En route to Edinburgh, I found myself in need of a leg stretch. Upon consulting my map, the name ‘Middleton Old Town‘ leapt forth in an intriguing Gothic script. Without hesitation, I decided to explore.
The remains of this medieval hamlet straddle the Coldgate Water, with the stream and a sunken path dividing it into three distinct sections of humps and bumps. Facing each other across the path are two rows of small plots, each with enclosures and platforms, totalling at least six buildings. These remains primarily consist of earthen and stone embankments, with some exposed walls revealing stone construction bound by clay. The buildings are of a range of sizes and some possess internal partitions. Positioned south of the path is a well, with a millstone cover. To the north of this well lies a turf-covered mound, conjectured to be a kiln due to its distinctive keyhole shape. Additionally, traces of agricultural activity in the form of ridges and furrows are discernible nearby. Historical records indicate that the settlement was initially known as Midilest Middleton, with documentation dating back to 1242. The population appears to have experienced fluctuations over time, with eight taxpayers recorded in 1296, followed by eleven tenants in 1580; however, by 1759, the entire village had been leased to a single tenant. It is presumed that the village was abandoned in the late 1700s, leaving only scant remains by the turn of the century1Heritage Gateway. North Middleton medieval village. List Entry Number: 1018022 https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=1018022&resourceID=5.
- 1Heritage Gateway. North Middleton medieval village. List Entry Number: 1018022 https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=1018022&resourceID=5
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