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Lasswade
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The
picturesque village of Lasswade was so named according to legend
because at one time, before there was a bridge, a sturdy local girl
would struggle across the river carrying travellers on her back
- hence 'Jenny lass, wade!' Rather less romantically, the name is
probably derived from the Anglo-Saxon laes or leswe, a common, and
weyde, a meadow. Thankfully a road bridge was built in the 18th
century and more recently, a footbridge, the Jubilee Bridge, in
2002. In 1867 a branch line from the Edinburgh to Peebles railway
was opened to serve the paper mills in Polton with a long tunnel
between Broomieknowe and Lasswade stations and a beautiful six arch
viaduct, designed by Thomas Bouch, across the valley at Lasswade.
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Lasswade bridge |
Jubilee Bridge opening |
the railway viaduct |
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In
1797, Sir Walter Scott set up home in Barony Cottage, Lasswade and
while there played host to a number of literary figures, notably
William and Dorothy Wordsworth who walked along the river valley
from Roslin to visit them. It was during one of these visits that
Dorothy noted, "I never passed through a more delicious dell
than the Glen of Rosslyn though the water of the stream is dingy
and muddy."
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Barony House |
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the Old Mill |
Industries
were established in Lasswade to take advantage of water power -
the early corn mills being converted to paper mills and when the
brewery closed, St Anne's Carpet Factory took its place. Some years
later, the Duke of Buccleuch complained about the pollution from
the carpet making process in the river flowing through his estate
in Dalkeith and Lord Melville was persuaded not to renew the lease
of the land. New premises were found further upstream in Roslin
Glen and the manufacture of the world famous tapestry carpets continued.
Nowadays, thanks to determined local controls, the water runs clear
and teeming aquatic life flourishes once again in the river. The
chimney belonging to St. Leonard's Paper Mill, at 272 feet, towered
above the valley and could be seen for miles around.
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upstream from Lasswade |
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the school green |
A
new parish church was built on the hilltop in 1793 but sadly had
to be demolished in 1956 due to the scourge of many churches, dry
rot. The remains of the mediaeval church it was to replace can still
be seen in the churchyard, the beautifully curved gates of which
lead to the Drummond Aisle where Drummond of Hawthornden was interred.
The runic cross by the former manse was erected to the memory of
Dr Richard Smith, the local doctor for many years and to his son,
Richard Baird Smith who was a hero of the Indian Mutiny, an uprising
fired by the growing dissatisfaction with British rule. Early in
1857, Richard Baird Smith helped to save many lives and later that
year, despite being injured and sick, he was instrumental in relieving
the siege of Delhi which had lasted for three months - but not without
huge loss of life.
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