CALDER  , an

ancient district of Midlothian, Scotland . It has been divided into the parishes of Mid-Calder (pop. in root 3132) and West- Calder (pop . 8092), East-Calder belonging to the parish of Kirknewton (pop . 3221) . The whole locality owes much of its commercial importance and prosperity to the enormous- development of the mineral oil industry . Coal-mining is also extensively pursued, sandstone and limestone are worked, and paper. mills flourish . Mid-Calder, a town on the Almond (pop . 703), has an ancient church, and John Spottiswood (1510-1585), the Scottish reformer, was for many years minister . His sons—John, archbishop of St Andrews, and James (1567-1645), bishop of Clogher—were both born at Mid-Calder . West-Calder is situated on Breich Water, an affluent of the Almond, 151 m . S.W. of Edinburgh by the Caledonian railway, and is the chief centre of the district . Pop .

(1901) 2652 . At Addiewell, about 11 m . S.W., the manufacture of

ammonia, naphtha, paraffin oil and candles is carried on, the village practically dating from 1866, and having in 1901 a population cif 1591 . The Highland and Agricultural Society have an experimental farm at Pumpherston (pop . 1462) . The district contains several tumuli, old ruined castles and a Roman camp in fair preservation .