ELPHINSTONE, a village, in the parish of Tranent,
county of Haddington, 2 miles (S. by W.) from
Tranent; containing 236 inhabitants. This village lies
in the southern extremity of the parish, on the road
from Dalkeith, by Penston, to Haddington; and is chiefly
inhabited by colliers. The lands adjacent were formerly
embellished with woods, of which nearly the whole have
been cut down. The tower of Elphinstone is a square
massive pile of building, supposed to have been erected
in the early part of the fourteenth century, and in 1600
a dwelling-house was attached to it, which is still inhabited:
the stately trees that surrounded it have been
removed. A school for the instruction of the children
of persons employed in the collieries is supported by
subscription.