COCKPEN, a parish, in the county of Edinburgh,
3 miles (S. by W.) from Dalkeith; containing, with
the villages of Bonnyrigg, Dalhousie, Gowkshill, Hillhead,
Hunterfield, Polton-Street, Prestonholme, Skiltiemuir,
Stobhill-Engine, and Westniill, 2345 inhabitants,
of whom 709 are in the rural districts. This place,
which is on the river South Esk, is supposed to have
derived its name from the situation of the church upon
an eminence, and the prevailing colour of the soil. It
comprises chiefly the barony of Dalhousie, the property
of the ancient family of Ramsay, of whom William,
Lord Ramsay, was created Earl of Dalhousie by Charles
I. in 1633. There are still some remains of the ancient
baronial residence of Dalhousie, which was a quadrangular
structure with angular towers, and one of the
strongest fortresses in this part of the country; and
though altered into a slightly castellated mansion as a
family residence, it still retains some vestiges of its
ancient character. The parish is about three miles
and a half in length, and two and a half in extreme
breadth. Its surface is pleasingly undulated, and the
prevailing scenery abounds with interesting features.
The banks of the South Esk, which intersects the southern
part of the parish, are crowned with ancient wood;
and the various other streamlets that flow through the
lands, add greatly to the beauty of the landscape. The
soil is generally a strong clay, well adapted to the
growth of grain, and, under good cultivation, yielding
crops of wheat, barley, oats, and peas, with a few potatoes
and turnips. The annual value of real property in
the parish is £8801. The plantations, which are extensive,
abound with every variety of trees and ornamental
shrubs, and are in a highly flourishing condition. In
this parish the substrata are chiefly coal, which is very
abundant, and limestone and freestone of excellent
quality, which are extensively quarried: copperas, also,
has been obtained.
The ancient castle of Dalhousie is beautifully situated
on an eminence overlooking the river Esk; it was
modernised by the late earl, and the pleasure-grounds
have been tastefully laid out in walks, and embellished
with shrubs and plantations. On the opposite bank of
the river was the ancient mansion-house of Cockpen,
purchased, within the last few years, by the earl, from
Mr. Baron Cockburn, by whom the adjacent lands had
been greatly improved; only some of the walls are now
standing, which give a truly romantic character to the
scenery. The village of Cockpen lies upon the western
bank of the South Esk, over which is a handsome bridge
of stone, affording facility of communication; and the
Edinburgh and Hawick railway skirts the eastern boundary
of the parish. In the several villages are various
works. Eccclesiastically, Cockpen is within the bounds
of the presbytery of Dalkeith and synod of Lothian and
Tweeddale. The minister's stipend is £157, of which
£24 are paid from the exchequer; with a manse and a
glebe valued at £21 per annum: patron, the Marquess
of Dalhousie. The church, erected in 1820, is a neat
plain structure, containing 625 sittings. There is a place
of worship for the Free Church. The parochial school
is well conducted; the master has a salary of £34, with
a house and garden, and the fees average £28.