Penicuik

The town's name is pronounced 'Pennycook' and is derived from Pen Y Cog, meaning "Hill of the Cuckoo" in the Old Brythonic language (also known as Ancient British and the forerunner of modern Welsh).{{Cite book |title=Chambers 21st Century Dictionary |publisher=Harrap |year=1999 |isbn=978-0-550-14250-4 |editor-last=Robinson, Mairi |location=Edinburgh, Scotland |page=1059 |chapter=Some common elements of placenames}}. There is a similarly-named "Pennyquick" just west of Bath in Somerset in England.

File:Valleyfield Monument, Penicuik.jpg

File:Reflections in Low Pond, Penicuik Estate - geograph.org.uk - 2111333.jpg

In 1296, Thomas Rymer's Foedera mentions a "Walter Edgar a person of Penicok south of Edenburgh", which logically can only be what is now called Penicuik.{{Cite web|url=http://archive.org/details/genealogialcolle00gramuoft|title=Genealogial collections concerning the Scottish house of Edgar, with a memoir of James Edgar|date=1 August 1873|publisher=London Grampian Club|via=Internet Archive}} Penycook appears as the name on John Adair's map of 1682{{Cite web|url=https://maps.nls.uk/joins/adair09.html|title=Map of Midlothian - Maps of Scotland|website=maps.nls.uk}} and the ruined old parish church, in the centre of the graveyard, dates from the late 17th century.{{canmore|num=51652|desc=Penicuik, St Kentigern's Church And Churchyard| access-date=27 October 2022}}

Penicuik became home to an early paper mill, Valleyfield Mill, which was established by Agnes Campbell in 1709.{{cite web|url=http://www.penicuikpapermaking.org/mills.html |title=Paper Mills|publisher=Penicuik Papermaking: 300th Anniversary|access-date=27 October 2022}}

The Pomathorn Bridge was a toll bridge across the River Esk and the main route between Edinburgh to the north and the Scottish Borders to the south. "The Young Pretender", Charles Edward Stuart, is recorded as having crossed the River Esk on his march south on 8 November 1745.{{cite web|url=https://www.tradeshouselibrary.org/uploads/4/7/7/2/47723681/itinerary_of_prince_charles_edward_stuart_from_his_landing_in_scotland_july_1745_to_his_departure_in_september_1746_~_1897.pdf|title=Itinerary of Prince Charles Edward Stuart from his landing in Scotland July 1745 to his departure in September 1746|year=1897|publisher=Edinburgh University Press|page=25|first=Walter Biggar|last = Blaikie}}

The town was expanded as a planned village, roughly based on Edinburgh's New Town, by Sir James Clerk, 3rd Baronet of Penicuik in 1770.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UhPqAAAAMAAJ|title=Lothian, except Edinburgh (Buildings of Scotland Series)|first1= Colin|last1= McWilliam|first2= Christopher|last2= Wilson|year=1978|publisher=Penguin|isbn=9780-140710663|pages=379–385}}

Glencorse Barracks, which is home to the Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, was established as a facility for incarcerating French prisoners of war during the Napoleonic Wars and was originally known as Greenlaw Military Prison when it was completed in 1803.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h3hOAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA320|title=John Bartholomew's Gazetteer of the British Isles, Statistical and Topographical|publisher=A. & C. Black|year=1887|page=320}} Charles Cowan, who acquired Valleyfield Mill in 1779, sold it to the War Office in order to create additional prisoner of war facilities in 1811.{{cite web|url=http://www.penicuikpapermaking.org/valleyfieldm.html|title=Valleyfield Mill|publisher=Penicuik Papermaking: 300th Anniversary|access-date=27 October 2022}} In 1830, Alexander Cowan erected a monument, designed by Thomas Hamilton, to the memory of 309 prisoners who died in the prisoner of war camps.{{Historic Environment Scotland|num= LB39293 |desc=Valleyfield, Sepulchral Monument| access-date=27 October 2022}}

