Gorebridge Explained

Country:Scotland
Official Name:Gorebridge
Static Image Name:Gorebridge Parish Church - geograph.org.uk - 971333.jpg
Static Image Caption:Gorebridge Parish Church
Population Ref:
Os Grid Reference:NT343616
Map Type:Scotland
Coordinates:55.8436°N -3.05°W
Post Town:Gorebridge
Postcode District:EH23
Postcode Area:EH
Dial Code:01875

Gorebridge is a former mining village in Midlothian, Scotland.

Gorebridge has an annual Gala Day which always takes place on the 3rd Saturday in June. This is much like a town fair, with rides and games. The gala day has a tradition of picking a Town King and Queen from the primary schools.[1]

Gorebridge has four primary schools, Gorebridge Primary, Stobhill Primary, St Andrews RC Primary and Gore Glen Primary.[2] Greenhall High school used to serve the town but closed down in 1994. Local children attend nearby Newbattle Community High School, St David's RC High School or Lasswade High School. There is a leisure centre, library and Vogrie Country Park in Gorebridge.[3]

Gorebridge's local football team is Arniston Rangers who were founded in 1878 and play home games at Newbyres Park in the .[4]

Annette Crosbie, known to many as the long suffering wife of Victor Meldrew, played by fellow Scot Richard Wilson in the BBC comedy series One Foot in the Grave, is a former resident of Gorebridge.[5] The Reverend David Arnott, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland for 2011–12, was minister at Gorebridge Parish Church in the 1970s.[6]

On 6 September 2015 Gorebridge saw the return of the Waverley Line with a new station built on the site of the original station. This gives rail access to the Borders and Edinburgh Waverley railway station.[7]

In the Gore Glen there is a shallow cave, named "The King's Cave". According to legend a thief used to steal cattle and hide in this nearby cave. It is not, as some think, named after Robert the Bruce, who was said to have hidden here after defeat at the hands of the English.[8] There are 29 listed buildings in Gorebridge including one Category B building (Harvieston Lodge), and two Category C buildings (Gorebridge old station and the Post Office).

On 30 August 2020, police broke up a party of 300 people at the Mansion house of Kirkhill in Gorebridge and issued a fine to the organiser. Scottish Government rules during the coronavirus pandemic at the time were for a maximum of eight people from three households to meet inside at one time.[9]

In 2021, Gorebridge Leisure Centre was used as a mass vaccination centre during the coronavirus pandemic[10]

Gorebridge is also home to some upcoming music artists the most Notable being therealjam his latest album got over 3 million streams and his house hosts concerts every year. That is one of the upcoming attractions of gorebridge.

History

The village got its name from the bridge across the River Gore, a tributary of the South Esk. It was the home of Stobsmill, Scotland's first gunpowder mill, at the Gore Water, that started operating in 1794[11] and closed in 1875.[12] In the 1860s century a coal mine called Emily Pit was opened, the village grew as miners came and a railway was built to take the coal from the mine. The Emily Pit and Gore Pit (another coal mine) were together renamed the Arniston Colliery which closed in 1962.[13] The railway line was closed in 1969 and reopened in 2015.[14]

Notable People

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 22 June 2018. Gorebridge Gala Day. 4 September 2020. Midlothian Advertiser.
  2. Web site: August 2016. Gorebridge Neighbourhood Profile. 4 September 2020. Midlothian Council.
  3. Web site: McCafferty. Mark. 2020. Vogrie Country Park. 2020-09-04. Midlothian Council. en.
  4. Web site: 2020. Arniston Rangers - Clubs. 2020-09-04. East of Scotland Football Association & League. en.
  5. Web site: 18 July 2019. Interview: Annette Crosbie, Hope Springs actress. 2020-09-04. Th Sotsman. en.
  6. News: 2010-10-27. New moderator announced by Kirk. en-GB. BBC News. 2020-09-04.
  7. Web site: June 2017. Borders Railway Year 1 Evaluation. 4 September 2020. Transport Scotland.
  8. Web site: 2020. King's Cave. 2020-09-04. Forestry and Land Scotland.
  9. News: 2020-09-03. Police probe after 300 people attend house party. en-GB. BBC News. 2020-09-04.
  10. News: 2021-03-22. Gorebridge Leisure Centre opens as mass vaccination centre. en-GB. Midlothian Advertiser. 2021-08-02.
  11. Web site: 2020. Stobsmill Gunpowder Works: An introduction. 2020-09-04. Gorebridge Community Development Trust.
  12. Web site: Explore the Esk - Gorebridge. 2020-09-04. Esk Valley Trust.
  13. Web site: Rees. Thomas. 20 April 2010. Arniston Colliery, Emily Pit. 2020-09-04. Canmore. en.
  14. Web site: Gore Glen Woodland Park Leaflet - History past and present. 4 September 2020. Midlothian Council.