Loanhead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Loanhead |
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 Bronze sculpture by Andrew Burton, known as the Coghorn, and dates from 1999 |
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 Loanhead
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| Population | 6,820 (2020) |
| OS grid reference | NT281655 |
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| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LOANHEAD |
| Postcode district | EH20 |
| Dialling code | 0131 |
| Police | Lothian and Borders |
| Fire | Lothian and Borders |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament |
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| Scottish Parliament |
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Loanhead is a town in Midlothian, Scotland. It's located just south of Edinburgh. The town is close to other places like Roslin, Bonnyrigg, and Dalkeith. Loanhead grew because of its history in coal and oil shale mining, and also the paper industry.
Contents
Loanhead's History
Loanhead was a very small village around 1599. It even appeared on a map of the Lothians area back then. In 1669, the town received a special permission, called a charter. This charter allowed Loanhead to hold a weekly market and an annual fair.
Early Industries
Coal mining became important in the area by 1685. It brought good profits for Sir John Clerk of Penicuik. Paper mills also started up nearby. The Springfield paper mill opened in 1742, and the Polton mill followed in 1750. By 1754, Loanhead had grown into a medium-sized settlement.
The limestone industry also provided jobs in the late 1700s. The main works were at Burdiehouse, about a mile northwest of Loanhead. The coal industry kept growing, and by 1874, the town was connected to the railway. Oil shale was mined between Loanhead and Burdiehouse starting in 1880. By this time, Loanhead's population had grown to 3,250 people. In 1884, the town was given burgh status, which meant it could govern itself more.
Changes and Closures
The shale mines closed in 1909. This happened because water from Edinburgh's water supply system, called aqueducts, started flowing into them. The limestone works at Burdiehouse stopped in 1912, though some limestone mining continued until 1960. The Polton paper mill closed its doors in 1955.
Coal mining continued for longer. The large Bilston Glen pit was built between 1952 and 1961. This mine was very productive, producing 1,000,000 tons of coal each year and employing 2,300 men. Its coal workings stretched from Rosewell to Dalkeith. However, all coal mining stopped after the big strike in 1984–1985. Today, the former mine site is an industrial estate.
How Loanhead is Governed
Loanhead is managed by the Midlothian Council. The town is part of the Midlothian West area, which has three local Councillors. For local issues, the Community Council is a group where people can share their ideas and concerns.
Economy and Businesses
Straiton Retail Park is a large shopping area near Loanhead. It has one of only two IKEA stores in Scotland. There are also plans to add new facilities to Straiton, including a large events arena for Edinburgh and two hotels.
Clerk Street, the main street in Loanhead, is usually busy with cars and shoppers. Big supermarkets like Sainsbury's and Costco are also nearby.
Loanhead has a modern industrial estate with about 100 different businesses. These businesses offer many jobs for local people. Some of the companies include MacSweens haggis factory. Also, Police Scotland's Communications Centre, where all emergency calls and police radio messages are handled, is located here. The Pentlands industrial estate opened in the 1970s, and many shops and other businesses operate around the edge of the town.
Fun and Activities in Loanhead
Loanhead Gala Day (Children's Day)
Loanhead has an exciting annual event called Gala Day, also known as "Children's Day." It's a weekend music festival that attracts many musicians. The main event takes place on the fourth Saturday of June. Local primary school children, aged 10-11, perform at Fountain Green, near Loanhead's high street.
The children are chosen by their schools for special roles. The most important roles are the Queen and the Herald. These roles change each year between Loanhead, Paradykes, and St Margaret's schools. The Queen and Herald attend local events and perform public duties for a year, like turning on the town's Christmas lights. They also take part in the Crowning Ceremony the following year. A book was published in 2003 to celebrate the festival's 100th Anniversary.
Past Queens and Heralds
- 2024 Gala Queen: Penny Simmonds, Herald: Finlay Paris
- 2023 Gala Queen: Amy McWilliams, Herald: Zak Robertson
- 2022: Gala Queen: Connie Gibb, Herald: Callum Roseburgh
- 2021 Gala Queen: Elizabeth Paris, Herald: Murray Simpson
- 2019: Gala Queen: Maja Zynda, Herald: Luke Simpson
Clubs and Community
The Loanhead Guitar Club meets on Wednesday evenings. It offers informal lessons and practice for guitar and other instruments for people over 18. The Loanhead Miners Club is a very important social place for the town. Many different events are held there.
Several community groups run various clubs, including five-a-side football and Girl Guides.
In the center of town, there's a small green square. It has a memorial to miners who died in the town's coal mines. There's also a large bronze sculpture called the Coghorn, created by Andrew Burton. A small cat used to be on top of the horn, but it was removed. A beautiful old house called Mavisbank House, built in 1723, is nearby. It was shown on the BBC TV show Restoration in 2004.
Schools and Healthcare
Loanhead has three primary schools: Paradykes, St. Margaret's (which is a Catholic school), and Loanhead Primary.
A new building for St. Margaret's and Loanhead Primary opened in March 2008. The two schools are on the same site but have separate areas. This allows for different types of education, but children can still mix for many activities.
Paradykes school includes a Family Learning Centre. It is part of the Loanhead Centre, which offers school care, a library, a medical center, early years' programs, and sports facilities. This center was opened in October 2018.
Getting Around Loanhead
A new park and ride facility opened in 2009. It's located near the A720 city by-pass. You can catch the Lothian Buses route 47 from here directly into Edinburgh City Centre. Lothian Buses also runs route 37 regularly into Loanhead from Edinburgh.
Twin Towns
Loanhead is twinned with Harnes in northern France. Harnes also has a strong history of mining, just like Loanhead. The town used to be twinned with Dalum in Denmark. Many exchange visits happened in the 1960s. However, that twinning ended when Dalum became part of the larger city of Odense.
Famous People from Loanhead
- Mary Alexander Park (1850–1920), an artist.
- George Forrest (1873–1932), a plant collector famous for his trips to the Far East. He lived in Loanhead for a significant part of his early life.
- Sir William MacTaggart (1903–1981), an artist. He became president of the Royal Scottish Academy.
- Charles Forte, Baron Forte (1908–2007), a famous hotel owner. He worked in an Italian cafe on the High Street when he first arrived in Scotland from Italy.
- Alex Young (1937–2017), a Scottish international footballer.
- Ishbel MacAskill (1941–2011), a Scottish Gaelic singer, who was born here.
- Gary Naysmith (born 1978), a Scottish International footballer and manager. He played for several big clubs and was named Scottish PFA Young Player of the Year in 1998.
- John Charles Boileau Grant (1886–1973), an anatomist. He wrote Grant's Atlas of Anatomy, a well-known book about the human body.
- Karl Miller (1931–2014), a British literary editor and writer. He helped start the London Review of Books.
Images for kids
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Bronze sculpture by Andrew Burton, known as the Coghorn, and dates from 1999
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Drone imagery of Straiton Mains retail park, alongside Straiton Road.
See also
In Spanish: Loanhead para niños
