Old Pentland Cemetery

Old Pentland Cemetery is a burial ground in Lasswade featuring numerous stone markers and monuments, including medieval cross-slabs situated near the former site of Pentland Parish Church. The grounds are enclosed by its original walls and contain an 18th-century watch house.

The burial ground was established in the early modern period and holds the remains of Covenanter movement supporters who died during the 1666 Battle of Rullion Green. This battle was a turning point in Scottish religious history.

The cemetery reflects Scottish burial traditions through carefully preserved gravestone inscriptions from the 18th and 19th centuries. The weathered stones tell stories of families and their ties to this region.

The cemetery is situated in open countryside and is best reached on foot, with its original walls and structures making it easy to locate. Visitors should prepare for exposed conditions, as the grounds are windswept and gravestones can be quite worn.

The Gibsone Mausoleum was designed in 1839 by renowned architect Thomas Hamilton and stands out for its refined craftsmanship among the cemetery's monuments. Archaeological surveys in 2009 revealed buried walls to its east, suggesting earlier structures on the site.

Location: Midlothian

Location: Lasswade

GPS coordinates: 55.88450,-3.18072

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:25