Sciennes
Encyclopedia
Sciennes is an area of Edinburgh
, Scotland
, just outside the city centre to the south of the Meadows
, with Newington
to the east. Sciennes shares a Community Council
with Marchmont
, to the west.
Since it is near to many different departments of the University of Edinburgh
, Sciennes has a large student population, some living in modern university-owned buildings. Most of the housing is Victorian tenements or 19th century stone 'villas' in roads which merge into the neighbouring area of the Grange, extending southward.
Sciennes was one of a number of areas, originally remote from the City, sited on the Burgh Muir
. This area was known for its attraction for the "vagabonds, vagrants and outlaws" which found shelter under its large trees, far from the authorities.
Concern for the spiritual welfare of these people led to the establishment in 1511-12 of a chapel to St John the Baptist by Sir John Craufurd, the canon of St Giles. This chapel only served its purpose for four years, however, as, following Scotland's defeat at the battle of Flodden, a number of widows requested, and were granted, a Papal Bull
to establish the Dominican
convent
of Catherine of Sienna, which was built in 1517 but destroyed in the Reformation in 1559. The last remains of the convent can still be seen in the gardens of 16 St Catherine's Place, and are marked by a plaque.
The name Sciennes is derived from this convent's connection with Siena
(Sienna).
The area also contains one of the few Jewish
cemeteries in Scotland. Nearby is the remaining part of Sciennes Hill House, once the home of Adam Ferguson
, who hosted a dinner there where Robert Burns
and the young Walter Scott
met for the one and only time in the winter of 1786-87. Conan Doyle
's family lived in this part of Sciennes while he was a boy.
The Edinburgh Royal Hospital for Sick Children, known as the "Sick Kids", has been in Sciennes since 1895. It is a listed building with murals by Phoebe Traquair
in its chapel. Sciennes Primary School is next to the hospital.
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...
, just outside the city centre to the south of 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...
, with Newington
Newington, Edinburgh
Newington is an area of Edinburgh, Scotland, about 15 to 20 minutes walk south of the city centre, the Royal Mile and Princes Street.It is the easternmost district of the area formerly covered by the Burgh Muir, gifted to the City by David I in the 12th Century...
to the east. Sciennes shares a Community Council
Community council
A community council is a public representative body in Great Britain.In England they may be statutory parish councils by another name, under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, or they may be non-statutory bodies...
with Marchmont
Marchmont
Marchmont is a mainly residential affluent area of Edinburgh, Scotland. It lies roughly a mile to the south of the Old Town, separated from it by The Meadows and Bruntsfield Links...
, to the west.
Since it is near to many different departments of the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
, Sciennes has a large student population, some living in modern university-owned buildings. Most of the housing is Victorian tenements or 19th century stone 'villas' in roads which merge into the neighbouring area of the Grange, extending southward.
Sciennes was one of a number of areas, originally remote from the City, sited on the Burgh Muir
Burgh Muir
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...
. This area was known for its attraction for the "vagabonds, vagrants and outlaws" which found shelter under its large trees, far from the authorities.
Concern for the spiritual welfare of these people led to the establishment in 1511-12 of a chapel to St John the Baptist by Sir John Craufurd, the canon of St Giles. This chapel only served its purpose for four years, however, as, following Scotland's defeat at the battle of Flodden, a number of widows requested, and were granted, a Papal Bull
Papal bull
A Papal bull is a particular type of letters patent or charter issued by a Pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the bulla that was appended to the end in order to authenticate it....
to establish the Dominican
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
of Catherine of Sienna, which was built in 1517 but destroyed in the Reformation in 1559. The last remains of the convent can still be seen in the gardens of 16 St Catherine's Place, and are marked by a plaque.
The name Sciennes is derived from this convent's connection with Siena
Siena
Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It is one of the nation's most visited tourist attractions, with over 163,000 international arrivals in 2008...
(Sienna).
The area also contains one of the few Jewish
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
cemeteries in Scotland. Nearby is the remaining part of Sciennes Hill House, once the home of Adam Ferguson
Adam Ferguson
Adam Ferguson FRSE, also known as Ferguson of Raith was a Scottish philosopher, social scientist and historian of the Scottish Enlightenment...
, who hosted a dinner there where Robert Burns
Robert Burns
Robert Burns was a Scottish poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide...
and the young Walter Scott
Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet was a Scottish historical novelist, playwright, and poet, popular throughout much of the world during his time....
met for the one and only time in the winter of 1786-87. Conan Doyle
Conan Doyle
Conan Doyle is a rugby player. His club is Garryowen. His usual position is inside centre, but he also plays out-half. He has made two appearances for Munster Rugby in the Magners League, but was released by Munster at the end of the 2008/2009 season. While at Munster he was selected for the...
's family lived in this part of Sciennes while he was a boy.
The Edinburgh Royal Hospital for Sick Children, known as the "Sick Kids", has been in Sciennes since 1895. It is a listed building with murals by Phoebe Traquair
Phoebe Anna Traquair
Phoebe Anna Traquair was an Irish artist, noted for her role in the Arts and Crafts movement in Scotland, as an illustrator, painter and embroiderer.-Family life:...
in its chapel. Sciennes Primary School is next to the hospital.