Craiglockhart
Encyclopedia
Craiglockhart is a suburb in the south west of Edinburgh
, Scotland
, lying between Colinton
to the south, Morningside
to the east Merchiston
to the north east and Kingsknowe
to the west. The Water of Leith
is also to the west.
The name appears to be an anglicisation of the Scottish Gaelic, Creag Loch Àrd or Art, meaning the "Rock of the High Loch", or "Arthur's Loch", which may refer to a former loch in the golf course. A further possibility is that the place took its name from the Lockhart
family who are credited by Historic Scotland
with building Craiglockhart Castle
in the fifteenth century.
The oldest "structure" in the area is the remains of a vitrified fort
on the top of Wester Craiglockhart Hill, which is of prehistoric origin. This was somewhat mutilated by the addition of gun-emplacements in World War II, guarding against aerial attack. Excavations show the fort was re-occupied during Roman times. Craiglockhart Castle
dates from the 15th century but is now ruined.
In Victorian times the area was dominated by hospital buildings: The City Hospital (1896); Old Craig House
(1565) converted to an asylum in 1878; its "modern" partner, Craighouse
, purpose-built as part of the Royal Edinburgh Asylum
(1889); the City Poorhouse (1867) later converted to Greenlea's Old People's Home; and Craiglockhart Hydropathic
Institution. Craighouse and The Hydropathic are now part of the campus of Edinburgh Napier University. During World War I
, the hospital was used to house officers suffering from the symptoms of shell-shock. Invalids here included the poets Wilfred Owen
and Siegfried Sassoon
, who met while patients. After the war this the building served as a convent and then a theological school, before passing to the then Napier College.
The area was developed in the 1930s largely with bungalows and low density housing on the low lying ground around the Wester and Easter Craiglockhart Hills, which remain partly wooded.
Approximately at the boundary point between Craiglockhart and Merchiston runs the Edinburgh Suburban railway line
. There was once a station just off Colinton Road, and this may return, since the line is mooted for re-opening as part of Edinburgh's future transport strategy.
Craiglockhart today is chiefly residential, with a small proportion of commercial properties, and is in general considered to be a comfortable middle-class area, with a mixture of terraced and detached villas, of a variety of ages.
, who often trained there. On the same ground is Craiglockhart Sport And Leisure Centre which has a small boating pond.
A small cluster of commercial premises remain close to the station site, with a further group located opposite the Craiglockhart Tennis Centre. A small Tesco
"Express" supermarket has been built on the site of a former petrol station adjacent to the Meggetland playing fields. The opening of this branch of Tesco was vociferously opposed by the Scottish food writer Joanna Blythman
, who claimed that opening the store would damage the local grocery store at Happy Valley.
There is a Craiglockhart Primary School, although this is a little to the north of Craiglockhart itself, technically within North Merchiston
(though commonly described as within Polwarth
or Shandon
.)
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...
, lying between Colinton
Colinton
Colinton is a suburb of Edinburgh, Scotland situated 6 kilometres south west of the city centre. It is bordered by Dreghorn to the south and Craiglockhart to the north-east. To the north-west it extends to Lanark Road and to the south-west to the City Bypass...
to the south, 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...
to the east 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...
to the north east and Kingsknowe
Kingsknowe
Kingsknowe is a suburb of Edinburgh the capital of Scotland. It is south-west of Craiglockhart. It borders Wester Hailes, Slateford and Longstone...
to the west. The Water of Leith
Water of Leith
The Water of Leith is the main river flowing through Edinburgh, Scotland, to the port of Leith where it flows into the sea via the Firth of Forth.It is long and rises in the Colzium Springs at Millstone Rig of the Pentland Hills...
is also to the west.
History
Lockharts of Lee
The Lockharts of Lee are a Lanarkshire family that trace their descent from Sir Simon Locard...
family who are credited by Historic Scotland
Historic Scotland
Historic Scotland is an executive agency of the Scottish Government, responsible for historic monuments in Scotland.-Role:As its website states:...
with building Craiglockhart Castle
Craiglockhart Castle
Craiglockhart Castle is ruined tower house in the Craiglockhart district of Edinburgh, Scotland. It is situated in the Craiglockhart Campus of Edinburgh Napier University, to the north of Wester Craiglockhart Hill...
in the fifteenth century.
The oldest "structure" in the area is the remains of a vitrified fort
Vitrified fort
Vitrified fort is the name given to certain crude stone enclosures whose walls have been subjected in a greater or lesser degree to the action of fire. They are generally situated on hills offering strong defensive positions. Their form seems to have been determined by the contour of the flat...
on the top of Wester Craiglockhart Hill, which is of prehistoric origin. This was somewhat mutilated by the addition of gun-emplacements in World War II, guarding against aerial attack. Excavations show the fort was re-occupied during Roman times. Craiglockhart Castle
Craiglockhart Castle
Craiglockhart Castle is ruined tower house in the Craiglockhart district of Edinburgh, Scotland. It is situated in the Craiglockhart Campus of Edinburgh Napier University, to the north of Wester Craiglockhart Hill...
dates from the 15th century but is now ruined.
