Blaeu Atlas of Scotland, 1654
Field | Content |
---|---|
Name: | Buchanan, David, 1595?-1652? |
Title: | Provinciae Edinburgenae descriptio |
Pagination: | 2-3 |
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Translation of text:
lead fourteen miles to the north-east, until it falls into the Forth at lower Cramond. There is a great outburst here of river fish; but this river is also known for salmon fishing, going up for three miles from the mouth. However it has this disadvantage, that near the mouth for more or less four miles it overflows into the low-lying fields and grain and causes much loss to the nearby inhabitants on both sides, especially in autumn, when it ruins their plants or snatches the recently harvested crops with amazing force into the Forth. This river has three stone bridges set over it: one of three arches at Over Cramond; another of two arches above Old Liston; and the third of one arch at Calder. The more notable houses and castles lying on this river from the north-west are East and West Howden, Letham and Pumpherston. Corresponding to these on the other bank of the river are Grange, Alderstone, Calder House, Old Liston with a village of the same name, Hallyards, Lennie, Upper and Lower Cramond. The Almond in its descent is increased by these burns: Breich Water, Killandean Burn, Murieston Water, Linhouse Water and Gogar burn. They all take their origin from the more southerly parts of the province, but fall into one course with the Almond to the north and north-west. The Breich flows from the Muldron Burn to the north-east, on the boundary of Edinburgh and Linlithgow, for five miles, until at length it joins the Almond at Grange. The more notable houses and castles situated near this burn are Handaxwood, Rashiehill, Muirhousedyke, Addiewell and Baadsmill. The Killandean Burn, rising in Carnwath Muir, flows into the Almond above Calder House, not far from the Breich. The Murieston Water, originating a little above Harwood, descends to the north about four miles to and below the foot of Calder wood, where it unites in one course with the Linhouse Water, so that along with it a little further on it slips into the Almond. The more notable houses and castles situated beside this burn on both sides are: Harwood, Herdmanshiells, and Brotherton. The Linhouse Water flows from Garval Syke (where the three provinces of Lothian, Clydesdale and Tweeddale meet) three miles to the north, as far as the south bridge of Calder, a little below Calder wood, where it discharges into the Murieston Water. The principal houses and castles which lie on this burn are Linhouse, Crosswoodburn, Selms and Calder Hall. The two just mentioned burns, after they have joined in the one course, have a common bridge a little below the confluence. The Gogar burn, rising a little above Kirknewton, flows to the north, more or less six miles, and at length a little to the west of the eastern bridges rolls into the Almond. The more notable houses and castles lying on this burn on the west are Kirknewton, Humbie, Hatton, Addiston and Over Gogar with a castle of the same name. Corresponding to these on the east bank are Dalmahoy House, set at the foot of a rocky precipice (commonly called Dalmahoy Hill), Dalmahoy Castle, Warriston, Hermiston House with a castle of the same name, and Redheughs. Lying between the Gogar burn and Linhouse Water are Morton, Corston and Ormiston. Lying between the Gogar burn and the Almond are Bonnington, Ratho, Ratho Byres, Norton and Ingliston. The Water of Leith rises at Cairn Hill, and after traversing ten miles in its downward course, at length at the famous town of the same name and its by far the most famous port, rejecting all narrowness as if fetters, bends its final course into the Firth of Forth. On this river lie forty three mills and a recently built factory. Various houses, castles and country houses occupy its eastern (1) bank, viz. Ravelrig, Curriehill with Curriehill House, Baberton, Stenhouse Mills, Saughton Hall, Dean, Inverleith or inner Leith, Warriston, Bonnington and North Leith. Corresponding to them on the east are Cairn, Bavelaw, Malleny, East and West Lymphoy, Currie, Kinleith, Woodhall, Colinton, Redhall, Gorgie House with a mill of the same name, Dalry Mills with a castle of the same name, Coates, Water of Leith, Canonmills, Pilrig, Bonnington Mills and the town of Leith. Into the Water of Leith at the powder mill rolls a small burn, which the inhabitants call Murray Burn: its fount and source is a little above Curriehill. On this burn lie Riccarton and Saughton. Between the Water of Leith and the Almond lie Corstorphine, Saughton, Curriehill, Barnton, Muirhouse, Pilton, East and West Lauriston, Drylaw (2) and Craigleith. On the southern bank of the Forth, between the mouths of the Almond and the Water of Leith, are Cramond, East and West Granton, old Wardie Castle and Newhaven, where a factory was recently established for making rigging and ropes of all kinds. At the foot of Dalkeith wood the South Esk joins into one course with the North Esk; and two miles below, at Pinkie, both fall into the Forth. On this common course to the west lie Newton, Monkton, Monktonhall, Stoneyhill and Fisherrow. While on the east are Smeaton, Inveresk village, Musselburgh and Pinkie, where travellers in both directions may cross on a stone bridge of three arches. The North Esk flows down from the Pentland Hills to the north, more or less nine miles, until at Dalkeith wood it joins with the South Esk. On it to the east lie Uttershill, Auchendinny, Gorton, Hawthornden and Polton. On the west are Dalkeith Castle with the town of the same name, Grange, Penicuik, Woodhouselee, Roslin, Dryden, Lasswade village, Melville and Lugton. Three stone bridge provide passage for travellers; one at Dalkeith, a second at Lasswade, and a third at Roslin. Between the North Esk and the Water of Leith are two lesser streams, the Braid and Niddrie Burns, which flow down from the Pentland Hills into the Forth. The Braid Burn on its descent to the north passes in its course Liberton mills, Peffermill and Priestfield. Then proceding through Duddingston Loch on its placid course it goes straight to the Forth. The Niddrie Burn, whose fount and source are a little above Broomhills, flows down through