Shandon, Edinburgh
Encyclopedia
Shandon is an area of Edinburgh
within North Merchiston
approximately three miles west of the centre of Edinburgh. It is bounded by Slateford Road to the north, Harrison Road to the east, the Union Canal to the south and the Glasgow-Edinburgh (via Slateford) and Suburban rail
lines to the west.
.
Robert Napier
(1791–1876) the famous marine engineer built the mansion of West Shandon at Shandon, Dumbartonshire in 1851 situated on the east shore of the Gareloch. The present Napier family is represented by Ian Patrick Robert Napier M.C. of Milton House, Bowling, Dumbartonshire. The family business
is shipbuilding and ship-owning. There does not seem to be a connection with the Napier family of Merchiston on whose ground the Edinburgh streets were constructed and a mistake could have occurred here in tracing the history of the wrong "Napier" in selecting names for these streets.
The conservation area is bound to the northwest by the Glasgow-Edinburgh rail line, to the northeast by Ashley Terrace and Shandon Place, to the southeast by the rear boundary walls of the rear gardens of Cowan Road and to the southwest by the Edinburgh suburban railway line.
The conservation area has two distinct areas which are separated by a former Caledonian railway
line. To the south, the ‘Shaftesbury Park’ colonies which were built in 1883-1904 and to the north, there is the smaller Shandon housing development which was built in 1880-1883.
families.
In 1883, a 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) site to the south of the former Caledonian Railway was bought by the Edinburgh Co-Operative Building Company (ECBC). The site was formerly in the possession of George Watson’s Hospital and was known as Shaftesbury Park. Between 1883 and 1904, the ECBC built 330 houses at Shaftesbury Park. Similarly, as in Shandon, the type of social class
that the Shaftesbury Park housing was aimed at lower middle class families. In the mid-19th century, Scottish housing reformers sought an alternative to the traditional tenement and there was a deliberate movement to find a working-class
housing pattern which broke with the tradition and gave every family a front door and its own garden. The development of artisan housing in Scotland was pioneered in Edinburgh with a scheme by Patrick Wilson for the Pilrig Model Dwelling Company. This was the first colony-type development in Edinburgh. In 1857, the Rosebank Cottages were developed by James Gowans, and were modelled from the Pilrig System.
The form and layout of the Rosebank Cottages provided a prototype for a number of Colony developments by the Edinburgh Co-operative
Building Company. The company was formed in April 1861 by a group of Edinburgh building workers with its principal aim being to improve living standards
amongst the working class
es. To achieve this, the ECBC provided affordable housing
to encourage home ownership
through access to mortgage finance. At Shaftesbury Park, the social emphasis shifted away from housing predominantly artisans, to lower middle classes.
opened special temporary stations nearby to cater for the large crowds who flocked to see the exhibition throughout that summer. The Caley station was situated midway between Merchiston and Slateford, the North British station on the adjacent suburban railway which the NB had acquired in 1885 The Caley's exhibition station was served by a half-hourly service of trains throughout the day, the first leaving Princes Street
at 10:15 am. Return services left the exhibition station on the hour and the half-hour, the last train of the day arriving back at Princes Street at 11 pm. Passengers travelling from stations on the Leith branch could purchase special tickets which included the price of admission to the exhibition. The station was on a short purpose-built branch in effect, the use of which was strictly controlled by tablet working. When the exhibition closed after the summer the station was dismantled and the four block instruments sold off. While the original idea behind the International Industrial Exhibition had been to illustrate progress in electrical science, by the time it opened its scope had been enlarged to include mechanical science and even fine art
s. The main building faced the Union Canal and was 700 ft (213.4 m) and 250 ft (76.2 m), being divided into wings comprising nine courts each. In between was a concert hall seating 3,000 people complete with orchestra and organ. To the east across the suburban railway - over which a pedestrian bridge was erected - was the machinery hall with a locomotive annexe. The buildings cost £50,000 in all and were electrically lit. The exhibition was opened by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh whose procession travelled west along Dalry Road and up Ardmillan Terrace.
As The Scotsman
reported: At Ardmillan Terrace, where the Exhibition first bursts into view, the scene was indeed a gay one. The roadway at each side from Harrison Park to the Exhibition was lined with Venetian masts, from which were suspended bannerets and shields. At intervals bright-coloured rows of streamers were stretched across the road. The numerous flags on the Exhibition buildings and others on private houses in the vicinity fluttered gaily in the breeze, and the brilliant sunshine added greatly to the effectiveness of a very pretty scene.
