Jonathon's talk was presented via Zoom on 21 November 2024

A video recording of James Simpson's talk to the Esk Valley Trust on 3 October 2024 is now available to see.

The Esk valleys have a rich artistic heritage. In October 2021 Joanna Soden, a former Collections Curator at the Royal Scottish Academy of Art and Architecture, gave this fascinating introduction to some elements of that heritage.

This talk was presented to the Esk Valley Trust in June 2021. It lays out the background behind plans to manage the pollution of the river North Esk from the outflow of mine water at Junkies Adit in Dalkeith.

The American Civil War forced a change in materials used for paper-making in the Esk Valleys with dire consequences for the pollution of the river North Esk - and a notorious court case

Many stories here look back to past events, past people. Here Roger Crofts gives some thought to the future - what might be done in the Esk Valleys to improve them for future generations.

Simon Fairnie is the son of a fishing family whose ancestry can be traced back to the early 1700’s. In this recorded talk he introduces some of the stories of Fisherrow through the eyes of his own and his family's association with this place.

It could be considered that the origins of Ordnance Survey maps that we love and rely on, can be traced to Arniston House and the Dundas family.

With thanks to Inez Visser of Musselburgh, we are pleased to share the wonderful story of her grandfather, who lived in the 1950s in a former coachman's cottage on the Dalhousie Estate in the Cockpen area.

Countless letters to newspapers, initiatives, court cases, commissions and proposals for sewers have been put forward in that time.

Lasswade has three churchyards clustered close together. The oldest dates back to the 13th century.

This account is an extended version of the text on the display board at the site.