LIVING in and AROUND CARLOPS a Small Community with a Big Heart
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LIVING IN AND AROUND CARLOPS A small community with a big heart A collaborative production by Carlops Church, Carlops Community Council and Carlops Village Centre 2 Welcome to Carlops Carlops – ten miles south-west of Edinburgh – on the road to Biggar 4 and the M74 – tiny place strung along the A702 trunk road – A brief history of Carlops blink and you might miss it. But what’s it really like? Traffic on the A702 – peaceful away from it – huddled cottages – 6 Pentland Hills – the Rock – the Rock Field with its playground – the well – Four Carlops institutions the burn – Carlops Hill – Deepsyke – Harbour Craig – Jenny Barrie’s cave – The Allan Ramsay Hotel Kitleyknowe – Newhall and its Glen – Ninemileburn and “the top road” – Carlops Church North Esk reservoir, stream and waterfall – Patie’s Hill – Windy Gowl. And more ... Carlops Village Centre Carlops Community Council Allan Ramsay Hotel – Church – Community Council – Hall – market – iffy mobile reception – so-so broadband speed. And more ... 12 Our Carlops traditions Meadows – trees – wildflowers – birds of garden, field, forest and moor – animals domestic, farm and wild. And more ... 14 Creative arts Rain – rainbows – clouds – wind – frosts – snow – sun – Music little light pollution – brilliant starry nights. And more ... Theatre Film People – long-established – recently arrived – stay-in-the-villagers – Writing commuters – young – old(-er!) – families – friends – neighbours – walkers – Craft cyclists – helpers – makers-happen – joiners-in – stayers-out. And more ... 22 Chat – warmth – the occasional edge – generosity – charities – good causes – Support for charities now busy – now quiet – local talent, including your own. And more ... 26 Art – Burns supper – ceilidhs – choir – Christmas carols – coffee mornings – Outdoor facilities concerts – exhibitions – films – Hogmanay fireworks – jazz band – market – orchestra – recitals – rural products show – soup lunches – talks – theatre – 30 workshops. And more ... Sports and activities A wee place – but lots to do – lots to enjoy – take your pick. 32 Now read on ... Public transport 34 Businesses, services and practicalities (the Hall). Les Morss, its webmaster (01968 Murray Campbell 660 388, email [email protected]), maintains 01968 660 530 an emailing list which you can join to receive [email protected] regular updates. www.carlopschurch.org records WELCOME the wide range of services, cultural and social Jason Hubert events arranged by Carlops Church. Contacts 01968 660 079 TO CARLOPS listed in this booklet will change from time [email protected] to time, but the websites should provide Mary McElroy up-to-date information. 01968 661 042 [email protected] We cast our net widely in researching what to include and we thank everyone who provided Rennie McElroy information. We checked facts wherever possible, 01968 661 042 Carlops is a small village with a lot happening. That’s easy but regarded what people and organisations [email protected] to say, but we believe we can prove it. This booklet has been published in advertisements and on websites as produced as a whole-community project on behalf of Carlops Church, accurate. We are grateful to several Carlops folk Peter Raine Carlops Community Council and Carlops Village Centre; who commented upon the booklet in draft, to 01968 660 686 [email protected] it describes what goes on in and around Carlops. Jeff Jeffrey and Kate Ainsworth, who proof-read the whole, to Jim Eccleston and Kat Raspin for design, and Rosemary Brown for arranging Guy Walters printing. Errors and omissions that remain are 01968 660 470 [email protected] Throughout, we write “Carlops” for convenience, Those words “get involved” are important; if our responsibility; we apologise for them and but this refers not merely to Carlops village Carlops is a thriving community and enjoyable hope they do not compromise the booklet’s Hannah Walters as defined by the speed limitation signs on the to live in, it is because people get involved and usefulness to you. 01968 660 470 A702, but to the district of Carlops, which make a contribution. Just by turning up to [email protected] stretches from Silverburn in the north-east to something, you make a contribution, because We hope you enjoy Carlops. Contact any of us West Linton in the south-west, and includes your presence helps to make the event a success if you have questions. locations like Ninemileburn and Kitleyknowe, and encourages its organisers to keep going. amongst others. People from these places look The Editors to Carlops as a social and cultural centre and, by So, as well as providing information, this booklet contributing to activities hosted there, help to carries a sincere invitation to get involved. You make Carlops the lively and enjoyable place it don’t have to be in with the bricks; new ideas is. Carlops’ cultural and social life also attracts and an extra pair of hands are always welcome. visitors from West