East Craigs
Encyclopedia
East Craigs is a residential district of Edinburgh
located in the north-west of the city. It lies next to the green belt
, and prior to development was a working farm. Development of the area began in 1922 when East Craigs Farm was purchased by the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency
(SASA) as a centre for agricultural research. However, much of the land was made available to housing developers from the 1930s onwards. It neighbours West Craigs
(which is much less developed), Maybury
and Drumbrae
.
complex, and has recently been restored as part of the new residential development there. New developments of small family-sized houses and low-rise flats were built in the 1970s and 1980s. In the neighbouring district of Craigmount, developed before the Second World War there are numerous bungalows and spacious family houses. Craigmount High School
was built in 1970 to alleviate pressure on surrounding secondary schools. A new building opened at the beginning of the 2003 academic year, built on the old playing fields of the original school. East Craigs Primary School was built in 1979 to accommodate an influx of families moving into newly-built housing nearby.
The Bughtlin Burn
flows through the area. The names of many roads and developments in East Craigs reflect the area's farming past, e.g. Hayfield, Mearenside, Burnbrae.
Bughtlin Green and Bughtlin Loan were two of the earliest developments in East Craigs, built by local builder (and ex-Hibs owner) Hart. Almond Green was actually split into two areas. Maybury Telephone Exchange was also positioned opposite the entrance to Almond Green and served the area with 031-339 numbers, then later with 0131-317 and 339.
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...
located in the north-west of the city. It lies next to the green belt
Green belt
A green belt or greenbelt is a policy and land use designation used in land use planning to retain areas of largely undeveloped, wild, or agricultural land surrounding or neighbouring urban areas. Similar concepts are greenways or green wedges which have a linear character and may run through an...
, and prior to development was a working farm. Development of the area began in 1922 when East Craigs Farm was purchased by the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency
Scottish Agricultural Science Agency
The Scottish Agricultural Science Agency was an executive agency of the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department. In 2008 after a review of the public sector in Scotland the agency was 'reabsorbed' into the Scottish Government becoming a division of the Rural Affairs...
(SASA) as a centre for agricultural research. However, much of the land was made available to housing developers from the 1930s onwards. It neighbours West Craigs
West Craigs
West Craigs is the name given to two separate areas of Scotland.There is a suburb of Edinburgh, south-east of Edinburgh International Airport known as West Craigs....
(which is much less developed), Maybury
Maybury
Maybury is an area on the western edge of Edinburgh, Scotland, near South Gyle and Ingliston, named after the civil engineer Sir Henry Maybury ....
and Drumbrae
Drumbrae
Drumbrae is the name of a suburb of west Edinburgh, Scotland generally considered to be part of the neighbouring larger area of Corstorphine. This is a commuter settlement as many people who live in the area travel to the centre of town to go to their work....
.
Buildings and Area
The oldest building in East Craigs is East Craigs House (55°56′56"N 3°18′36"W), built in 1768 with a semi-octagonal stairwell added c.1800. It once formed part of the now-demolished SASAScottish Agricultural Science Agency
The Scottish Agricultural Science Agency was an executive agency of the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department. In 2008 after a review of the public sector in Scotland the agency was 'reabsorbed' into the Scottish Government becoming a division of the Rural Affairs...
complex, and has recently been restored as part of the new residential development there. New developments of small family-sized houses and low-rise flats were built in the 1970s and 1980s. In the neighbouring district of Craigmount, developed before the Second World War there are numerous bungalows and spacious family houses. Craigmount High School
Craigmount High School
For the former private school see Craigmount School.Craigmount High School is a non-denominational secondary school in Edinburgh, Scotland with 1400 pupils located in the west of Edinburgh, Scotland. It moved into new premises at the beginning of the 2003 academic year. The current headteacher is Dr...
was built in 1970 to alleviate pressure on surrounding secondary schools. A new building opened at the beginning of the 2003 academic year, built on the old playing fields of the original school. East Craigs Primary School was built in 1979 to accommodate an influx of families moving into newly-built housing nearby.
The Bughtlin Burn
Burn (stream)
In Scotland, North East England and some parts of Ireland and New Zealand, burn is a name for watercourses from large streams to small rivers. The term is also used in lands settled by the Scots and Northern English in other countries, notably in Otago, New Zealand, where much of the naming was...
flows through the area. The names of many roads and developments in East Craigs reflect the area's farming past, e.g. Hayfield, Mearenside, Burnbrae.
Bughtlin Green and Bughtlin Loan were two of the earliest developments in East Craigs, built by local builder (and ex-Hibs owner) Hart. Almond Green was actually split into two areas. Maybury Telephone Exchange was also positioned opposite the entrance to Almond Green and served the area with 031-339 numbers, then later with 0131-317 and 339.
External links
- East Craigs Primary School website.