Craigleith, Edinburgh
Encyclopedia
Craigleith is a district of north Edinburgh
, Scotland
. Its name comes from the Scottish Gaelic Creag liath meaning 'grey rock' which was obtained from Craigleith quarry. Much of the Craigleith sandstone
was used to build the old and new town houses in Edinburgh as well as many famous buildings including Edinburgh Castle
and Holyrood Palace
. Because of its particular hardness, Craigleith sandstone was also favored in the making of cut glass
during the Victorian era
.
The Craigleith area extends from Ravelston Dykes, to Crewe Toll
and the Ferry Road
, and Comely Bank
on the east. Queensferry Road and Craigleith Road both pass through here.
The area is generally middle class, across the entire range, and may sometimes be known as "Bungalow Land". There is a disproportionate number of private schools near here, notably Stewart's Melville College
and The Mary Erskine School
. Broughton High School and a campus of Napier University are also here. Craigleith Retail Park was built upon the infilled Craigleith Quarry in 1995 and is situated at the junction of Queensferry Road and Craigleith Road. The Royal Victoria Hospital
is off Craigleith Road while the Western General Hospital
and the Lothian and Borders Police
HQ in Fettes Avenue are close neighbours.
The quarry at Craigleith was the source of much of the stone that was used in the construction of Edinburgh New Town
.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Its name comes from the Scottish Gaelic Creag liath meaning 'grey rock' which was obtained from Craigleith quarry. Much of the Craigleith sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
was used to build the old and new town houses in Edinburgh as well as many famous buildings including Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is a fortress which dominates the skyline of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, from its position atop the volcanic Castle Rock. Human habitation of the site is dated back as far as the 9th century BC, although the nature of early settlement is unclear...
and Holyrood Palace
Holyrood Palace
The Palace of Holyroodhouse, commonly referred to as Holyrood Palace, is the official residence of the monarch in Scotland. The palace stands at the bottom of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, at the opposite end to Edinburgh Castle...
. Because of its particular hardness, Craigleith sandstone was also favored in the making of cut glass
Lead glass
Lead glass is a variety of glass in which lead replaces the calcium content of a typical potash glass. Lead glass contains typically 18–40 weight% lead oxide , while modern lead crystal, historically also known as flint glass due to the original silica source, contains a minimum of 24% PbO...
during the Victorian era
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
.
The Craigleith area extends from Ravelston Dykes, to Crewe Toll
Crewe Toll
Crewe Toll is an area in Edinburgh, the Scottish capital.The Western General Hospital is in the vicinity. Another hospital, the Northern General, was also in the area but this is now the site of a Morrisons supermarket. Edinburgh's Telford College was at Crewe Toll, but has moved to a site at...
and the Ferry Road
Ferry Road
Ferry Road is one of the major roads of Edinburgh, Scotland, and is often referred to as an area in its own right. It runs from the eastern end of Davidson's Mains village in the west, to Leith in the east, passing through Goldenacre on the way....
, and Comely Bank
Comely Bank
Comely Bank is an area of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, United Kingdom. It is south-west of Royal Botanic Garden. It is situated between Stockbridge and Craigleith.-External links:...
on the east. Queensferry Road and Craigleith Road both pass through here.
The area is generally middle class, across the entire range, and may sometimes be known as "Bungalow Land". There is a disproportionate number of private schools near here, notably Stewart's Melville College
Stewart's Melville College
Stewart's Melville College is an all boys boarding and day private school situated in the heart of Edinburgh, Scotland...
and The Mary Erskine School
The Mary Erskine School
The Mary Erskine School, popularly known simply as "Mary Erskine's" or "MES" for short, paired with the all boys school Stewart's Melville College is an all girls independent secondary school in Edinburgh, Scotland...
. Broughton High School and a campus of Napier University are also here. Craigleith Retail Park was built upon the infilled Craigleith Quarry in 1995 and is situated at the junction of Queensferry Road and Craigleith Road. The Royal Victoria Hospital
Royal Victoria Hospital, Edinburgh
The Royal Victoria Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland, is a purpose-built 247 bed hospital situated in the north-west of Edinburgh on Craigleith Road near the Western General Hospital. It is the main geriatric assessment and rehabilitation hospital for the north of Edinburgh and comprises a Medical...
is off Craigleith Road while the Western General Hospital
Western General Hospital
The Western General Hospital , at Crewe Road, Edinburgh, Scotland is part of NHS Lothian, a Heath Board which provides a comprehensive range of adult and paediatric care to the people of Edinburgh, the Lothians and beyond.It is one of the main teaching hospitals affiliated to the University of...
and the Lothian and Borders Police
Lothian and Borders Police
Lothian and Borders Police is the territorial police force for the Scottish council areas of the City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian, Scottish Borders and West Lothian...
HQ in Fettes Avenue are close neighbours.
The quarry at Craigleith was the source of much of the stone that was used in the construction of Edinburgh New Town
New Town, Edinburgh
The New Town is a central area of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. It is often considered to be a masterpiece of city planning, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site...
.