a Jim Campbell, I too am from Dalkeith and have been in Canada for a while (
45 yrs.) I do not know if it is the same family or not but if he grew up in the
Goth, it is. I also knew a Billy Bryson who grew up not far from there. My only
claim to Dalkeith fame is being a founder member of the Dalkeith pipe band.
Thanks for the website, it is great and I will visit it often.
Yours Truly
Message from ED :) Pipe band has never been the same Tom, but the Pub is still going strong !
Subject:
Website pictures
Date: 11 June 2004 21:15
I enjoyed the Photos (Pictures-Past) of Dalkeith on your Website. One of them is as below:
I cannot place where this scene is in Old Dalkeith. I can identify the others but not this Location. Can you help to identify? I was born in Dalkeith in 1928 and spent my Childhood there and up to my late 20's.
I have been in Canada almost
50 years now but this Photo I cannot identify, it is before my time.
Jim Campbell
Message from ED :
TOP PICTURE Subject:
Alamo in Texas Hello Sir,
My name is Gary Price, of Perla del Oriente Lodge #1034 GLS,
located in Manila Philippines.
A few months back, a visiting brother from Scotland-
said something to me that was a big surprise-
that is he claimed that lodge 10 has the original document of
the minutes of a Masonic Meeting held at the Alamo in Texas
prior to the attack by Gen. Santa Anna of Mexico containing
signatures of Col. Travis, Crockett etc.
How true this I don't know, but one thing for sure if I could get a copy
of this somehow I would be grateful as I am a Texian
and I am sure Grand Lodge of Texas would also appreciate it.
Bro Price
Email to :
Dr. Gary Warren Price, PhD
Masonic Lodge 10 Website
HERE
Subject:
Simpson Family Hi Bill
My family came to America about 1819 from Dalkeith. In researching the family history it appears that the family had property located on High Street owned by Peter Simpson which was sold to Robert Thomson, plumber.
Jay Hood Simpson
Email to:
Jay Second address was 30 yards from where some people took their final steps, the scaffold ! Subject:
Hi William
can you let me know were you got the pics of newbattle abbey mine workings are there any more. I used to play in them when I was a child with my friends and had been told many strange stories about them probably all false.
Cheers Mark
Email to:
Mark
The mines originate from the Cistercian monks who created an Abbey on this site around 1140. Subject:
Its nice to see Dalkeith on the net as I was born and raised there , left 20 years ago to work in Bristol , still have family there , so when I feel lonely I can look it up on the net.
thanks John Scullion from Bristol, U.K.
Email to:
John Scullion Subject:
Thanks for your message centre. Just found your site and read messages from potential cousins from the Robertson and Cumming clans. Hope to be bringing
my family to Scotland next summer, so I loved all the information and maps.
See ya' in the summer of '03.
Greg Hughes from Salt Lake City, Utah
Email to:
Greg Hughes Subject:
Thank you for a great site. I've just sent an enquiry about ancestors (who I only discovered today) who were from Dalkeith/Newbattle in 1792 to the Message Department!! I did a Google search and found you.
When we finally get to visit Scotland, we'll be over to your area to "get the feeling", it looks lovely.
Kind regards
Email to:
Jan Newcombe Subject:
I would like to extend my heart wealth thanks to a place that raised one of the most talented singer songwriters I ever had the pleasure to hear. Being a musician myself I can't tell you how refreshing it is to hear music (old & new) by one of you townsfolk. That being ''Fish'' aka:Derek Dick.
Email to:
Cal Vis Subject:
Bill,
Back in 1949/50 this friend lived below the bridge over the Esk, in a flour mill which I believe was called Bridge End. His name was Bill Manuel and his father was the miller. Bill, who had been in the airforce, was studying dentistry and worked part time at the dental surgery of Jim Wilson, Coats Crescent, Edinburgh where we met.
In 1951 I moved to Western Australia and lost touch. Though I have been back, last time 1991, I could not find the old mill site, it appears to be all houses now, nor in the limited time available, could I find anyone around who knew of the mill or my old friend. However I'm sure that someone in the community must remember Bill, he would most likely be about seventy four or five now.
If anyone does know of him or where he may be, would they please e-mail me at handysandy@firestar.com.au or, if more convenient, could they pass my address along to Bill or his family.
Thanks again for an entertaining site.