While the exhibition lasted the Union Canal enjoyed an Indian summer; electrically powered boats conveyed visitors from the site to Slateford and back for a fare of one halfpenny.
) is a large and prominent church at the start of Slateford Road. It is in the Early English style and noted as "large and very perfect" by Gifford et al. In 1879 the triangular site, where the present church now stands, was selected and purchased to replace the earlier Iron Church which was serving the districts of Dalry, Tynecastle and North Merchiston.
The architect was Mr John Honeyman
, R.S.A., of Glasgow and on Sunday 2 December 1883 St Michaels Church was opened for public worship.
More information on the Kirk can be found here.
in the area.
The Friends of Harrison Park work in partnership with Edinburgh Council to oversee the management, maintenance and development of this green space
. Recent projects, including upgrading of paths, interpretive signage, naturalised bulb planting, have all contributed to making Harrison Park a delightful, accessible and well used community green space.
The eastern part of Harrison Park first came under control of Edinburgh Corporation in 1886 with a 15 year feu of 13.92 acres (56,332.3 m²) from George Watson’s Hospital. An additional 1.375 acres (5,564.4 m²) were feued in 1902 for a bowling green
and playground. The park is split in two by Harrison road, with a playground and football pitches on the east side.
The western portion was purchased for £10,000 from the Merchant Company Education Board on 15 May 1930.
More information about the Park can be found on the website of the Friends of Harrison Park
bounds Shandon to the South and the Edinburgh Canal Society
main base is Ashley Terrace Boathouse at Lockhart Bridge.
The Caledonian Brewery
, one of Edinburgh's oldest surviving breweries, founded in 1869, lies on Slateford Road to the north of the area.
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...
within North Merchiston
Merchiston
Merchiston is a prosperous, mainly residential area in the south-west of Edinburgh, Scotland. The housing is primarily a mixture of large, late Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian villas – several of the latter by Edward Calvert – together with a smaller number of Victorian tenements and...
approximately three miles west of the centre of Edinburgh. It is bounded by Slateford Road to the north, Harrison Road to the east, the Union Canal to the south and the Glasgow-Edinburgh (via Slateford) and Suburban rail
Regional rail
Commuter rail, also called suburban rail, is a passenger rail transport service that primarily operates between a city center, and the middle to outer suburbs beyond 15km and commuter towns or other locations that draw large numbers of commuters—people who travel on a daily basis...
lines to the west.
Etymology
Harris states that the name is presumably related to Shandon on the Gareloch, near HelensburghHelensburgh
Helensburgh is a town in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It lies on the north shore of the Firth of Clyde and the eastern shore of the entrance to the Gareloch....
.
Robert Napier
Robert Napier
Robert Napier may refer to:* Robert Napier , Scottish marine engineer* Sir Robert Napier , English judge, Member of Parliament, Chief Baron of the Exchequer in Ireland...
(1791–1876) the famous marine engineer built the mansion of West Shandon at Shandon, Dumbartonshire in 1851 situated on the east shore of the Gareloch. The present Napier family is represented by Ian Patrick Robert Napier M.C. of Milton House, Bowling, Dumbartonshire. The family business
Family business
A family business is a business in which one or more members of one or more families have a significant ownership interest and significant commitments toward the business’ overall well-being....
is shipbuilding and ship-owning. There does not seem to be a connection with the Napier family of Merchiston on whose ground the Edinburgh streets were constructed and a mistake could have occurred here in tracing the history of the wrong "Napier" in selecting names for these streets.
Shandon Conservation Area
Shandon contains the Shandon Conservation Area, which was originally designated on 29 March 1996.The conservation area is bound to the northwest by the Glasgow-Edinburgh rail line, to the northeast by Ashley Terrace and Shandon Place, to the southeast by the rear boundary walls of the rear gardens of Cowan Road and to the southwest by the Edinburgh suburban railway line.
The conservation area has two distinct areas which are separated by a former Caledonian railway
Caledonian Railway
The Caledonian Railway was a major Scottish railway company. It was formed in the early 19th century and it was absorbed almost a century later into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, in the 1923 railway grouping, by means of the Railways Act 1921...
line. To the south, the ‘Shaftesbury Park’ colonies which were built in 1883-1904 and to the north, there is the smaller Shandon housing development which was built in 1880-1883.