Penicuik hosted the inaugural Grand Match in curling, between the north and the south of Scotland, in 1847. This took place on the "high pond" on the estate of Penicuik House, not the "low pond" which is still used for curling on rare occasions.{{cite news|url=https://www.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/scottish-curling-life-ice-almost-500-years-608792|title=Scottish curling: life on the ice for almost 500 years|date=26 December 2016|newspaper=The Scotsman| access-date=27 October 2022}}

The town, whilst generally architecturally undistinguished, contains two masterpieces by Frederick Thomas Pilkington: the South Church (originally the United Free Church, of 1862; and the flamboyant "Park End" houses on Bridge Street also of 1862.

Following population growth, largely associated with the paper mills, the town became a burgh in 1866.{{cite web|url=https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10361473|title=Penicuik Burgh|publisher=Vision of Britain|access-date=27 October 2022}}

In 1889, a fire at the Mauricewood Colliery resulted in the death of 63 men and boys, with only seven survivors. Its owners, The Schotts Iron Company, closed the pit following the disaster. {{Cite web|url=http://www.scottishmining.co.uk/28.html|title=Mauricewood 1889 - Scottish Mining Website|website=www.scottishmining.co.uk}}

The Cowan Institute, now known as Penicuik Town Hall, was funded by the Cowan family and designed by Campbell Douglas in 1893.

The Penicuik war memorial was designed by Sir Robert Lorimer and dates from 1920.{{Scottish Architects name|id=200052|name=(Sir) Robert Stodart Lorimer}}

The Dalmore paper mill on the North Esk river at Auchendinny closed in 2004.{{Cite web |title=Dalmore Mill |url=http://www.penicuikpapermaking.org/dalmorem.html |access-date=2014-06-19}}

There are five primary schools in Penicuik, Cuiken Primary, Cornbank St James Primary, Sacred Heart Primary (Roman Catholic), Strathesk Primary and Mauricewood Primary. There are also two high schools, Penicuik High School and Beeslack High School (which is soon to move out of Penicuik itself).{{cite news|url= https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/education/new-beeslack-high-school-plans-go-out-to-public-3825947 |title=New Beeslack High School plans go out to public|date=31 August 2022|newspaper=Edinburgh Evening News|access-date=27 October 2022}}

Penicuik experiences a maritime climate with cool summers and mild winters. The town's somewhat elevated position (180 m O.S.) means it is more susceptible to snowfall than nearby Edinburgh; over 30 days of the year on average reported lying snow between 1951 and 1980, compared to 14 at Edinburgh.{{Cite web |title=Snowfall average |url=http://www.weather.org.uk/climate/scotclim.html |publisher=ScotClim}} Temperature extremes since 1960 range from {{convert|30.2|C|F}} during July 1983{{Cite web |title=1983 Maximum |url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/monitordetail.php?seasonid=13&year=1983&indexid=TXx&stationid=1831 |publisher=KNMI}} to {{convert|-19.2|C|F}} in January 1982.{{Cite web |title=1982 Minimum |url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/monitordetail.php?seasonid=7&year=1982&indexid=TNn&stationid=1831 |publisher=KNMI}} The coldest temperature in recent years was {{convert|-12.5|C|F}} during January 2010.{{Cite web |title=2010 Minimum |url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/interesting/jan2010/mintemp_070110_n.jpg |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017214539/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/interesting/jan2010/mintemp_070110_n.jpg |archive-date=2012-10-17 |publisher=UKMO}}

