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Knightsrig, Knightsridge, Knytfrig (Knytsrig)
Knightsridge House, 1831
Marching with Nettlehill on the west, but in the parish of
Livingston, is the farm of Knightsridge; spelt in 1606, Knightisrig. The
present house was erected in 1831 by Mr. Alexander Gray, Leith. The
former building stood fully 100 yards to the north-east. Evidently there
was a mansion here, for Sibbald in 1710 informs us it was inhabited by a
cadet of Douglas of Pumpherston. The name Knightsridge in all likelihood
originated from the fact that a ridge or portion of land here pertained
to the Knights, presumably of St. John, whose head-quarters before the
Reformation were at Torphichen. The ruined choir of the Preceptory, and
the three stones marking the limits of sanctuary protection, are all
that now remain to attest the former grandeur of this Order.
Two-storey classical cube on an ancient site up Dechmont Law, named
after the Knights Hospitallers of St John of Torphichen. Unusual
pedimented Ionic portico facing north and extraordinary massing of its
chimneys to the centre of its pavilion roof. Converted into flats and
extended, c.1995.
The present farm-house of Knightsridge was
built in 1831. The former building stood fully 100 yds NE. Evidently
there was a mansion here, Sibbald stating in 1710 that it was inhabited
by a cadet of Douglas of Pumpherston. The name, mentioned in 1606,
probably originated from a portion of land here having belonged to the
Knights of St John, at Torphichen.
• James Douglas of
Knightsridge & Pumpherston, witness to a charter in favour of James
Douglas, Earl of Morton, on 22 April 1543
• Douglas, William,
of Cliftonhall and Knightsrig,
21 Feb. 1600 died ... (Spelt in 1606 Knightsrig)
•
Douglas, James, of Knightsrig, and portioner of Ratho byres Will dated 18 May 1588
James Douglas, of Knightsridge, son of Robert Douglas of
Pumpherston, married Margaret Douglas, one of the four co-heiresses of
John Douglas of Rathobyres, with whom he is named in an Acquittance
dated 12 June 1576, and is then styled as brother to the deceased Mungo
Douglas of Pumperston. James died on 6 April 1584, and was succeeded by
his son, William Douglas of Knightsridge and Cliftonhall.
James Douglas of Pumpherston, the second son cf William Douglas of the
same, [before-mentioned].
On 21st November 1672 this laird had a
charter of the Kirklands of Levingstoun, called Canieland, in the shire
of Linlithgow, reserving the liferent thereof to his said father, and to
Isobel Euart, his mother, and it is worthy of remark that the old laird
could not at this date have been less than eighty years of age. James had
a disposition of the lands of Pumpherston, Knightsrig, and Canielands
from Walter, Lord Torphichen, 7th May 1679, in which he is styled James
Douglas of Knightsrig (Dechmont Law). He was Commissioner of Supply in
the year 1686, and Commissioner for the Militia in 1689, and he was
still living at I2th June 1696, when he gave an annual rent of £160 out
of his lands of Pumpherston and Knightsrig to Mr James Henry, sone of
Pittadro, W.S. He was deceased before 5th July 1697.
Mr.
Thomas Douglas had a grant of the Deanery of Restalrig, which became
vacant " by the simple dimission and resignation of Mr. James Lauder,
last Dean and possessour thairof," reserving a pension of £100 to Mr.
Nicholas Elphinston, 10th November 1573. Douglas was minister of
Strabrock, and was translated in the following year to the united
parishes of Dalkeith, Laswade, and Glencorse. He derived little
advantage from such preferment, having died in June 1575. In his latter
will, dated 20th May 1575, Mr. Thomas Dowglas, Dean of Restalrig,
constituted " his spouse, Marion Hammiltoun, his onlie executrix, with
the oversicht of James Douglas, his son, James Douglas of
Knightisrig, and James Hammiltoun of Kincavell ; and maist
hamelie desiris and requeistis my Maister my Lord Regentis Grace to be
ovirsman to help my wyf and bairnis as his Grace thinkis gude. Item, I
leif to my said spous the rowme [place] of Clappertoun and Myln, &c.,'
provyding alwyis gif my wyf can nocht leve chaist that scho marie ane
godlie man and trew servand to our Kingis Majestic and my Lord Regentis
grace, and that he quhome scho sail marie haif als sufficient ane leving
as scho hes, and that scho marie nocht without the aviso and counsall of
my Maister my Lord Regentis grace, Archibald Douglas of Kilspindie, and
George Douglas of Parkend, Capitane of the Castell of Edinburgh."
His loyalty and attachment as a Douglas to the Regent Earl of Morton is
sufficiently apparent.
Amongst those implicated in the
murder of David
Riccio/Rizzio, secretary to Mary, Queen of Scots were: James Erle of
Mortoun, William Douglas of Quittinghame, Mr. Archibald Douglas his
Brother, George Douglas, callit the postulat Sone naturale to Archibald
Erle of Argus, Mr. Thomas Douglas of Clappertoun, James Douglas
of Knytisrig, Jobne Douglas in the Scbiell, Hector Douglas in
Spittlebauch, James Douglas thair. In his account of the affair, Patrick
Ruthven, 3rd Lord Ruthven, himself one of the conspirators, mentions
William Douglas of Loch Leven.
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