Newington, Edinburgh
Encyclopedia
Newington is an area of Edinburgh
, Scotland
, about 15 to 20 minutes walk south of the city centre, the Royal Mile
and Princes Street
.
It is the easternmost district of the area formerly covered by the Burgh Muir
, gifted to the City by David I
in the 12th Century. It is bounded to the east by Dalkeith Rd, to the west by Causewayside, to the North by East and West Preston St, and to the south by East and West Mayfield.
Even after the 1586 consolidation of land rights over the Burgh Muir, the area remained largely rural. The Newington Estate was purchased sometime before 1672 by John Lauder, a Baillie
and Treasurer of Edinburgh, who thereafter took the landed designation "of Newington", until he became Sir John Lauder, 1st Baronet
of Fountainhall. This family later also became possessed, by marriage, of the estate of The Grange, Edinburgh
.
With overcrowding of the city centre being initially alleviated by migration to the north, to the New Town, via the North Bridge
erected in 1772. However, many people felt that the New Town, elegant as it was, did not offer privacy and intimacy, and so, when the South Bridge was built in 1788, parts of Newington became available for development and migration there commenced, generally into small villas. Many of these can still be seen. Much of the tenement building, however, was not to come for another 100 years.
This main road is highly commercial, containing various retail businesses and pubs, as well as an NHS dentist on Mayfield Road. These are mostly the ground floor of residential tenement
buildings.
Newington is heavily populated by students, many living in Pollock Halls of Residence
, purpose-built halls for the University of Edinburgh
. This popularity with students is largely due to the area's proximity to both of the University of Edinburgh's main campuses: George Square and King's Buildings.
Newington adjoins The Meadows
, Sciennes
, and Grange to the west, and Holyrood Park
and Prestonfield
to the east.
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...
, about 15 to 20 minutes walk south of the city centre, the Royal Mile
Royal Mile
The Royal Mile is a succession of streets which form the main thoroughfare of the Old Town of the city of Edinburgh in Scotland.As the name suggests, the Royal Mile is approximately one Scots mile long, and runs between two foci of history in Scotland, from Edinburgh Castle at the top of the Castle...
and Princes Street
Princes Street
Princes Street is one of the major thoroughfares in central Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, and its main shopping street. It is the southernmost street of Edinburgh's New Town, stretching around 1 mile from Lothian Road in the west to Leith Street in the east. The street is mostly closed to private...
.
It is the easternmost district of the area formerly covered by the Burgh Muir
Burgh Muir
The Burgh Muir was an area to the south of Edinburgh city centre upon which much of the southern portion of the city now rests, following expansions of the 18th and 19th centuries...
, gifted to the City by David I
David I of Scotland
David I or Dabíd mac Maíl Choluim was a 12th-century ruler who was Prince of the Cumbrians and later King of the Scots...
in the 12th Century. It is bounded to the east by Dalkeith Rd, to the west by Causewayside, to the North by East and West Preston St, and to the south by East and West Mayfield.
Even after the 1586 consolidation of land rights over the Burgh Muir, the area remained largely rural. The Newington Estate was purchased sometime before 1672 by John Lauder, a Baillie
Baillie
A baillie or bailie is a civic officer in the local government of Scotland. The position arose in the burghs, where baillies formerly held a post similar to that of an alderman or magistrate...
and Treasurer of Edinburgh, who thereafter took the landed designation "of Newington", until he became Sir John Lauder, 1st Baronet
Sir John Lauder, 1st Baronet
Sir John Lauder, 1st Baronet, of Newington and Fountainhall was a notable Scottish baillie and Treasurer of the City of Edinburgh, who was raised to a Nova Scotia baronetcy in 1688.-Antecedents:...
of Fountainhall. This family later also became possessed, by marriage, of the estate of The Grange, Edinburgh
The Grange, Edinburgh
The Grange is a suburb of Edinburgh, about one and a half miles south of the city centre, with Morningside and Greenhill to the west and Newington to the east. It is a conservation area characterised by large late Victorian stone-built villas, often with very large gardens...
.
With overcrowding of the city centre being initially alleviated by migration to the north, to the New Town, via the North Bridge
North Bridge, Edinburgh
North Bridge is a road bridge and street in Edinburgh linking the High Street with Princes Street, and the New Town with the Old. The current bridge was built between 1894–97. A previous North Bridge, built from 1763–72, stood until 1896....
erected in 1772. However, many people felt that the New Town, elegant as it was, did not offer privacy and intimacy, and so, when the South Bridge was built in 1788, parts of Newington became available for development and migration there commenced, generally into small villas. Many of these can still be seen. Much of the tenement building, however, was not to come for another 100 years.
This main road is highly commercial, containing various retail businesses and pubs, as well as an NHS dentist on Mayfield Road. These are mostly the ground floor of residential tenement
Tenement
A tenement is, in most English-speaking areas, a substandard multi-family dwelling, usually old, occupied by the poor.-History:Originally the term tenement referred to tenancy and therefore to any rented accommodation...
buildings.
Newington is heavily populated by students, many living in Pollock Halls of Residence
Pollock Halls of Residence
Pollock Halls of Residence are the main halls of residence for the University of Edinburgh, located at the foot of Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh, Scotland...
, purpose-built halls for the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
. This popularity with students is largely due to the area's proximity to both of the University of Edinburgh's main campuses: George Square and King's Buildings.
Newington adjoins The Meadows
The Meadows (park)
The Meadows is a large public park in Edinburgh, Scotland, just to the south of the city centre. Largely consisting of wide open grassland crossed by tree-lined paths, the park also has a children's playground, a croquet club, tennis courts and cricket pitches...
, Sciennes
Sciennes
Sciennes is an area of Edinburgh, Scotland, just outside the city centre to the south of the Meadows, with Newington to the east. Sciennes shares a Community Council with Marchmont, to the west....
, and Grange to the west, and Holyrood Park
Holyrood Park
Holyrood Park is a royal park in central Edinburgh, Scotland about a mile to the east of Edinburgh Castle. It has an array of hills, lochs, glens, ridges, basalt cliffs, and patches of whin providing a remarkably wild piece of highland landscape within its area...
and Prestonfield
Prestonfield
Prestonfield is a suburb in the south of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, which lies to the north of the A7 road. It is best known as being home to Prestonfield House, a renowned hotel.-External links:* *...
to the east.