A vision of Britain through time
A vision of Britain from 1801 to now.
Including maps, statistical trends and historical descriptions.
A vision of Britain through time
A vision of Britain from 1801 to now.
Including maps, statistical trends and historical descriptions.
Newhall, an estate, with a mansion, in Penicuik parish, Edinburghshire. The mansion, on the North Esk's left bank, within a curvature of the stream, 4½ miles SW of Penicuik town, during the 16th century and an unknown period preceding, belonged to a family of the name of Crichton. In 1646 Dr Pennicuik became its proprietor; and here was born his son, Dr Alexander Pennicuik (1652-1722), poet and physician. (See Romanno.) In 1703 Newhall was acquired by Sir David Forbes, under whose son and successor, John, it became a favourite resort of some of the most eminent literati of last century. While inhabited by the Crichtons it was an irregular castle, and with its appendages covered the whole breadth of the point on which it stands, formed by a strip or low spur from the base of the Pentlands, cloven down on each side by a deep ravine, and terminating in the glen of the Esk. It was mainly rebuilt soon after 1703, and enlarged in 1785; but the ground-floor in the front of the present modernised mansion, which was part of one of the towers, is vaulted in the roof, and has on every side slits for defence; and it is so strong as, in one place, to have a closet cut out of the thickness of the wall. The eastern ravine, overhung by remains of a small round tower, is densely wooded; and a dark and romantic rill leaps along it in several beautiful cascades, and flings up its spray amid the deep shades of the woods. The western ravine is overhung by a point on which stood anciently a religious establishment of some note, and a prison; and though this ravine is dry, it vies with the other in romance, and, like it, is shaded with thick foliage. A walk, which goes round the site of the chapel and prison, forms a noble terrace from the W end of the house, looking up the glen and over to a mineral well among copsewood and pines on the other side. A farm in the immediate neighbourhood bears the name of Spital, and probably formed an endowment for supporting, under the management of the religious foundation of Newhall, a hospice for the refreshment and shelter of travellers. George Meikle Kemp (1794-1844), the designer of the Edinburgh Scott Monument, was the son of a shepherd on the Newhall estate. Purchased from the Hays for £14, 000 in 1783, the Newhall and Carlops property belongs now to Horatio Robert Forbes Brown (b. 1854; suc. 1866), whose grandfather edited Pennicuik's Works, and did much to beautify the grounds of Newhall, which he identified with the scenery of the Gentle Shepherd. (See Habbie's Howe.) He holds 3398 acres in Edinburgh and Peebles shires, valued at £1895 per annum.—Ord. Sur., shs. 32, 24, 1857-64. See vol. ii. of John Small's Castles and Mansions of the Lothians (Edinb. 1883).
(F.H. Groome, Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland (1882-4); © 2004 Gazetteer for Scotland)
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| Feature Description: | "an estate, with a mansion" (ADL Feature Type: "land parcels") |
| Administrative units: | Penicuik ScoP Midlothian ScoCnty |
Pages for linked administrative units may contain historical statistics and information on boundaries.