Alex. McTaggart
Email to:
Alex Subject: As a Scot (ex Easthouses and Arniston) now living in Canada, I have to tell you your jokes are brilliant and gave me a great laugh.
Regards
John Drummond
Email to: John Subject: As an ex Dalkeith man , I find your jokes, great, smashin', and I wish there was more. I come to your site every other week for a Dalkeith fix, it just makes my day, I wish there was more. Thanks a ton. Jim Mitchell
Email to:
Jim Subject: Thanks for the web site its rather scary to see the past. I left
Dalkeith about 13 years ago, though originally from Mayfield. Did not attend the
college but have partaken in a few too many great parties there. If any one
wants to contact me feel free, around the early 80's time, (Barry Price would
know)
Thank you
Dave Trotter
Email to:
Dave Subject:
A BIG THANK YOU!!!
Dear William,
If there is any more info you could help us with like schools etc etc
Thank you
Sharon
Email to:
Sharon Subject:
Date: 14th September - 2001
Greetings from Minnesota,
I wanted to sincerely thank all the residents of Dalkeith. In the wake of the World Trade Center tragedy, many of you have had kind and caring words for my little sister and the other American students studying in Dalkeith. I am sure they are feeling a bit displaced now--they see the devastation of New York and Washington on television, yet find themselves in the beautiful and peaceful surroundings of Dalkeith. Though my sister, Courtney, has only been in Dalkeith for a month, she tells us of its picturesque buildings and lush green surroundings every time we talk to her. I am so thankful that the students are in a comfortable and supportive environment while they pursue their studies, and as they learn of the events in their homeland. Again, thank you--peace and happiness to you all.
Sincerely,
Julie Smith
Email to:
Julie
Subject:
Date: 29th July - 2001
Hello,
I'm so very excited to have found your website. My sister Lori and I and our husbands are planning a trip to Scotland in August. We will be in Edinburgh for the Tattoo and are very much looking forward to seeing the festivities. Lori and I are even more excited, though, about visiting Dalkeith. While working on family genealogy, we have just recently come across information that our Robertson ancestors were living in Dalkeith in the mid-1600's. Yahoo! We are hoping, of course, that we can trace farther back than that, but just knowing that Dalkeith was "home" and that we will be able to visit there, means a tremendous amount to us. So, here's hoping the sun will be shining and the pubs will be welcoming - we can probably count on the latter if not on the former - when we find ourselves walking about the town!
Pat Bonasera
Email to:
Pat and family Subject:
Date: 28th March - 2001
Hi,
I have met some (now) friends from Dalkeith in Cyprus, James and Nancy, they are great people and if they are representative of people in Dalkeith I want to visit there !
I thought it was at the foot of the Town near the "Duke's Gates" and where you would turn onto the Musselburgh Road but I am not sure.
Best Regards, --
Canada
The other roads in view, roads leading to Newtongrange and on the right where the tree is, Bonnyrigg road. You are standing at Eskbank
roundabout, with your back to Dalkeith.
BOTTOM PICTURE
- - "X" marks the spot of the old water fountain, with the road, upper right, leading to Eskbank.
Date: 10 June 2004 20:50
Is there someone I can contact who can handle this query?
Many thanks. Fraternally,
Other Masonic Links
HERE
Date: 12 September 2003 03:09
Is this a historical district unchanged from the early 1800's or has it gone radical changes?.
I hope to visit some day to see where this branch of the Simpsons came from. Another address in the family record is Tolbooth Close - Back Street, resident of Adam Hood, wright. He was a brother in-law in the same time frame. Might this area be historic or has it under gone extensive changes?
Poughkeepsie, NY, USA
Date: 15 September 2003 23:32
Would like any info on them you could give.
They discovered coal outcrops on the river bank, they traded it for salt and hence became very rich and experts at mining their “Black Stanis”.
The Scottish Mining Museum decided to inspect the mines about 5 years ago and took the pictures.
The estate is riddled with secret tunnels, the monks were always under attack, especially from the English, who eventually destroyed the Abbey.
Date: Mon, 11 Nov 2002 14:48:02
jockey.
Date: Monday, 29 July 2002 00:32:39
Date: Sat, 29 Jun 2002 10:04:23
Jan Newcombe
Christchurch, New Zealand
Date: 27 June 2002 04:54 am
I have been a huge fan of his as well as his past band ''Marillion'' for years and in just discovering that he grew up in Dalkeith I thought I'd take a few minutes to say thank-you.
