Bonnyrigg is a town in Midlothian, Scotland, which is eight miles (13 kilometres) southeast of Edinburgh city centre, between the Rivers North and South Esk. The town had a population of 14,663 in the 2001 census which rose to 15,677 in the 2011 census, both figures based on the 2010 definition of the locality which, as well as Bonnyrigg and the adjacent settlement of Lasswade, includes Polton village, Poltonhall housing estate and modern development at Hopefield. The estimated population for 2018 is 18,120, the highest of any town in Midlothian.[2] Along with Lasswade, Bonnyrigg is a twin town with Saint-Cyr-l'École, France.
History
Bonnyrigg Toll in the early 1900s
Early maps of the locality show various versions of the village name. It first appears as a small hamlet on William Roy's map of c.1750 as Bonnebrig. From 1763, it is called Bannockrigg or Bannoc Rig. In 1817 the village is named Bonny Ridge, then Bonny Rigg in 1828, Bonnyrig in 1834, Bonny Rig in 1850 until, finally, the Ordnance Survey map of 1850-1852 standardises the name as Bonnyrigg.
In 1865, the villages of Bonnyrigg, Red Row, Polton Street, Hillhead and Broomieknowe[3] combined to form the burgh of Bonnyrigg, and then, in 1881, the village of Lasswade and part of Broomieknowe combined to form the burgh of Lasswade. In 1929 the two burghs joined together to form the burgh of Bonnyrigg & Lasswade. This burgh lasted for 45 years until it was abolished in 1974/75, when local government changes were introduced. Bonnyrigg was a mining village until the 1920s, while its Henry Widnell & Stewart carpet factory was demolished in 1994.[4] Twentieth century expansions included the Hopefield,[5] Poltonhall[6] and Waverley[7] neighbourhoods.
The town centre mostly dates from the 19th century, though buildings at the main crossroads were rebuilt in the 1960s.[8] In 2006, Bonnyrigg town centre benefitted from £1.5M of environmental improvements. Natural stone paving replaced the existing concrete paving slabs in areas across the town centre and new street lighting and furniture were installed.
Under the Midlothian Local Development Plan, the area's population is to rise considerably during the 2020s, with ongoing developments at Hopefield and Burnbrae[9] south-west of the town centre augmented by another substantial project in the fields at Dalhousie Mains to the south-east.[10][11] It is likely that the area's infrastructure will be unable to support the anticipated population increase.
Bonnyrigg lies on the B704 (High Street)/(Dundas Street) and the A6094 (Polton Street)/(Lothian Street) which cross at Bonnyrigg Toll.
The most frequent bus service is the Lothian Buses service 31 which goes from East Craigs in the west of Edinburgh via Princes Street, passing Bonnyrigg Toll approximately every 15 minutes, terminating alternately at Hopefield and Polton. The X31 service runs from Haymarket in Edinburgh to Rosewell via Bonnyrigg Toll and Hopefield at peak times. Lothian Buses service 46 from Musselburgh to Rosewell via the Royal Infirmary and Fort Kinnaird, and East Coast Buses services 140 & 141 from Musselburgh to Penicuik, also serve the town.
Bonnyrigg railway station served the town from 1855 until 1962 for passengers, freight services continuing until 1965 when the station closed completely.[12][13] The opening of the Borders Railway in September 2015 has re-connected Bonnyrigg to the national rail network via nearby Eskbank railway station.
Bonnyrigg is served by several churches of different denominations. The local Church of Scotland congregations are Bonnyrigg Parish Church in the town centre, plus Cockpen and Carrington Parish Church to the south of the town. Bonnyrigg Parish Church was originally built as Cockpen Free Church. The local Catholic church is Our Lady of Consolation on Hawthornden Avenue.
Sport
Bonnyrigg is home to the football club Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic, who play in Scottish League Two having gained promotion from the Lowland League in 2022. They were previously a junior club, winning the East Region Super League four times, and are a joint force with Bonnyrigg Rose F.C (Boys Club). Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic play their home games at New Dundas Park and also have their own social club, Bonnyrigg Rose Social Club. Bonnyrigg Rose Boys Club play their home games at the Staiside Park, Bonnyrigg. They have teams all ages, ranging from under-7s, to under-17s.
Bonnytown, the birthplace of the eponymous protagonist of John Galt's novel Lawrie Todd (1830) is based on Bonnyrigg. Galt identifies it as 'situated in one of the pleasantest holms of the sylvan Esk' and several chapters of the book are set in the village and surrounding parts of Midlothian.[14]
