Burgh Muir
Encyclopedia
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. It was part of the ancient forest of Drumselch, and was gifted to the city by David I
in the 12th century.
The Burgh Muir (also known as the Burrow Mure and latterly Boroughmuir) extended, using today's street names, from Leven Street, Bruntsfield Place and Morningside Road in the west, and Dalkeith Road in the east, and as far south as the Jordan Burn on the west and Peffermill to the east, a total area of approximately five square miles. The contemporary names for the roads which bounded the Muir were "Easter Hiegat", corresponding to Dalkeith Rd and "Wester Heigat" corresponding to Morningside Road.
The Muir is remembered in the area between Bruntsfield
and Morningside
now known as Burghmuirhead
(also sometimes spelled Boroughmuirhead). This area itself is generally subsumed into its neighbours, apart from the state secondary school and the post office
which continue to be known as Boroughmuir High School
and Boroughmuirhead Post Office respectively.
The last large open, public land on the main area of the Burgh Muir is Bruntsfield Links
, which lies alongside former loch The Meadows
. However, immediately to the south there is also the Hermitage of Braid.
's gift of the Burgh Muir have been lost, many of them when the Earl of Hertford sacked the city in 1544. It is possible that the Burgh Muir was gifted at the same time as the foundation of Holyrood Abbey
in 1143, when Edinburgh was first referred to as a Royal Burgh
.
A note in appendix 2 (number 1878) of The Great Seal of Scotland
(1306–1424) records a charter of King Robert II of Scotland
which grants to William de Lawedre (or Lauder), elder son of Robert Lauder of Quarrelwood
, the lands of Burrowmure in Edinburghshire. J.J.Reid, citing the Exchequer Rolls, states that in 1375 William de Lawedre was Custumar of Edinburgh, and another reference mentions that during his tenure of the same office he had at one time Adam Forrester as his colleague, and that they had become bound for the balance of King David II
's ransom. Mr.Reid continues: "William of Lauder died either in 1375 or 1376, probably the latter, since for the arrears of his accounts of the year 1375, Alan Lauder became surety along with Forrester, the surviving Custumar." In further charters of the Great Seal (nos.724/5) both signed at Edinburgh on June 4, 1382, Alan de Lawedre succeeded his brother ("fratrem dicti Alani") William de Lawedre, both described in turn as "hereditary feuars" of the lands of Boroughmuir. Alan's son, George de Lawedre of Haltoun
became Provost of Edinburgh.
Certain areas of the Burgh Muir were exempted from the City's jurisdiction, the Provostry Lands of Whitehouse, the Sergeantry Lands of Bruntsfield and Merchiston, all due to their previous issue under separate Royal Charters.
The forest was used for hunting, and was where in 1513 (prior to the battle of Flodden), again in 1523, and again in 1542, thousands of men assembled to fight the English army. It has also been used as a quarantine area for plague
victims.
Consolidation of what had hitherto been an unregulated area of land occurred in 1508, with a Royal Charter issued by James IV
permitting leases of land to citizens.
In 1650 the torso, less the heart, of James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
was buried in unconsecrated ground on the Burgh Muir following his hanging. He was disinterred and taken with great reverence and ceremony to St. Giles' Cathedral
in 1661.
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...
city centre upon which much of the southern portion of the city now rests, following expansions of the 18th and 19th centuries. It was part of the ancient forest of Drumselch, and was 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.
The Burgh Muir (also known as the Burrow Mure and latterly Boroughmuir) extended, using today's street names, from Leven Street, Bruntsfield Place and Morningside Road in the west, and Dalkeith Road in the east, and as far south as the Jordan Burn on the west and Peffermill to the east, a total area of approximately five square miles. The contemporary names for the roads which bounded the Muir were "Easter Hiegat", corresponding to Dalkeith Rd and "Wester Heigat" corresponding to Morningside Road.
The Muir is remembered in the area between Bruntsfield
Bruntsfield
Bruntsfield is an area of Edinburgh, Scotland, about twenty minutes walk south-west of the city centre. In feudal times it fell within the barony of Colinton.-Location:...
and Morningside
Morningside, Edinburgh
Morningside is a district in the south-west of Edinburgh, Scotland. It is south of the areas of Bruntsfield, Burghmuirhead ; south-west of Marchmont, and south-east of Merchiston...
now known as Burghmuirhead
Burghmuirhead
Burghmuirhead is an area of Edinburgh, Scotland.The area lies between Bruntsfield to the north and Morningside to the south. West is Merchiston and east is Greenhill and then The Grange....
(also sometimes spelled Boroughmuirhead). This area itself is generally subsumed into its neighbours, apart from the state secondary school and the post office
Royal Mail
Royal Mail is the government-owned postal service in the United Kingdom. Royal Mail Holdings plc owns Royal Mail Group Limited, which in turn operates the brands Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide...
which continue to be known as Boroughmuir High School
Boroughmuir High School
Boroughmuir High School is a non-denominational secondary school in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was founded in 1904, and moved to its current site near the city centre in 1913. Its catchment area is in the south side of the city...
and Boroughmuirhead Post Office respectively.
