Vintage footage of Midlothian to be screened

Dalkeith Shows, c.1934
This photograph was taken by J.H.Wilson, Gorebridge. To the left of the SMT Garage there was the Carberry Arms; Leydon's Close & Hunt Close was the opening, on the right, between the buildings. These are now Crystalmount Sheltered Housing.

The shows visited Dalkeith ever year and set up their stalls in the High Street. This photograph was taken about 1934. To the left is the Scottish Motor Traction Co. Ltd garage which must have been newly built at the time.

The Fair was a major event. Workers had their holidays, and farm labourers came for the Hiring Fair, to strike a bargain with a farmer for a 6 month or yearly term. This was still an important form of recruitment in the 1920s. Fair day was also a time for people to meet and talk or drink together. Young men would take their sweethearts to the stalls, and games, buy them a lucky bag, a brooch or comb. A field called the Crofts was used, then cleared for a game of shinty or kite-flying. It later moved to the High Street East in the — Dalkeith Shows, c.1934 This photograph was taken by J.H.Wilson, Gorebridge. To the left of the SMT Garage there was the Carberry Arms; Leydon's Close & Hunt Close was the opening, on the right, between the buildings. These are now Crystalmount Sheltered Housing. The shows visited Dalkeith ever year and set up their stalls in the High Street. This photograph was taken about 1934. To the left is the Scottish Motor Traction Co. Ltd garage which must have been newly built at the time. The Fair was a major event. Workers had their holidays, and farm labourers came for the Hiring Fair, to strike a bargain with a farmer for a 6 month or yearly term. This was still an important form of recruitment in the 1920s. Fair day was also a time for people to meet and talk or drink together. Young men would take their sweethearts to the stalls, and games, buy them a lucky bag, a brooch or comb. A field called the Crofts was used, then cleared for a game of shinty or kite-flying. It later moved to the High Street East in the

The event is entitled “Midlothian Libraries present ‘A Kind of Seeing’”. The films featured will show Scotland’s industrial past and footage of 1930s Dalkeith and 1950s Penicuik. There will be live piano accompaniment by acclaimed silent film pianist and composer Jane Gardner.

Following the screening there will be a panel discussion with special guests including Sheena MacDougall of the National Library of Scotland Moving Image Archive. Complimentary refreshments will also be available.

Event curator Shona Thomson said: “I’m really excited to be able to bring these films back to Midlothian. The films of Dalkeith and Penicuik were originally made for those long-gone but not forgotten local cinemas that were once so popular in both towns. It’s a chance to re-live that magical cinema experience complete with live performance by Jane Gardner, one of Scotland’s leading silent film accompanists.”

This special one-off cinema experience follows the success of Midlothian Libraries’ new regular film clubs taking place across the area including Danderhall and Penicuik Libraries.

This event is part of the Scottish Library and Information Council’s Film Education Project and is supported by Creative Scotland and Film Hub Scotland.

Tickets to the event are free but booking is essential. Please contact Dalkeith Library to book tickets either by phone on 0131 663 2083, email [email protected] or in person from 2 White Hart Street, Dalkeith.