Origins
Historical maps show that the land now covered by the Shandon Conservation Area, prior to development was open farmland. In 1880-1883, Shandon Crescent/Place/Road/Terrace/Street developed as an area comprising larger terraced dwellings and a small number of large detached villas. This housing development was built to cater for lower middle classLower middle class
In developed nations across the world, the lower middle class is a sub-division of the greater middle class. Universally the term refers to the group of middle class households or individuals who have not attained the status of the upper middle class associated with the higher realms of the middle...
families.
In 1883, a 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) site to the south of the former Caledonian Railway was bought by the Edinburgh Co-Operative Building Company (ECBC). The site was formerly in the possession of George Watson’s Hospital and was known as Shaftesbury Park. Between 1883 and 1904, the ECBC built 330 houses at Shaftesbury Park. Similarly, as in Shandon, the type of social class
Social class
Social classes are economic or cultural arrangements of groups in society. Class is an essential object of analysis for sociologists, political scientists, economists, anthropologists and social historians. In the social sciences, social class is often discussed in terms of 'social stratification'...
that the Shaftesbury Park housing was aimed at lower middle class families. In the mid-19th century, Scottish housing reformers sought an alternative to the traditional tenement and there was a deliberate movement to find a working-class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
housing pattern which broke with the tradition and gave every family a front door and its own garden. The development of artisan housing in Scotland was pioneered in Edinburgh with a scheme by Patrick Wilson for the Pilrig Model Dwelling Company. This was the first colony-type development in Edinburgh. In 1857, the Rosebank Cottages were developed by James Gowans, and were modelled from the Pilrig System.
The form and layout of the Rosebank Cottages provided a prototype for a number of Colony developments by the Edinburgh Co-operative
Building Company. The company was formed in April 1861 by a group of Edinburgh building workers with its principal aim being to improve living standards
Standard of living
Standard of living is generally measured by standards such as real income per person and poverty rate. Other measures such as access and quality of health care, income growth inequality and educational standards are also used. Examples are access to certain goods , or measures of health such as...
amongst the working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
es. To achieve this, the ECBC provided affordable housing
Affordable housing
Affordable housing is a term used to describe dwelling units whose total housing costs are deemed "affordable" to those that have a median income. Although the term is often applied to rental housing that is within the financial means of those in the lower income ranges of a geographical area, the...
to encourage home ownership
Owner-occupier
An owner-occupier is a person who lives in and owns the same home. It is a type of housing tenure. The home of the owner-occupier may be, for example, a house, apartment, condominium, or a housing cooperative...
through access to mortgage finance. At Shaftesbury Park, the social emphasis shifted away from housing predominantly artisans, to lower middle classes.
The Electrical Exhibition of 1890 at Shandon
It was primarily to demonstrate progress in electrical science that a huge exhibition was opened on 1 May 1890 at Slateford on land lying between the Caledonian main line and the Union Canal. Both the Caley and the North BritishNorth British
North British is an adjective used as an alternative to "Scottish", and sometimes includes the northern regions of England, which emphasises Britishness -- see North Britain. It may refer to:* North British Railway* North British Locomotive Company...
opened special temporary stations nearby to cater for the large crowds who flocked to see the exhibition throughout that summer. The Caley station was situated midway between Merchiston and Slateford, the North British station on the adjacent suburban railway which the NB had acquired in 1885 The Caley's exhibition station was served by a half-hourly service of trains throughout the day, the first leaving 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...
at 10:15 am. Return services left the exhibition station on the hour and the half-hour, the last train of the day arriving back at Princes Street at 11 pm. Passengers travelling from stations on the Leith branch could purchase special tickets which included the price of admission to the exhibition. The station was on a short purpose-built branch in effect, the use of which was strictly controlled by tablet working. When the exhibition closed after the summer the station was dismantled and the four block instruments sold off. While the original idea behind the International Industrial Exhibition had been to illustrate progress in electrical science, by the time it opened its scope had been enlarged to include mechanical science and even fine art
Fine art
Fine art or the fine arts encompass art forms developed primarily for aesthetics and/or concept rather than practical application. Art is often a synonym for fine art, as employed in the term "art gallery"....
s. The main building faced the Union Canal and was 700 ft (213.4 m) and 250 ft (76.2 m), being divided into wings comprising nine courts each. In between was a concert hall seating 3,000 people complete with orchestra and organ. To the east across the suburban railway - over which a pedestrian bridge was erected - was the machinery hall with a locomotive annexe. The buildings cost £50,000 in all and were electrically lit. The exhibition was opened by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh whose procession travelled west along Dalry Road and up Ardmillan Terrace.
