Did you know Polton once boasted a thriving paper mill? Polton a village in Midlothian Scotland has a rich and surprisingly complex history. It’s more than just a pretty village nestled beside the North Esk River. For centuries Polton was linked to the powerful Ramsay family. In 1618 David Ramsay of Polton owned the land. A castle once stood here later replaced or incorporated into the grand Polton House. This magnificent house sadly met its end in 1977. Today an industrial estate occupies its former site.
But the story doesn’t end there. Polton was also home to Polton Farm. This farm wasn’t just any farm. It held a special place in the hearts of many. Stories abound of Willie Pringle the farmer who owned one of the area’s first Ferguson tractors. His farm became a hub of activity. Workers toiled in the fields. Italian prisoners of war even helped with the harvest. One humorous tale tells of the prisoners’ brief strike. They refused to work until a sergeant wielding a rifle arrived. That quickly solved the problem.
Polton Farm wasn’t solely agricultural. In 1910 the Royal Victoria Farm Colony opened. Part of the Royal Victoria Hospital this colony was set up to combat tuberculosis. The farm provided a therapeutic environment for patients. It was part of a larger effort by the City of Edinburgh. The farm’s legacy is intertwined with the history of Polton.
Later the farm gave way to housing and a nature reserve. Some buildings remain hinting at Polton’s past. Even today locals share memories of the Pringle family their farm and the Italian prisoners. These stories reveal Polton’s multifaceted past. It was once a center for papermaking a site of a grand house a working farm and a place of healing. Polton’s heritage remains alive in the hearts and stories of its people. So as you look around Polton imagine the hustle of the farm the clatter of the mill and the echoes of a bygone era.