Date: Tues, 16 Apr 2002 12:57:07 +0800
Thanks for the great web site. I was surfing along last night looking for signs of my misspent youth in the Midlothian/Edinburgh area when, out of the blue, up popped "Dalkeith" Though the Dalkeith I knew was a small country town where the main occupation was the "Pits" and predates that shown in your photographs, I have no doubt that many of your contributors can still remember that time and it is they I would ask for help in locating a lost friend.
Good luck and best wishes to you and the residents of that wonderful town.
Message from ED :) Wish you all the luck Alex.
Date: 13th April 2002, 03.37
Message from ED :) Thanks for dropping in John.
Date: Wednesday, 3/4/2002 - 15.21
Jim Mitchell.
Message from ED :) New one specially for you Jim, just above your rocking chair.
Date: Tuesday 26/03/2002 04:24
please contact us.
Network.net
Message from ED :) Phone number supplied, but not published.
Date: Sat, 2 Feb -- 2002
I would like to say a very big thank you, as my partner and i might be moving to Dalkeith in the very near future from Lincolnshire. We are coming up for the weekend 9th - 11th feb to have a look round the area and at primary schools for my son to attend.
Not knowing anything about the area your site has helped us a lot, we are looking more forward to coming now having seen photo's of the area.
please contact us.
Message from ED :) perhaps the air up here will help Dave with his small problem !
Is that really your email address Sharon ?
Rochester, MN
Dublin
California

Tel
Plymouth
Devon
Email to:
Tel
Subject:
Date: 21st Feb- 2001 Hullo,
I just came across this site and I love it. I have been living in the
States now for 14 years, originally from Dalkeith.
There`s naebudy like us. I just want to say thanks for this site.
Whenever I get homesick I know your just a click away and all seems
better.
Aw` the best
Maxine Cromwell
Email to:
Maxine
Well keep up the good work.
Bye for now
Subject: A Message from Liberton, Edinburgh.
Date: 16th January - 2001 Hiya Bill,
I was reading your messages and feel a bit of a chancer coz I moved as
far as Liberton, Edinburgh.
Aw' the best Buddy
Email to:
Gordon Subject:
Date: 3rd - October - 2000 Bill,
This is Joanne in Ontario, Canada. We communicated some time ago regarding
Newbattle and the Kerrs history there. You forwarded me a lot of great info.
Regards,
Joanne
Email to: Joanne Subject:
Date: 9th - September - 2000 Bill,
Chris McNaughton - Dayton, Ohio. USA
Subject:
Date: 19th - March - 2000 Dear Sir,
Danny McClinton - Midlothian, Texas, USA
Email to: Midlothian Council Subject:
Date: 1st - February - 2000 I'd just like to say a big thank you for your fantastic web page. I am
originally from Bonnyrigg, just up the road..... I have lived here in the
USA now for 22 years, but return home quite often. My husband and I were
just there for Hogmanay and we had a super time. We actually had lunch one
day down in Dalkeith.
Thanks for sharing. Subject:
Date: 6th - February - 2000 Very cool site!!!
I'm from Wisconsin, USA.
Thanks for a great site!!!
Subject:
Date: 28 - December - 1999 Hi to all the Dalkeith readers.
Firstly, congratulations on such a wonderful site!!!!
My name is Jenny Cumming and I have been trying to find out some information for my Dalkeith born husband John. As John is soon to have his 65th birthday I was hoping to get something special for the occasion. He has some fond memories of a Gala Day procession in which he was the herald, I was hoping I could find some photos of it. It took place of Saturday 21st June 1947 and some of the children from the Dalkeith Burgh School played a major part in the celebrations. I have the names of the King and Queen - Richard Nelson and Elizabeth Hill, gentleman and maids in waiting - William Anderson, Janet Oliver and Betty Brown and of course the Herald - John Cumming.
John is the third eldest in a family of eight children. His parents were John Gordon Cumming and Elizabeth Stone Cumming and he has three brothers and four sisters and by March 1959 all the Cumming family had migrated to Australia. The others members of the family are Margaret (Peggy), Gordon, Mary, Effie, Charlie, Clifford and Evelyn and they have helped to increase the Australian population by some 59 (children and grandchildren) at the last count.