{{Weather box

|width = 89%

|location = Penicuik ({{convert|185|m|abbr=on|disp=or}} asl, averages 1991–2020, extremes 1960–present)

|metric first = Yes

|single line = Yes

|Jan record high C = 12.4

|Feb record high C = 13.3

|Mar record high C = 19.4

|Apr record high C = 25.6

|May record high C = 27.2

|Jun record high C = 28.9

|Jul record high C = 30.2

|Aug record high C = 29.4

|Sep record high C = 26.2

|Oct record high C = 20.6

|Nov record high C = 15.6

|Dec record high C = 13.1

|year record high C = 30.2

|Jan high C = 5.9

|Feb high C = 6.5

|Mar high C = 8.8

|Apr high C = 11.7

|May high C = 14.9

|Jun high C = 17.2

|Jul high C = 18.9

|Aug high C = 18.5

|Sep high C = 15.9

|Oct high C = 11.9

|Nov high C = 8.4

|Dec high C = 6.0

|year high C =

|Jan mean C = 3.1

|Feb mean C = 3.5

|Mar mean C = 5.1

|Apr mean C = 7.2

|May mean C = 10.0

|Jun mean C = 12.6

|Jul mean C = 14.4

|Aug mean C = 14.1

|Sep mean C = 11.8

|Oct mean C = 8.4

|Nov mean C = 5.4

|Dec mean C = 3.1

|year mean C =

|Jan low C = 0.3

|Feb low C = 0.4

|Mar low C = 1.4

|Apr low C = 2.8

|May low C = 5.1

|Jun low C = 8.1

|Jul low C = 9.8

|Aug low C = 9.7

|Sep low C = 7.7

|Oct low C = 4.9

|Nov low C = 2.3

|Dec low C = 0.2

|year low C =

|Jan record low C = −19.2

|Feb record low C = −13.9

|Mar record low C = −14.6

|Apr record low C = −6.9

|May record low C = −4.5

|Jun record low C = -1.7

|Jul record low C = 1.1

|Aug record low C = 0.4

|Sep record low C = -2.3

|Oct record low C = -6.2

|Nov record low C = −10.0

|Dec record low C = −14.8

|year record low C = −19.2

|Jan rain mm = 98.1

|Feb rain mm = 81.5

|Mar rain mm = 68.3

|Apr rain mm = 58.0

|May rain mm = 62.3

|Jun rain mm = 81.7

|Jul rain mm = 85.9

|Aug rain mm = 88.4

|Sep rain mm = 74.3

|Oct rain mm = 98.8

|Nov rain mm = 93.2

|Dec rain mm = 103.0

|year rain mm =

|unit rain days = 1 mm

|Jan rain days = 15.5

|Feb rain days = 12.9

|Mar rain days = 12.1

|Apr rain days = 10.7

|May rain days = 11.8

|Jun rain days = 12.3

|Jul rain days = 12.9

|Aug rain days = 13.1

|Sep rain days = 12.4

|Oct rain days = 14.5

|Nov rain days = 14.6

|Dec rain days = 15.0

|year rain days =

|Jan sun = 34.8

|Feb sun = 65.5

|Mar sun = 99.6

|Apr sun = 129.7

|May sun = 170.9

|Jun sun = 143.5

|Jul sun = 146.0

|Aug sun = 135.3

|Sep sun = 112.0

|Oct sun = 80.8

|Nov sun = 55.2

|Dec sun = 34.3

|year sun =

|source 1 = Met Office{{cite web |url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-averages/gcvtwetn8 |title=Penicuik (Midlothian Council) UK climate averages |publisher=Met Office |access-date=15 November 2023}}

|source 2 = Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute/KNMI{{Cite web |title=Penicuik Climate |url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/mapserver/climatology.php?indexcat=**&indexid=TN&periodidselect=1981-2010&seasonid=0&scalelogidselect=no&minx=-407261.904762&miny=-3969821.428571&maxx=26071.428572&maxy=-3644821.428570&MapSize=560%2C420&imagewidth=560&imageheight=420&mainmap.x=236&mainmap.y=362&CMD=QUERY_POINT&CMD=QUERY_POINT#bottom |access-date=2013-04-14 |publisher=KNMI}}

|date=April 2013

}}

File:Fields by the Pentland Hills (Source).webm, with views of Penicuik ]]

Its population at the 2020 census was 16,150 computed according to the 2020 definition of the locality.{{Cite web |title=Penicuik (Midlothian) |url=http://www.citypopulation.de/php/uk-scotland.php?cityid=458001 |access-date=2014-06-19}}

Crystal FM is the Community Radio Station serving Penicuik & S W Midlothian on 107.4FM.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

Near Penicuik is Glencorse Parish Kirk, which formed part of the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson's Weir of Hermiston.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OlRjDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT3585|title=The Complete Works: Novels, Short Stories, Poems, Plays, Memoirs, Travel Sketches, Letters and Essays|first= Robert Louis |last=Stevenson|year=2017|publisher=E-Artnow|isbn=978-8026836599|edition=Illustrated }}

File:Bank house.png Samuel Rutherford Crockett c. 1886, who often had J. M. Barrie to stay.]]