The last large open, public land on the main area of the Burgh Muir is Bruntsfield Links
Bruntsfield Links
Bruntsfield Links is of park in Bruntsfield, Edinburgh, immediately to the south-west of The Meadows, which it adjoins.Unlike The Meadows, which is a former loch, Bruntsfield Links was always dry...
, which lies alongside former loch 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...
. However, immediately to the south there is also the Hermitage of Braid.
History
Records of David IDavid 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...
's gift of the Burgh Muir have been lost, many of them when the Earl of Hertford sacked the city in 1544. It is possible that the Burgh Muir was gifted at the same time as the foundation of Holyrood Abbey
Holyrood Abbey
Holyrood Abbey is a ruined abbey of the Canons Regular in Edinburgh, Scotland. The abbey was founded in 1128 by King David I of Scotland. During the 15th century, the abbey guesthouse was developed into a royal residence, and after the Scottish Reformation the Palace of Holyroodhouse was expanded...
in 1143, when Edinburgh was first referred to as a Royal Burgh
Royal burgh
A royal burgh was a type of Scottish burgh which had been founded by, or subsequently granted, a royal charter. Although abolished in 1975, the term is still used in many of the former burghs....
.
A note in appendix 2 (number 1878) of The Great Seal of Scotland
Great Seal of Scotland
The Great Seal of Scotland allows the monarch to authorise official documents without having to sign each document individually. Wax is melted in a metal mould or matrix and impressed into a wax figure that is attached by cord or ribbon to documents that the monarch wishes to make official...
(1306–1424) records a charter of King Robert II of Scotland
Robert II of Scotland
Robert II became King of Scots in 1371 as the first monarch of the House of Stewart. He was the son of Walter Stewart, hereditary High Steward of Scotland and of Marjorie Bruce, daughter of Robert I and of his first wife Isabella of Mar...
which grants to William de Lawedre (or Lauder), elder son of Robert Lauder of Quarrelwood
Robert Lauder of Quarrelwood
Sir Robert de Lawedre , Knt., of Quarrelwood was Justiciar of Scotia, a Scottish soldier of great prominence and Captain of Urquhart Castle. He is recorded by Fordun, in his Scotichronicon, and in Extracta ex variis Cronicis Scocie as "Robertus de Lavedir 'the good'"-Early mentions:The son of Sir...
, the lands of Burrowmure in Edinburghshire. J.J.Reid, citing the Exchequer Rolls, states that in 1375 William de Lawedre was Custumar of Edinburgh, and another reference mentions that during his tenure of the same office he had at one time Adam Forrester as his colleague, and that they had become bound for the balance of King David II
David II of Scotland
David II was King of Scots from 7 June 1329 until his death.-Early life:...
's ransom. Mr.Reid continues: "William of Lauder died either in 1375 or 1376, probably the latter, since for the arrears of his accounts of the year 1375, Alan Lauder became surety along with Forrester, the surviving Custumar." In further charters of the Great Seal (nos.724/5) both signed at Edinburgh on June 4, 1382, Alan de Lawedre succeeded his brother ("fratrem dicti Alani") William de Lawedre, both described in turn as "hereditary feuars" of the lands of Boroughmuir. Alan's son, George de Lawedre of Haltoun
George de Lawedre of Haltoun
Sir George de Lawedre of Haltoun was a Burgess and Provost of Edinburgh in the early 15th century.-Family:...
became Provost of Edinburgh.
Certain areas of the Burgh Muir were exempted from the City's jurisdiction, the Provostry Lands of Whitehouse, the Sergeantry Lands of Bruntsfield and Merchiston, all due to their previous issue under separate Royal Charters.
The forest was used for hunting, and was where in 1513 (prior to the battle of Flodden), again in 1523, and again in 1542, thousands of men assembled to fight the English army. It has also been used as a quarantine area for plague
Bubonic plague
Plague is a deadly infectious disease that is caused by the enterobacteria Yersinia pestis, named after the French-Swiss bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin. Primarily carried by rodents and spread to humans via fleas, the disease is notorious throughout history, due to the unrivaled scale of death...
victims.
Consolidation of what had hitherto been an unregulated area of land occurred in 1508, with a Royal Charter issued by James IV
James IV of Scotland
James IV was King of Scots from 11 June 1488 to his death. He is generally regarded as the most successful of the Stewart monarchs of Scotland, but his reign ended with the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Flodden Field, where he became the last monarch from not only Scotland, but also from all...
permitting leases of land to citizens.
In 1650 the torso, less the heart, of James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose was a Scottish nobleman and soldier, who initially joined the Covenanters in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, but subsequently supported King Charles I as the English Civil War developed...
was buried in unconsecrated ground on the Burgh Muir following his hanging. He was disinterred and taken with great reverence and ceremony to St. Giles' Cathedral
St. Giles' Cathedral
St Giles' Cathedral, more properly termed the High Kirk of Edinburgh, is the principal place of worship of the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh. Its distinctive crown steeple is a prominent feature of the city skyline, at about a third of the way down the Royal Mile which runs from the Castle to...
in 1661.
See also
- Areas of EdinburghAreas of EdinburghEdinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is divided into areas that generally encompass a park , a main local street , a high street and residential buildings...
- Areas of Edinburgh (category)