Penicuik Town Profile
Penicuik is a town in Midlothian, Scotland, located on the west bank of the River North Esk. It was originally developed as a planned village in 1770 by Sir James Clerk of Penicuik. The town’s name is derived from the ancient Brythonic language, meaning ‘Hill of the Cuckoo’. Penicuik has a rich history, including coal mining and paper manufacturing, with notable landmarks such as Valleyfield Mill and Penicuik House. The town is also known for its scenic views, including the Pentland Hills and the River North Esk. Penicuik is a small town with a population of approximately 16,150 as of the 2020 census. It is a popular tourist destination, offering a blend of rural charm and urban convenience.
L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue Town Profile
L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is a stunning village in the fruit growing area of Provence in the south of France. It lies about 25 minutes from Avignon, in the heart of Vaucluse, a region known for its colourful markets, amazing local food and wines and Medieval and Roman history.
From Fontaine de Vaucluse, where it finds its source, the Sorgue river meanders to the town of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, which was originally a fishing village built on the banks of the river. Today, referred to as the Venice of the Comtat, L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue still has many of the water wheels which once powered its textile industry.
Over the past thirty years, L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue has become the capital of antiques, with many antique dealers in the town. There are many galleries and shops, and a large provencal market every Thursday and Sunday.Each year, two major antiques fairs are held, one over the Easter weekend and the second on 15th of August. Over 800 exhibitors set up their wares throughout the town. The L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue Fairs are among the biggest in Europe.
The history of the twinning
The image shows a leaded stained glass panel which has been in the care of the Society for a number of years. It was originally on display in Penicuik Town Hall but was removed during internal building and renovation work. The panel was given to the Society to care for to ensure that it was preserved safely until it could be displayed again in the Town Hall if an opportunity arose in the future. This beautifully designed and made glass panel celebrates the tenth anniversary of the Twinning between Penicuik and L’Isle-sur-la- Sorgue. In recent months the panel has been viewed by representatives of the Twinning who are hoping to find a suitable place in the Town Hall for it to be displayed once again.
The foundations of the Twinning date back to 1971/72 when the modern language teachers of the High Schools of Penicuik and L’Isle-sur-la- Sorgue, Miss Caddis and Madam Donnier, organised exchange visits for their pupils – the French High School was C.E.S. Jean Bouin. By 1975, Penicuik was hoping to build on this four year old relationship and was looking for financial help to allow the town to formalise a Twinning arrangement. Midlothian already had other Twinnings which had been established for a number of years. Dalkeith’s association with the town of Jarnac in France began in the 1960s. As the reciprocal visits were so successful a Twin Town Partnership was agreed. The agreement pledging both communities to the development of a Twin Town link was signed in July 1978 during a visit of a delegation from the French town.
The formal signing took place in Penicuik Town Hall at a reception attended by the Twinning Committee, the Community Council, local councillors and representatives of local organisations. The agreement called for links to be extended from school visits to youth and adult exchanges. When Beeslack opened in 1984 a link was established with a new High School in L’Isle-sur-la- Sorgue. The picturesque town of L’Isle-sur-la- Sorgue is located in the south-east of France about thirty miles north of Marseilles and about ten miles east of Avignon in the Vaucluse Department. It takes its name from the River Sorgue – the many waterways which divide it into islands are a feature of the town. There are a number of waterwheels in the town which are still in working order. Like Penicuik, the town once had a history of papermaking. Nowadays L’Isle-sur-la- Sorgue is well-known as a centre for antique shops and antique markets as well as restaurants and cafes. Since the original Twinning Agreements in the 1970s many reciprocal visits have been organised through the years. A variety of local groups, including scouts, churches and choirs, have benefited from the Twinning arrangement. A walk around Penicuik has two reminders of the Twinning – the footpath which runs through Angle Park is named L’Isle-sur-la- Sorgue Way and there is also Vaucluse Place.
Penicuik has long had a French connection although not a happy one for the soldiers and sailors who were imprisoned during the Napoleonic Wars between 1811 and 1814. The prisoners were held in the papermills which had been purchased by the Government. The Monument to the 309 prisoners who died whilst imprisoned at Valleyfield commemorates this period of history. The Monument, designed by Thomas Hamilton, was funded mainly by Alexander Cowan, the proprietor of the Valleyfield papermills. It can be accessed via Valleyfield Road and Waterloo Bank.