{{See also|Category:People from Penicuik}}

Notable people connected with Penicuik include;

• Jim Aitken, Scotland rugby union captain{{Cite web |title=Jim Aitken - Scotland Rugby Player |url=http://www.sporting-heroes.net/rugby-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=3042 |access-date=3 May 2009 |publisher=Sporting Heroes}}
• Tommy Banner, lead singer from The Wurzels
• Helen Bannerman, writer{{Cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/letters/penicuik-heroes-1712469|title=Penicuik heroes|date=15 July 2010|newspaper=The Scotsman| access-date=19 January 2020}}
• Joseph Bell, surgeon and lecturer at the medical school of the University of Edinburgh{{cite web|url=https://www.scottish-places.info/people/famousfirst596.html|title=Dr Joseph Bell|publisher = Gazetteer for Scotland| access-date=27 October 2022}}
• Agnes Borrowman, first woman to serve on the Pharmaceutical Society's Board of Examiners.{{Cite book |last=Holloway, Sydney W. F. |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/464125862 |title=Royal pharmaceutical society of Great Britain, 1841-1991 : a political and social history |date=1991 |publisher=Pharmaceutical Press |isbn=0-85369-244-0 |pages=268 |oclc=464125862}}
• Sir John Clerk, baronet, composer and leading Scottish politician during the period leading up to the 1707 Act of Union{{cite book |last1= Waterston |first1= Charles D. |last2= Macmillan Shearer|first2= A.|title= Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783-2002: Biographical Index|url= http://www.rse.org.uk/fellowship/fells_indexp1.pdf|access-date = 29 September 2010|volume= I|date=1 July 2006|publisher= The Royal Society of Edinburgh|location = Edinburgh|isbn= 978-0-902198-84-5|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061004113545/http://www.rse.org.uk/fellowship/fells_indexp1.pdf|archive-date = 4 October 2006|page=191}}
• Alexander Cowan, papermaker and philanthropist{{cite web |url=http://www.penicuikpapermaking.org/cowaninst.html|title=The Cowan Institute|work=Penicuik Papermaking, 300th Anniversary|publisher=Penicuik Historical Society|access-date=1 August 2021}}
• Charles Cowan, papermaker and MP for Edinburgh{{cite book |last1= Waterston |first1= Charles D. |last2= Macmillan Shearer|first2= A.|title= Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783-2002: Biographical Index|url= http://www.rse.org.uk/fellowship/fells_indexp1.pdf|access-date = 29 September 2010|volume= I|date=1 July 2006|publisher= The Royal Society of Edinburgh|location = Edinburgh|isbn= 978-0-902198-84-5|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061004113545/http://www.rse.org.uk/fellowship/fells_indexp1.pdf|archive-date = 4 October 2006|page=209}}
• James Cowan, Liberal Party politician{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/annalsofpenicuik00wilsiala/annalsofpenicuik00wilsiala_djvu.txt|title=The annals of Penicuik; being a history of the parish and of the village|first=John J. |last=Wilson|publisher=T. & A. Constable|year=1891|page=208}}
• James Cowan, cricketer{{cite web |title=James Cowan |url=https://www.wisden.com/players/james-cowan-57700 |access-date=4 April 2025 |publisher=Wisden}}
• Sir John Cowan, 1st Baronet of Beeslack, papermaker and chairman of the Midlothian Liberal Association{{cite web|url=https://www.scottish-places.info/people/famousfirst4562.html|title=Sir John Cowan|publisher= Gazetteer for Scotland|access-date=27 October 2022}}
• Samuel Rutherford Crockett, novelist{{cite web|url=http://futuremuseum.co.uk/collections/people/key-people/writers-poets/sr-crockett.aspx|title=S. R. Crockett|publisher=Future Museum| access-date=27 October 2022}}