Perhaps someone out there may remember The Cumming family of 17 Gibraltar Terrace Dalkeith and would like to e-mail us.
regards Subject: Date: 21 December 1999
I found it ! a site about Dalkeith. I have been surfing the net for some years and never found anything of any interest about the area. I myself went to school at Dalkeith High School many years ago. Lived in Mayfield but now have been living in Sydney Australia for the past 16 years. I look for anything connected with home. I have also decided to return to my home land later next year, don't know what my job or housing prospects are... but need to return ... Wha's like us !
best regards,
Subject: Date: 19 December 1999
Hi Bill, Subject:
Date: Fri, 11 Jun 1999 Thank you very much for your hospitality at Newbattle Abbey. My sister and
I very much enjoyed the comfortable stay and will remember the cleanliness
of the buildings and grounds under your charge. Also our complements to the
Kitchen Staff for a super job done for our group. Thanks for looking up the
Dundas Clan website and showing us the Electric Scotland website, that's one I
didn't know about.
Bill Barber,
Hudson, New Hampshire,
U.S.A.
Subject: Date: 10 June 1999 Hello to all!
Mary A. Connery,
I was brought up in Dalkeith. Went to school there, too.
I have a fascination with Dalkeith's history and enjoyed your info, a lot
of which I hadn't come across before.
I played drums with the Dalkeith British Legion Pipe band as a boy, and
still play now but for Glencorse pipe band in Penicuik.
You can see our web site
Here.
I shall keep visiting your site and enjoy the updates. I particularly
enjoyed your "Wha's like us" piece "hud the hairs oan the back o' ma'
neck staunin' up"
Gordon
I've tried to reach you in the past - unsuccessfully. I've just stumbled
upon your web site and this email address. I'd love to be in contact again.
Please advise if you receive this email.
I was happy to see your web site.
You've done a great job!!
Keep up the good work....and I hope this email
reaches you....and you remember me.
I happened to stumble across this site while attempting to track
down my own Scottish heritage. I can't really say with any certainty
yet whether my own ancestors trace back to Dalkeith, but while following
a lead on the McNaughton clan, Dalkeith came up so I decided to look
around. I've just spent the past 2 hours in complete delight, not only
marveling at the vast content, but the expertise and effort that has
gone into the webpage. I am truly thankful and deeply appreciate your
efforts and those that have contributed.
Email to: Chris McNaughton
Would it be possible to secure an email address for Mr. Danny
Malloy-Midlothian Provost ? We are friends of his living in Midlothian,
Texas USA and are planning to visit him in May of this year and we need to
contact him.
Thank you for your help and I must comment on the very professional and
informative web page.
Email to:
Isabel Brumfitt
USA.
Email to: Isabel Brumfitt
I have a sister studying abroad at the Dalkeith House and was looking for info about the area.
Very informative and beautiful pictures.
Email to: Len Corona
Hope to hear from you.
Jenny Cumming,
Australia.
Email to:
Jenny Cumming
Any comments on this major move and any tips would be gladly appreciated.
Cathy,
Sydney, Australia.
Email to:
Cathy Black
First a Merry Xmas and a very Happy New Year and long may your lum reek!
At last I have cracked the uncrackable conundrum called WFTPD and all its wizardry. Its all very well for computer geniuses to smile at our (people as technologically dumb as me) humble attempts to get onto the web, but what seems a simple step into the computer world is to me like man's first step on the moon - almost impossible. The problem was simple enough, if you had a web wizard like yourself sitting beside you.
I have tried for three days to get my files back on the web and only just managed at 12-30 this morning. The problem was that I had the wrong "Host Type" name in that part of WFTPD. I then put in its place "WFTPD" and lo and behold, a miracle happened. I had done this before today, but I must have had another mistake at the time.
Anyway, I'm now ready again to take on the web, and once more, thank you for your help!!
Take Care
Ron,
Nitten by the Bing.
Email to:
Ron Curran
I hope that someday we can revisit Dalkeith and Newbattle Abbey!
Email to: W.Barber@Motorola.com
I was just visiting and getting excited about my visit to see you in August!
Great pictures! Best wishes to all at the Abbey.
Director, Outreach Services,
SUNY Cortland, Cortland NY 13045.
Email to: Mary Connery