Linton, Penicuik, Edinburgh You needn’t wait to be asked. Make suggestions, and further afield; they too help to make the or offer to help. You won’t be thought pushy, just place what it is and they are welcomed for it. neighbourly. But, by the same token, don’t feel pressured into attending everything, especially The booklet aims to give people recently arrived if you commute and are only in Carlops in the in Carlops the same framework of knowledge evenings and at weekends. Just support what about activities and services which established appeals to you and suits your pattern of life. residents enjoy. It should also serve as a reference source for those established residents who may There are many information sources, but just have forgotten something! How do I find two websites cover most Carlops activities. out about things? What’s on? Where? When? www.carlops.net provides information about Who runs it? How can I get involved? activities and events in Carlops Village Centre 2 Living in and around Carlops Living in and around Carlops 3 houses an amiable and eclectic assortment of Centre and its Trustees, and a few artefacts (mainly) commuters and the retired with their commemorating the building of the old Hall, children and livestock (no llamas at present), with the names of those involved in the project. A BRIEF HISTORY while visitors from far and near frequently drop in to renew family ties and friendships and to Documentation of Carlops Community Council OF CARLOPS participate in the maelstrom of village activities. activities was formerly included, but is now stored in boxes kept in Carlops Village Centre. A collection of images of Carlops in former times may be viewed at http://bit.do/carlops An important element is the personal archive material donated by members of the Carlops Carlops Archive community past and present: manuscript The Carlops archive consists of a wide- historical notes, former local development plans, ranging collection of material relating to newspaper cuttings relating to Carlops people Carlops stands at the crossing of the Edinburgh – Carlisle road (A702) Carlops and Carlops Village Centre (the Hall). and projects, pamphlets about the area and its and the River North Esk. The traditional derivation of the name is It is of considerable interest and value to inhabitants, photographs, letters and slides. “the carlin’s loups” (the witch’s leaps), a reference to two prominent rock students of local history. outcrops that straddled the road near the village centre (only one survives, Over time, some of the archive’s containers glowering over the car park). An alternative derivation is “caer-luib” (the fort The material largely comprises records became damaged, their contents disarranged of meetings of the Carlops Village Centre and some material slightly compromised. of the winding hill). The witch and the fort remain elusive, but the road Management Committee and accounts of A conservationist volunteered to help and has certainly been there since Roman times, while the river has been an activities held in the Hall, including minute is engaged in sorting and recording the important administrative boundary for almost as long, even forming part books, and folders, schedules, material from material, digitising it where appropriate and of the Anglo-Scottish border for a short time in the 14th century. related bodies such as the Scottish Borders having it housed in new containers. This is Council, and documentation of the funding a considerable task and remains ongoing. and building of the present Hall. It includes The village itself dates from the 1780s, when employed a large labour force and supplied copies of four deeds relating to the purchase The archive may be viewed by arrangement it was founded as a cotton-weaving centre building stone for the Victorian expansion of the land on which the Hall stands, the with Patsy Campbell (01968 660 530, by a local laird, Robert Brown of Newhall. of Peebles. At this period Carlops comprised establishing of the original Carlops Village [email protected]). In 1800, a woollen mill was erected at the 36 households together with a shop, two inns, north end of the village, and in the 1840s a a school and, by 1850, a church. Most of the reservoir was constructed higher up the Esk working population were weavers, quarriers to regulate the water supply for mills and or miners. factories lower down the valley. The work was carried out by two of the most distinguished The decline of the textile trade and the coming civil engineers of the day, David and Thomas of the railway (via Macbiehill) in Victorian Stevenson (father of Robert Louis Stevenson). times saw Carlops assuming a new role as a The exploitation of local mineral resources summer retreat for Edinburgh professionals. began much earlier and continues to the present As time went on, better roads likewise brought day – a Carlops resident is said to have mined increasing numbers of day visitors to walk the oil shale in his back garden within the last thirty Pentland Hills and explore the scenery associated years.