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Situated on the River Esk, Dalkeith is a town in Midlothian, Scotland.

Dalkeith is six miles southeast of Edinburgh, making it part of the Edinburgh metropolitan region. Other nearby towns and villages include Eskbank to the west, Bonnyrigg to the south-west, and Newbattle to the south.

The area where Dalkeith is located was inhabited as far back as prehistoric times. Archaeological evidence of early settlements has been found, and the Romans had a temporary camp there during their occupation.

The modern town grew around a 12th-century castle, now known as Dalkeith Palace. Initially the property of the Clan Graham, Lords of Dalkeith, the castle passed to the Clan Douglas in 1341. Later, it was the seat of the Duke of Buccleuch from 1642 to 1914 and is currently owned by the Buccleuch Living Heritage Trust. The present palace was constructed from 1701 to 1711 on the site of the medieval castle.

The town was granted the status of a burgh of barony in 1401 and a burgh of regality in 1540. In 1650, Oliver Cromwell's army came to Dalkeith. General George Monck, his officer, was Commander in Scotland, and the country's government was based at Dalkeith Castle.

Historically, Dalkeith was an important market town. It was known for its large grain market, the largest in Scotland in the 19th century. Dalkeith also played a role in Scotland's coal mining industry, and the construction of the railway in 1831 boosted its industrial growth.

Today, Dalkeith is an administrative and educational center. Many of its residents commute to Edinburgh for work.

As a historic town, Dalkeith is home to several historically and architecturally significant structures. Dalkeith Palace is a prominent landmark, as discussed above. Other notable buildings include Saint Nicholas Buccleuch Church, which dates back to the 15th century, and the Corn Exchange, built in 1854. The Tolbooth and the Watch Tower are also popular landmarks.

Dalkeith High School has its origins in 1582 as Dalkeith Grammar School. However, the Grammar School moved from High Street to a location at King's Park School, and Dalkeith High was integrated into the Dalkeith Schools Community Campus along with Saint David's Roman Catholic High School and Saltersgate School in 2003, making it the first such joint secondary school campus in Scotland.

Saint Nicholas Buccleuch Parish Church, a congregation of the Church of Scotland, is placed on a site that has been a place of Christian worship since the 11th century. The current building dates from the early 15th century, although it has been renovated over the years.

Saint Mary's Church, built in 1843, is at the entrance to Dalkeith Country Park. It is part of the Diocese of Edinburgh in the Scottish Episcopal Church.

Dalkeith is home to Dalkeith Thistle Football Club, based at King's Park. Formed in 1892, the Club currently plays in the East of Scotland Football League. However, it was in the Scottish Junior Football Association for most of its history. The Dalkeith Rugby Football Club plays in the Scottish Rugby Union East League.

This portion of our directory focuses on the town of Dalkeith, Scotland. Government agencies, businesses, industries, schools, places of worship, museums, libraries, art galleries, entertainment venues, organisations, sports or recreational facilities or teams, activities, and events in Dalkeith are appropriate resources for this category.

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