Sighthill, Edinburgh
Encyclopedia
Sighthill is a suburb in the west of Edinburgh
, Scotland
.
For nearly 50 years, the West Edinburgh skyline was dominated by 4 high rise residential tower block
s (Broomview House, Glenalmond Court, Weir Court and Hermiston Court) the first of which was demolished on 21st September 2008 (Broomview House) with the other three blocks following the same fate just over 3 years later. Also in the area are the towers of Stevenson College
and Edinburgh Napier University's Sighthill Campus (formerly the Edinburgh Business College). There is also a medical centre, a library and a fire station, as well as some small shops.
The Calder Road, one of the city's main arteries, runs by Sighthill, and the Edinburgh-Glasgow & Stirling railway line is nearby.
television drama Looking After Jo Jo
which featured Robert Carlyle
in the title role and was filmed in and around North Sighthill and Niddrie
. Other notable film and television productions to be filmed in Sighthill include Quite Ugly One Morning
starring James Nesbitt
and an adaptation of the Christopher Brookmyre
novel and Trouble Sleeping - a tale of a Palestinian refugee struggling to survive in the UK. More recently the flats in Sighthill have been used as backdrop for the film Outcast a Celtic supernatural thriller once again starring James Nesbitt
and released in 2010.
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...
.
For nearly 50 years, the West Edinburgh skyline was dominated by 4 high rise residential tower block
Tower block
A tower block, high-rise, apartment tower, office tower, apartment block, or block of flats, is a tall building or structure used as a residential and/or office building...
s (Broomview House, Glenalmond Court, Weir Court and Hermiston Court) the first of which was demolished on 21st September 2008 (Broomview House) with the other three blocks following the same fate just over 3 years later. Also in the area are the towers of Stevenson College
Stevenson College, Edinburgh
Stevenson College Edinburgh, Edinburgh is one of the largest further education colleges in Scotland. It was founded in 1970, and is named after famous Scottish engineer, Robert Stevenson...
and Edinburgh Napier University's Sighthill Campus (formerly the Edinburgh Business College). There is also a medical centre, a library and a fire station, as well as some small shops.
Regeneration
All of the remaining tower blocks and low-rise council-built properties are due to be demolished within the next couple of years to make way for new social housing. The 10-story block Broomview House was demolished on Sunday 21 September 2008 by Safedem Ltd. The flats came down at 11:15am in a controlled explosion where a longstanding former resident pushed the ceremonial button to implode the building. The remaining three blocks were demolished on Sunday 25th September 2011, also at 11:15am.Film and television location
Sighthill has been used as a location for film and television productions. The most notable production to be filmed in Sighthill was the 1998 BBC ScotlandBBC Scotland
BBC Scotland is a constituent part of the British Broadcasting Corporation, the publicly-funded broadcaster of the United Kingdom. It is, in effect, the national broadcaster for Scotland, having a considerable amount of autonomy from the BBC's London headquarters, and is run by the BBC Trust, who...
television drama Looking After Jo Jo
Looking After Jo Jo
Looking After Jo Jo is a 1998 BBC Scotland television drama starring Robert Carlyle as a petty thief turned drug dealer in Edinburgh in the 1980s. It is set in and around the North Sighthill housing estate....
which featured Robert Carlyle
Robert Carlyle
Robert Carlyle, OBE is a Scottish film and television actor. He is known for a variety of roles including those in Trainspotting, Hamish Macbeth, The Full Monty, The World Is Not Enough, Angela's Ashes, The 51st State, and 28 Weeks Later...
in the title role and was filmed in and around North Sighthill and Niddrie
Niddrie, Edinburgh
This article is about Niddrie, a suburb of Edinburgh. See also: Longniddry, Niddry Castle.Niddrie is a suburb of south east Edinburgh, Scotland, UK...
. Other notable film and television productions to be filmed in Sighthill include Quite Ugly One Morning
Quite Ugly One Morning
Quite Ugly One Morning is Christopher Brookmyre's first novel which introduces Jack Parlabane, the writer's most used character.It was published to popular and critical acclaim, winning the inaugural First Blood Award for the best first crime novel of the year.Jack Parlabane is a Glaswegian...
starring James Nesbitt
James Nesbitt
James Nesbitt is a Northern Irish actor. Born in Ballymena, County Antrim, Nesbitt grew up in the nearby village of Broughshane, before moving to Coleraine, County Londonderry. He wanted to become a teacher like his father, so he began a degree in French at the University of Ulster...
and an adaptation of the Christopher Brookmyre
Christopher Brookmyre
Christopher Brookmyre is a Scottish novelist whose novels mix comedy, politics, social comment and action with a strong narrative. He has been referred to as a Tartan Noir author...
novel and Trouble Sleeping - a tale of a Palestinian refugee struggling to survive in the UK. More recently the flats in Sighthill have been used as backdrop for the film Outcast a Celtic supernatural thriller once again starring James Nesbitt
James Nesbitt
James Nesbitt is a Northern Irish actor. Born in Ballymena, County Antrim, Nesbitt grew up in the nearby village of Broughshane, before moving to Coleraine, County Londonderry. He wanted to become a teacher like his father, so he began a degree in French at the University of Ulster...
and released in 2010.