As The Scotsman
The Scotsman
The Scotsman is a British newspaper, published in Edinburgh.As of August 2011 it had an audited circulation of 38,423, down from about 100,000 in the 1980s....
reported: At Ardmillan Terrace, where the Exhibition first bursts into view, the scene was indeed a gay one. The roadway at each side from Harrison Park to the Exhibition was lined with Venetian masts, from which were suspended bannerets and shields. At intervals bright-coloured rows of streamers were stretched across the road. The numerous flags on the Exhibition buildings and others on private houses in the vicinity fluttered gaily in the breeze, and the brilliant sunshine added greatly to the effectiveness of a very pretty scene.
While the exhibition lasted the Union Canal enjoyed an Indian summer; electrically powered boats conveyed visitors from the site to Slateford and back for a fare of one halfpenny.
St Michael's Parish Church
St Michael's Parish Church (Church of ScotlandChurch of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
) is a large and prominent church at the start of Slateford Road. It is in the Early English style and noted as "large and very perfect" by Gifford et al. In 1879 the triangular site, where the present church now stands, was selected and purchased to replace the earlier Iron Church which was serving the districts of Dalry, Tynecastle and North Merchiston.
The architect was Mr John Honeyman
John Honeyman
John Honeyman was an American spy for George Washington, primarily responsible for gathering the intelligence crucial to Washington's victory in the Battle of Trenton.- Early life and career :...
, R.S.A., of Glasgow and on Sunday 2 December 1883 St Michaels Church was opened for public worship.
More information on the Kirk can be found here.
Harrison Park
Harrison Park sits alongside the Union Canal, which provides a valuable wildlife corridorWildlife corridor
A wildlife corridor or green corridor is an area of habitat connecting wildlife populations separated by human activities . This allows an exchange of individuals between populations, which may help prevent the negative effects of inbreeding and reduced genetic diversity that often occur within...
in the area.
The Friends of Harrison Park work in partnership with Edinburgh Council to oversee the management, maintenance and development of this green space
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...
. Recent projects, including upgrading of paths, interpretive signage, naturalised bulb planting, have all contributed to making Harrison Park a delightful, accessible and well used community green space.
The eastern part of Harrison Park first came under control of Edinburgh Corporation in 1886 with a 15 year feu of 13.92 acres (56,332.3 m²) from George Watson’s Hospital. An additional 1.375 acres (5,564.4 m²) were feued in 1902 for a bowling green
Bowling green
A bowling green is a finely-laid, close-mown and rolled stretch of lawn for playing the game of lawn bowls.Before 1830, when Edwin Beard Budding invented the lawnmower, lawns were often kept cropped by grazing sheep on them...
and playground. The park is split in two by Harrison road, with a playground and football pitches on the east side.
The western portion was purchased for £10,000 from the Merchant Company Education Board on 15 May 1930.
More information about the Park can be found on the website of the Friends of Harrison Park
Union Canal
The Union Canal (Scotland)Union Canal (Scotland)
The Union Canal is a 31.5-mile canal in Scotland, from Lochrin Basin, Fountainbridge, Edinburgh to Falkirk, where it meets the Forth and Clyde Canal.-Location and features:...
bounds Shandon to the South and the Edinburgh Canal Society
Edinburgh Canal Society
The Edinburgh Canal Society is a charitable canal society on the Union Canal in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Society's main base is Ashley Terrace Boathouse at Lockhart Bridge, near Harrison Park in the Polwarth area of Edinburgh....
main base is Ashley Terrace Boathouse at Lockhart Bridge.
Caledonian Brewery
Caledonian Brewery
Caledonian Brewery is a Scottish brewery founded in 1869 in the Shandon area of Edinburgh, Scotland. The Caley, as it is known locally, is the only survivor of over 40 breweries that operated in Edinburgh during the 19th century, although a number of independent breweries have opened in recent...
, one of Edinburgh's oldest surviving breweries, founded in 1869, lies on Slateford Road to the north of the area.