• Claire Emslie, footballer{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43378763|title=Claire Emslie: Scotland winger targets World Cup after missing Euro 2017|work=BBC Sport|date=13 March 2018|access-date=13 March 2018}}
• James Cossar Ewart, zoologist{{Cite journal | last1 = m. | first1 = F. H. A. | title = James Cossar Ewart. 1851-1933 | doi = 10.1098/rsbm.1934.0004 | journal = Obituary Notices of Fellows of the Royal Society | volume = 1 | issue = 3 | pages = 189–195 | year = 1934 }}
• James Finlayson, industrialist{{Cite ODNB |url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-49393|title=Finlayson, James|year=2004 |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/49393 |isbn=978-0-19-861412-8 |access-date=27 October 2022}}
• Sir James Hamilton, Aircraft designer who led the British Concorde development team{{Cite web|url=https://www.scottish-places.info/people/famousfirst4312.html|title=Sir James Arnot Hamilton|website=Gazetteer for Scotland|access-date=19 January 2020}}
• Jason Kerr, footballer{{cite news|url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/jason-kerrs-rise-through-the-ranks-shows-no-signs-of-letting-up-3150096|title=Jason Kerr's rise through the ranks shows no signs of letting up|date=1 March 2021|newspaper=Edinburgh Evening News| access-date=27 October 2022}}
• Cargill Gilston Knott, mathematician and seismologist{{Cite journal|last=Knott|first=Cargill Gilston|date=1879|title=Researches on contact electricity|journal=D.Sc. Thesis|language=en|hdl=1842/26666|url=https://mathshistory.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Knott/ |access-date=27 October 2022}}
• Sam Nicholson, footballer{{cite news|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/hearts-star-sam-nicholson-setting-7457438|title=Hearts star Sam Nicholson on setting Tynecastle alight and avoiding trouble on nights out in Edinburgh|date=28 February 2016|newspaper=Daily Record| access-date=27 October 2022}}
• Sir Geoff Palmer, scientist and human rights activist
• Craig Paterson, footballer{{cite news|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12052694.after-life-upstairs-downstairs-is-an-eye-opener-for-defender-craigs-just-happy-to-still-have-the-ball-at-his-feet/|title=After life upstairs, downstairs is an eye-opener for defender: Craig's just happy to still have the ball at his feet|date=23 March 1996|publisher=Herald Scotland| access-date=27 October 2022}}
• Charles Thomson Rees Wilson, Nobel Prize-winning physicist, was born at a nearby farm

Penicuik is twinned with:

• L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue in the region of Provence.
• Midlothian, Chicago (along with all other towns in Midlothian, Scotland).{{Cite web |title=www.illinoissistercities.org/?page_id=2650 |url=http://www.illinoissistercities.org/?page_id=2650 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304040120/http://www.illinoissistercities.org/?page_id=2650 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=2018-04-10 |website=illinoissistercities.org}}

St Mungo's Church, Penicuik.JPG|St. Mungo's Church, Penicuik (1771)

The Clerk mausoleum and old kirk, Penicuik.JPG|The Clerk mausoleum and old kirk, Penicuik

Park End, Penicuik.JPG|Park End, Penicuik by Frederick Thomas Pilkington

Penicuik, housing south of river.JPG|Picturesque housing on the south side of the river at Penicuik

Penicuik Cemetery looking towards the Pentland Hills.JPG|Penicuik Cemetery looking towards the Pentland Hills

{{commons category|Penicuik}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Towns in Midlothian

Category:Burghs

Category:Papermaking in the United Kingdom

Category:Populated places established in 1770

Category:1770 establishments in Scotland