In Victorian times the area was dominated by hospital buildings: The City Hospital (1896); Old Craig House
Craig House, Edinburgh
Craig House is a historic house and estate located on Easter Craiglockhart Hill, between the Craiglockhart and Morningside areas of Edinburgh, Scotland. Old Craig House dates from the 16th century, and succeeded an earlier building...
(1565) converted to an asylum in 1878; its "modern" partner, Craighouse
Craig House, Edinburgh
Craig House is a historic house and estate located on Easter Craiglockhart Hill, between the Craiglockhart and Morningside areas of Edinburgh, Scotland. Old Craig House dates from the 16th century, and succeeded an earlier building...
, purpose-built as part of the Royal Edinburgh Asylum
Royal Edinburgh Hospital
The Royal Edinburgh Hospital is a psychiatric hospital in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is operated by the Primary and Community Division of NHS Lothian...
(1889); the City Poorhouse (1867) later converted to Greenlea's Old People's Home; and Craiglockhart Hydropathic
Craiglockhart Hydropathic
Craiglockhart Hydropathic, now a part of Edinburgh Napier University and known as Craiglockhart Campus, is a building with surrounding grounds in Craiglockhart, Edinburgh, Scotland.-Origins:...
Institution. Craighouse and The Hydropathic are now part of the campus of Edinburgh Napier University. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the hospital was used to house officers suffering from the symptoms of shell-shock. Invalids here included the poets Wilfred Owen
Wilfred Owen
Wilfred Edward Salter Owen MC was an English poet and soldier, one of the leading poets of the First World War...
and Siegfried Sassoon
Siegfried Sassoon
Siegfried Loraine Sassoon CBE MC was an English poet, author and soldier. Decorated for bravery on the Western Front, he became one of the leading poets of the First World War. His poetry both described the horrors of the trenches, and satirised the patriotic pretensions of those who, in Sassoon's...
, who met while patients. After the war this the building served as a convent and then a theological school, before passing to the then Napier College.
Approximately at the boundary point between Craiglockhart and Merchiston runs the Edinburgh Suburban railway line
Edinburgh Suburban and Southside Junction Railway
The Edinburgh Suburban and South Side Junction Railway is a freight and former commuter railway which runs in a loop across the southern suburbs of Edinburgh, Scotland. It opened in 1884 for both freight and passenger services...
. There was once a station just off Colinton Road, and this may return, since the line is mooted for re-opening as part of Edinburgh's future transport strategy.
Craiglockhart today is chiefly residential, with a small proportion of commercial properties, and is in general considered to be a comfortable middle-class area, with a mixture of terraced and detached villas, of a variety of ages.
Attractions and amenities
Craiglockhart Tennis Centre plays host to large international tennis competitions, with a series of well kept indoor and outdoor courts. One famous product of the centre is Andy MurrayAndrew Murray (tennis player)
Andrew "Andy" Murray is a Scottish professional tennis player. He is currently ranked No.4 in the world, and was ranked No. 2 from 17 to 31 August 2009. Murray achieved a top-10 ranking by the Association of Tennis Professionals for the first time on 16 April 2007...
, who often trained there. On the same ground is Craiglockhart Sport And Leisure Centre which has a small boating pond.
A small cluster of commercial premises remain close to the station site, with a further group located opposite the Craiglockhart Tennis Centre. A small Tesco
Tesco
Tesco plc is a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits...
"Express" supermarket has been built on the site of a former petrol station adjacent to the Meggetland playing fields. The opening of this branch of Tesco was vociferously opposed by the Scottish food writer Joanna Blythman
Joanna Blythman
Joanna Blythman is a British investigative food journalist and writer and a commentator on the British food chain, covering subjects as diverse as salmon farming, supermarkets, intensive pineapple production, bird flu and the causes of obesity....
, who claimed that opening the store would damage the local grocery store at Happy Valley.
There is a Craiglockhart Primary School, although this is a little to the north of Craiglockhart itself, technically 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...
(though commonly described as within Polwarth
Polwarth, Edinburgh
Polwarth is a mainly residential area of Edinburgh, Scotland. It is bounded by Bruntsfield and Merchiston to the east and south, Gorgie and Dalry to the north, and Craiglockhart to the west....
or Shandon
Shandon, Edinburgh
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 and Suburban rail lines to the west.- Etymology :Harris...
.)