ARPINO Mario’s photos Pathead and surrounding areas

Lockdown photos 2020-2021

Mario has spent many hours walking around his local area during the madness
of the 2020-21 lockdown. He has captured the area well I think –
well done Mario.

Mario is the 2nd great-grandson of Augusto Quilietti and Francesca Arpino. His grandfather was Augusto and his mother is Jasmine Arpino.

A snowy photograph of Ford House. Mario loves this house and describes it as his dream house. His grandmother Margaret Gillespie Arpino or Greta as she was affectionately called used to work there and help out with the domestic duties. The owners at that time were Mary and Frank Tindel.
A bit about Ford House. It is located in the Parish of Crichton near Pathead, Midlothian, Scotland
The house was built as a country residence for the Frasers of Lovat, the first owner being an Edinburgh lawyer. It takes its inspiration from French architecture of the time. Ownership of Ford House was taken from the family due to their connections with the Jacobites. Bonnie Prince Charlie is alleged to have stayed here on his way South during the ’45. The house and its land was merged into surrounding estates and suffered from chronic neglect in the last century. Fortunately, it was never modernised and had many original features remaining when it was bought by Frank and Mary Tindall who restored the house, circa 1960. The colour of the house has been put back to its original scheme, which was popular on houses of this type. The house has many interesting features. The roof of the stair tower had been a large-scale dovecote, with nesting boxes for a hundred pairs of birds, they now nest outside. The 17th century panelling in the drawing room is said to have influenced Sir William Bruce’s work at Holyrood. The walled garden used to contain bee-boles and many fruit trees, but pre-restoration it became so overgrown, only an apple tree and yew tree survive. The Tindall’s redesigned the flower garden into terraces and lawns and a walled fruit and vegetable garden now lies to the side of the house. Ford House is an L-plan tower house which was built in 1680, the date being inscribed on the lintel of a window on the north gable of the wing. It may have been developed from an earlier building.

Patthead in Midlothian was home to Augusto Quilietti and his wife Francesca Arpino. The village is located just 4 miles east of Dalkieth and 11 miles south of Edinburgh itself. It lies above the east bank of the River Tyne and is 500 feet above sea level.

The village has a post office, pub, bakery, cafe. There is also a park on the west side of the village which has a full-size football pitch, pavilion building and children’s play area. St. Mary’s RC Parish Church is found in the village.

To the north of the village is Preston Hall, an 18th century country house designed by William Adam for the Duchess of Gordon, and modified by Robert Mitchell.
Nearby is Oxenfoord Castle, a 16th century tower house belonging to the Dalrymple Earl of Stair, which was extended in the Scottish baronial style by Robert Adam, and further modified by William Burn.
To the west of Pathhead is Vogrie Country Park, centred on the 19th century Vogrie House, by architect Andrew Heiton.
On the north west entrance to the village, there is a magnificent stone bridge, completed in 1831. This bridge is crossed by the A68, but it is only when below the bridge that its true beauty can be appreciated. It has five arches, each of which is 80 feet high and 50 feet in span
Two miles south west of the village lies Crichton Castle. Historic Scotland says “Crichton Castle stands tucked away out of sight, on a terrace overlooking the River Tyne in Midlothian. It was a noble residence for some 200 years, from the late 14th century through to the close of the 16th century. It was seldom the stage for significant events. However, its connections with two influential families â€“ the Crichtons and the Hepburn Earls of Bothwell associate the place with some of the most colourful chapters in Scottish history. The castle was built as a home of the Crichtons. With their fall from grace in 1484, the castle passed into the hands of the Hepburns of Hailes, Earls of Bothwell.

5 Responses to “ARPINO Mario’s photos Pathead and surrounding areas”

fiona quilietti says:

May 11, 2011 at 2:44 am

im now living near pathead out in the countryside and had no idea we had family from that area ,do you know if there are still any there or in the sorounding areas x
Alastair Graham says:

July 17, 2011 at 6:19 pm

Hi Fiona, There still part of the Arpino family in the village if you have a look at Mary Arpino you will find the connections to the Slaters,Wahlbergs (the bakers in the village) also the Greens & Graham’s

I know stay back in Pathhead myself after 16years in Gorgie Edinburgh, I stay on the Crichton Rd 4 doors from the school !!

Kind Regards
Ali
jasmine arpino says:

January 25, 2012 at 7:59 am

Hi fiona iam augusto arpinos daughter my son lives in pathhead he has been there for years i live in edinburgh you are welcome to contact me jasmine arpino
Charlie Skellett (Taz) says:

March 26, 2015 at 1:02 pm

Looking to get in touch with ali graham. If you could pass on my email address to him thanks.

Charlie
Jim Forson says:

November 16, 2015 at 1:22 pm

Hi – any information on Pathhead/Ford Valley golf course which was a 9 hole course under the famous Telford viaduct. Looking for anecdotes, old photos etc.