Roslin, Midlothian

infobox UK place
official_name = Roslin
os_grid_reference = NT268634
latitude= 55.85822
longitude= -3.16942
map_type= United Kingdom Of Britain
country = Scotland

Roslin (sometimes spelt Rosslyn or Roslyn) is a village in Midlothian, Scotland, to the south of the Scottish capital city Edinburgh. It is situated approximately 12 miles (20 km) from Edinburgh Airport.

The Name

The name Roslin (c. 1240 "Roskelyn") probably derives from the P-Celtic words ros, a moor, and celyn, holly. An alternative derivation from Gaelic words describing the Glen's features: Ross meaning a rocky promontory and Lynn meaning a waterfall or pool is also often given [Plaque at Rosslyn Chapel] . The theory that it is a corruption of Roseline, a supposed early medieval meridian passing through Paris and Rosslyn Chapel [ [http://www.fiu.edu/~mizrachs/poseur3.html] ] is fanciful.

History

Legend has it the village was founded in 203 A.D. by Asterius, a Pict.

In 1303 Roslin was the site of a battle of the First War of Scottish Independence.

Roslin became important as the seat of the St. Clair family. In 1456 King James II granted it the status of a burgh. Coal mining has been a major occupation from the twelfth to the late twentieth centuries.

Places of Interest

The village sits on the west side of Roslin Glen, now a country park. Overlooking the Glen are
Rosslyn Chapel and Roslin Castle. The elaborately carved chapel has long been associated with the Knights Templars and the Grail legend, and featured in the best selling book The Da Vinci Code. The popularity of the book and the use of the chapel as a location in the subsequent film greatly increased the number of visitors to the village.

The castle, owned by the family of the Earl of Rosslyn since the 14th century, is in partial ruins. The inhabitable parts are let as holiday accommodation.

On the north-western side of the village is Roslin Institute, a biological reseach establishment, where in 1996 Dolly the sheep became the first animal to be cloned from an adult somatic cell.

Notable residents

*John Lawson Johnston the inventor of Bovril, was born in Roslin in 1839.
* David Gray , professional footballer for Manchester UnitedFact|date=August 2008.

Other Roslins

The Dunedin, New Zealand suburb of Roslyn was named after Roslin; as was Roslindale, Boston, Massachusetts as well as Roslin, Ontario, Canada.

ee also

*Clan Sinclair;
*Sinclair (surname);
*Rosslyn Chapel;
*Roslin Castle.

References

External links