Newcraighall
Encyclopedia
Newcraighall is a southeastern suburb
of Edinburgh
, Scotland
. A former mining village
, its prosperity was based on the Midlothian
coalfields and in particular the now closed Monktonhall pit. The village had a miners club (demolished after a fire on 15th July 2009) and bowling green. Newcraighall now plays host to an out of town shopping complex known as The Fort or Kinnaird Park.
Newcraighall railway station
is the terminus for the short Edinburgh Crossrail service from Edinburgh Waverley
via Brunstane
. This line uses the northern stub of the former Waverley Route from Carlisle
to Edinburgh
and although mostly lifted, the Scottish Parliament
approved a Bill in June 2006 to reopen the railway from Newcraighall to just south of Galashiels
in the Scottish Borders. The line could see its first passenger journeys in 2011, 42 years after closure (Closed 5 January 1969) following the Beeching report in 1963.
Newcraighall was the setting for the film My childhood by Bill Douglas
, There is a plaque to Bill Douglas in the village. The village also contains the bridge that is the famous scene from the film. The village also contains a sculpture by Jake Harvey which celebrates the mining tradition of the area. On Newcraighall Road is The Craigmillar Arts Centre, with a Woman of Achievement plaque for Helen Crummy
. She has lived in Newcraighall for many years.
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Edinburgh
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...
. A former mining village
Pit village
A pit village is a term used in the UK for the village serving a deep coal mine.Many of the workers lived in houses that were provided by the colliery. Many villages have experienced depopulation after colliery closures forced people to move to other towns and cities where there are jobs for them...
, its prosperity was based on the Midlothian
Midlothian
Midlothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy area. It borders the Scottish Borders, East Lothian and the City of Edinburgh council areas....
coalfields and in particular the now closed Monktonhall pit. The village had a miners club (demolished after a fire on 15th July 2009) and bowling green. Newcraighall now plays host to an out of town shopping complex known as The Fort or Kinnaird Park.
Newcraighall railway station
Newcraighall railway station
Newcraighall railway station is a railway station serving the Newcraighall area of Edinburgh in Scotland. It is the current terminus of the Edinburgh Crossrail line...
is the terminus for the short Edinburgh Crossrail service from Edinburgh Waverley
Edinburgh Waverley railway station
Edinburgh Waverley railway station is the main railway station in the Scottish capital Edinburgh. Covering an area of over 25 acres in the centre of the city, it is the second-largest main line railway station in the United Kingdom in terms of area, the largest being...
via Brunstane
Brunstane
Brunstane is a south eastern suburb of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland. It is served by Brunstane railway station on the Edinburgh Crossrail.Much of the area is covered by new housing, such as on the Gilberstoun estate....
. This line uses the northern stub of the former Waverley Route from Carlisle
Carlisle railway station
Carlisle railway station, also known as Carlisle Citadel station, is a railway station whichserves the Cumbrian City of Carlisle, England, and is a major station on the West Coast Main Line, lying south of Glasgow Central, and north of London Euston...
to Edinburgh
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...
and although mostly lifted, the Scottish Parliament
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
approved a Bill in June 2006 to reopen the railway from Newcraighall to just south of Galashiels
Galashiels
Galashiels is a burgh in the Scottish Borders, on the Gala Water river. The name is often shortened to "Gala" .Galashiels is a major commercial centre for the Scottish Borders...
in the Scottish Borders. The line could see its first passenger journeys in 2011, 42 years after closure (Closed 5 January 1969) following the Beeching report in 1963.
Newcraighall was the setting for the film My childhood by Bill Douglas
Bill Douglas
William Gerald Forbes Douglas was a Scottish film director best known for the trilogy of films about his early life.-Biography:...
, There is a plaque to Bill Douglas in the village. The village also contains the bridge that is the famous scene from the film. The village also contains a sculpture by Jake Harvey which celebrates the mining tradition of the area. On Newcraighall Road is The Craigmillar Arts Centre, with a Woman of Achievement plaque for Helen Crummy
Helen Crummy
Helen Crummy, MBE was a founder of The Craigmillar Festival Society , and served as the Organising Secretary for the group until 1985....
. She has lived in Newcraighall for many years.