Elphinstone, East Lothian
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox UK place
|country = Scotland
|official_name= Elphinstone
|label_position=
|static_image_name= Main Street, Elphinstone - geograph.org.uk - 4341910.jpg
|static_image_caption=
|population = {{Scottish locality populations|name|POP=Elphinstone}}
|population_ref = ({{United Kingdom statistics year|ScotSettlement}}){{Scotland settlement population citation}}
|coordinates = {{coord|55.922|-2.966|display=inline,title}}
|pushpin_map = Scotland East Lothian
|os_grid_reference= NT396702
|unitary_scotland= East Lothian Council
|lieutenancy_scotland= East Lothian
|constituency_westminster= East Lothian
|constituency_scottish_parliament= East Lothian
|post_town= TRANENT
|postcode_district= EH33
|postcode_area= EH
|dial_code= 01875
}}
Elphinstone is a village in East Lothian, Scotland, southwest of Tranent. The ruins of Elphinstone Tower, the former seat of the Elphinstone family, lie nearby.
Etymology
The village's name was first recorded in the 13th century.{{cite book|title=The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History|last=Black|first=George F.|date=1971|orig-date=1946|publisher=New York Public Library|page=244|url=https://archive.org/details/surnamesofscotla00geor/page/244|isbn=0-87104-172-3}} It may mean "estate belonging to Ælfwine", from Old English Ælfwinestun.{{cite book|title=Surnames of the United Kingdom|last=Harrison|first=Henry|date=1996|orig-date=1912|location=Baltimore|publisher=Clearfield Company|page=134|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0kc60WqxYK4C&pg=134|isbn=0-8063-0171-6}} A local fairy tale offers a more fantastical origin for the name, tracing it back to an elf who was imprisoned in stone by a witch whom he had crossed.{{cite web | url = https://www.eastlothiancourier.com/news/16861340.tims-tales-the-origin-of-megs-chuck-in-elphinstone/ | title = Tim's tales: The origin of 'Meg's Chuck' in Elphinstone | date = 15 September 2018 | author = Tim Porteous | accessdate = 1 March 2020 | publisher = East Lothian Courier}}
History
The Protestant reformer George Wishart was brought to Elphinstone by Patrick Hepburn, 3rd Earl of Bothwell en route to St Andrews where he was tried and burned at the stake on 1 March 1546.{{cite web | url = http://www.believersmagazine.com/bm.php?i=20100905 | author = R W Cargill | title = Torchbearers of the Truth: George Wishart (1513-1546) | accessdate = 1 March 2020 | publisher = John Ritchie Ltd | work = Believers' Magazine}}
Between 2011 and 2018 the population of the village increased from 520 to 590{{cite web | url = https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/scotland/east_lothian/S19000861__elphinstone/ | title = Elphinstone in East Lothian (Scotland) | accessdate = 1 March 2020 | website =www.citypopulation.de}} and it has basic amenities, including a primary school, a community centre, a newsagent, and a miners welfare club.{{cite web | url = https://www.coalfields-regen.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Tranent-Elphinstone-Community-Action-Plan-2014-2019.pdf | title = Tranent and Elphinstone Community Action Plan 2014-1019 | accessdate = 1 March 2020 | website = www.coalfieldsregen.co.uk}}
Landmarks and economy
File:Remains of Elphinstone Tower (geograph 1961775).jpg
Located half a mile west of the village, Elphinstone Tower, built in the 13th to 15th century, is a former five-storey tower, now a ruin, with only the lower level remaining.{{cite web | url = https://canmore.org.uk/site/53340/elphinstone-tower | accessdate = 1 March 2020 | title = Elphinstone Tower | publisher = Historic Environment Scotland}} The Elphinstone clan held the lands of Elphinstone and took their name from their lands.{{cite web | url = https://www.scotweb.co.uk/info/elphinstone/ | title = Elphinstone | accessdate = 1 March 2020 | publisher = Scotweb Marketing Ltd}}
Mines owned by the Edinburgh Colliery Company, Limited were formerly the main employer in the village. Many of the houses in the village were owned by the company.{{cite web | url = http://www.scottishmining.co.uk/128.html | title = Lothians Housing Evidence given by Robert Brown | accessdate = 1 March 2020 | publisher = Scottish Mining Website}} now Inveresk Research International is one of the main employers in the area.{{cn|date=August 2021}} Elphinstone Tower Farm produces cereal crops.{{cite web | url = https://assets.savills.com/properties/GBEDRUEDR180024/EDR180024_EDR18000232.PDF | title = Elphinstone Tower farm | accessdate = 1 March 2020 | publisher = Savills}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Elphinstone, East Lothian|Elphinstone}}
- [https://archive.today/20130420022732/http://www.pc.elphinstoneprimary.co.uk/ Website of Elphinstone Primary School]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20050926032939/http://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/documents/contentmanage/ELPHINSTONE%20info-1487.PDF East Lothian Council Report on Elphinstone village]
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