Dalmeny
Encyclopedia
Dalmeny is a suburb
an village and civil parish
in Edinburgh
, Scotland
. It is located on the south side of the Firth of Forth
, 1 miles (1.6 km) east-southeast of South Queensferry
and 8.3. mi west-northwest of central Edinburgh; it falls under the local governance of the City of Edinburgh Council.
The name Dalmeny is either of Cumbric origin Din Meini "stony fort" cf. the earlier form Dunmanye (1562), most likely referring to Castle Craig above the town, or potentially of Scottish Gaelic origin, being now Dail Mheinnidh or Dail M'Eithne in the modern language. This may refer to an ancient ecclesiastical settlement, dedicated to an obscure (female) saint Eithne; the local parish church may have been dedicated to her, but is now dedicated to St Cuthbert. It is at least a thousand years old.
The present church building is recognised as the finest Norman
/Romanesque
parish church still in use in Scotland
, and one of the most complete in the United Kingdom
, lacking only its original western tower (rebuilt in a sympathetic style in 1937). The aisleless nave
, choir
and apse
survive almost complete from the 12th century. The refined sculptural detail of the chancel and apse arches is notable, as is a series of powerful beast-head corbels supporting the apse vault. These features are also extremely well preserved, with the original tool-marks still visible. Outside the elaborate south doorway, including the signs of the zodiac and an "agnus dei", enlivened with blind arcading above, is a rare 12th century sarcophagus carved with 13 doll-like figures (possibly Christ and the 12 apostles) in niches (now very weathered). The door is comparable to the north door at Dunfermline Abbey
The north (Rosebery) aisle dates from 1671 and was remodelled in the late 19th century. This has elaborate but "inaccurate" Neo-Norman details.
When viewed from a distance the church appears to rise on a mound above the local topography. It is speculated that it is built on a pre-Christian burial mound. This would mean that the graveyard predates the church. A second detached mound of smaller size lies on the east road out of the village.
Apart from its parish church, Dalmeny is best known for the stately home, Dalmeny House
. The south end of the Forth Bridge begins in Dalmeny, and this is the location for the railway station for South Queensferry
. The village, , consisting mainly of 20th century housing, has no buildings of historic interest except for its exceptionally fine church (where John Hill Burton
is interred).
The late 1990s have seen a large amount of new housing, mainly for Edinburgh commuters.
Dalmeny, along with Queensferry, Kirkliston
, Cramond
, Silverknowes, Newbridge, Gogar and Cammo, forms the Almond electoral ward.
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
an village and civil parish
Civil parishes in Scotland
In Scotland, parishes, as units of local government, were abolished by the Local Government Act 1929. The geographical area is sometimes still referred to, however, for statistical purposes....
in Edinburgh
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...
. It is located on the south side of the Firth of Forth
Firth of Forth
The Firth of Forth is the estuary or firth of Scotland's River Forth, where it flows into the North Sea, between Fife to the north, and West Lothian, the City of Edinburgh and East Lothian to the south...
, 1 miles (1.6 km) east-southeast of South Queensferry
South Queensferry
South Queensferry , also called Queensferry, is a former Royal Burgh in West Lothian now part of the City of Edinburgh, Scotland. It is located some ten miles to the north west of the city centre, on the shore of the Firth of Forth between the Forth Bridge and the Forth Road Bridge, approximately 8...
and 8.3. mi west-northwest of central Edinburgh; it falls under the local governance of the City of Edinburgh Council.
The name Dalmeny is either of Cumbric origin Din Meini "stony fort" cf. the earlier form Dunmanye (1562), most likely referring to Castle Craig above the town, or potentially of Scottish Gaelic origin, being now Dail Mheinnidh or Dail M'Eithne in the modern language. This may refer to an ancient ecclesiastical settlement, dedicated to an obscure (female) saint Eithne; the local parish church may have been dedicated to her, but is now dedicated to St Cuthbert. It is at least a thousand years old.
The present church building is recognised as the finest Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
/Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
parish church still in use in 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...
, and one of the most complete in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, lacking only its original western tower (rebuilt in a sympathetic style in 1937). The aisleless nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
, choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
and apse
Apse
In architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome...
survive almost complete from the 12th century. The refined sculptural detail of the chancel and apse arches is notable, as is a series of powerful beast-head corbels supporting the apse vault. These features are also extremely well preserved, with the original tool-marks still visible. Outside the elaborate south doorway, including the signs of the zodiac and an "agnus dei", enlivened with blind arcading above, is a rare 12th century sarcophagus carved with 13 doll-like figures (possibly Christ and the 12 apostles) in niches (now very weathered). The door is comparable to the north door at Dunfermline Abbey
Dunfermline Abbey
Dunfermline Abbey is as a Church of Scotland Parish Church located in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland. In 2002 the congregation had 806 members. The minister is the Reverend Alastair Jessamine...
The north (Rosebery) aisle dates from 1671 and was remodelled in the late 19th century. This has elaborate but "inaccurate" Neo-Norman details.
When viewed from a distance the church appears to rise on a mound above the local topography. It is speculated that it is built on a pre-Christian burial mound. This would mean that the graveyard predates the church. A second detached mound of smaller size lies on the east road out of the village.
Apart from its parish church, Dalmeny is best known for the stately home, Dalmeny House
Dalmeny House
Dalmeny House is a Gothic revival mansion located in an estate close to Dalmeny on the Firth of Forth, to the north-west of Edinburgh, Scotland. It was designed by William Wilkins, and completed in 1817.Dalmeny House is the home of the Earl and Countess of Rosebery. The house was the first in...
. The south end of the Forth Bridge begins in Dalmeny, and this is the location for the railway station for South Queensferry
Dalmeny railway station
Dalmeny railway station is a railway station serving Dalmeny at the east end of South Queensferry, about 10 km west of Edinburgh city centre. It is on the Fife Circle Line, located just south of the Forth Bridge....
. The village, , consisting mainly of 20th century housing, has no buildings of historic interest except for its exceptionally fine church (where John Hill Burton
John Hill Burton
John Hill Burton FRSE was a Scottish advocate, historian and economist. The author of "Life and Correspondence of David Hume", he was secretary of the Scottish Prison Board , and Historiographer Royal ....
is interred).
The late 1990s have seen a large amount of new housing, mainly for Edinburgh commuters.
Dalmeny, along with Queensferry, Kirkliston
Kirkliston
Kirkliston is a village and civil parish within the City of Edinburgh in Scotland. It sits on the historic route between Edinburgh and Queensferry, the gateway to Fife and the north. Today, it is bypassed by the A90...
, Cramond
Cramond
Cramond is a seaside village now part of suburban Edinburgh, Scotland, located in the north-west corner of the city at the mouth of the River Almond where it enters the Firth of Forth....
, Silverknowes, Newbridge, Gogar and Cammo, forms the Almond electoral ward.