French Prisoners' Monument, Valleyfield, Penicuik is a Grade B listed building in the Midlothian local planning authority area, Scotland. First listed on 22 January 1971. Monument.
French Prisoners' Monument, Valleyfield, Penicuik
- WRENN ID
- south-chimney-spindle
- Grade
- B
- Local Planning Authority
- Midlothian
- Constituency
- Midlothian MP: Kirsty McNeill (Lab)
- Country
- Scotland
- Date first listed
- 22 January 1971
- Type
- Monument
- OS grid reference
- NT 237 599
- Coordinates
- 55.82665, -3.21828
- Source
- Historic Environment Scotland listing
Description
The French Prisoners' Monument in Valleyfield, Penicuik, was designed by Thomas Hamilton and completed in 1830. This high oblong monument is made of ashlar and resembles a Greek sarcophagus, set on a pedestal. The base course leads to a swept-in pedestal featuring advanced square inscribed panels on the north and south sides. It is topped with a cyma recta cornice and a deep band course, which supports the plinth of the sarcophagus. The sarcophagus itself has recessed panels on the north and south sides and is capped with a cyma recta cornice, adorned with acroteria and a pitched cap.
On the south elevation panel, there is an inscription that reads: "The mortal remains of 309 prisoners of war, who died in this neighbourhood, between 21st March 1811, and 26th March 1814, are interred near this spot. Grata quies patriae: sed et omnis terra sepulchrum. Certain inhabitants of this parish, desiring to remember that all men are brethren, caused this monument to be erected in the year 1830." The same inscription is translated into French on the north elevation panel.
Local climate
French Prisoners' Monument, Valleyfield, Penicuik sits in a wetter-than-average part of the UK, with an average of 1,000 mm of rain a year. This makes it wetter than 81% of listed buildings in the UK. Its exposure to wind-driven rain is greater than that of 52% of listed buildings.
It experiences an average of 55 freeze-thaw cycles a year, more than 95% of listed buildings. Of these, 35 follow at least 1 mm of rain in the preceding 48 hours. Average temperatures at this location have risen by 0.3°C per decade since 1991.
Averages for 1991–2020; temperature trend 1991–2025. Figures describe the wider area (a grid cell of roughly 10 km), not the individual site. Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information 2026.
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- Flood risk assessment
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