Tour Scotland wee video of old photographs of Polton, a village located in Lasswade parish, Midlothian. Springfield, the second oldest mill in Scotland, opened in 1742 in Polton to service Edinburgh’s growing publishing trade. Springfield Mill supplied paper for the The Edinburgh Courant and The Caledonian Mercury, both popular newspapers of the day. The paper was initially made from rags. Esparto grass became the preferred raw material from the mid 19th and mid 20th century, eventually giving way in the final years of operation to straw and wood pulp. Springfield also pioneered social innovation. As early as 1794 it joined with four other local mills in introducing an employee/employer contribution scheme offering sick pay for mill workers. The Mill finally closed in 1967. Thomas de Quincey the English writer, lived in Polton during the latter part of his life, until his death in 1859. Charles Thomas Clough an eminent geologist, lived at St Ann's Mount, Polton with his family. Polton railway station opened on 15 April 1867 by the Esk Valley Railway. The station was situated on the east side of Polton Road. The moderately sized goods yard had three sidings, one stabling a locomotive when required due to there being no engine shed. There was also a private siding for Springfield Paper Mill to the west of the station. A second private siding served Polton Mill to the north and a third siding served Kevock Mill on the up side of the line. The station closed to passengers on 10 September 1951 and closed to goods traffic, along with the line, on 18 May 196

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