Silvermills
Encyclopedia
Silvermills once an ancient village, has been part of the Edinburgh New Town since 1809.
As the name suggests, the village was centred around a mill for Silver (which had been discovered locally in the 17th century). Up until 1995 the remnant mill lade was still discernable leading from the Water of Leith
at a point just north of the Stockbridge
through the area and onto the small man-made pond at Canonmills
, known as Canonmills Loch.
In the 19th century the area was best known for its great tannery. This together with other industries colonised the lands which until recently were considered uneconomic to develop. No parts of it nor the old mills still exist but until the 1990s remnants did stand on both sides of West Silvermills Lane to the south of Silvermills House (c.1760) built for Mr. Nicol Somerville.
John Lauder of Silvermills (d. July 28, 1838), owner of the tannery, and father to the famous brother artists Robert Scott Lauder
(1803-1869) and James Eckford Lauder
(1811-1869), both born in Silvermills had a house south of the 'Great Mill Lade' (or Lead or Dam), just behind where St. Stephen's Church now stands; the land for the church was purchased by the City of Edinburgh from Mr. Lauder in 1822.
Silvermills was incorporated into Edinburgh in 1809 by a Local Act of Parliament Extending the Royalty (49 Geo III Cap. xxi) passed 28 April.
In 1835 architect George Smith erected St Stephen's School in St.Stephen's Street, which street was laid out in 1825. At the end of this street was a large skating rink designed in 1895 but converted into a theatre five years later. It then became a ballroom which burned down to be replaced by flats in the style of the surrounding Georgian architecture.
Although redeveloped the medieval routes of both East and West Silvermills Lane were preserved in their entirity. The former steep dog-leg link from the east lane to Fettes Row was removed c.2000 when a new office block was built but a public pedestrian route still exists under the building.
in St Stephen's Place at the north end of St Vincent Street, built in 1827 for £18,975, on a design of vast scale, a mixture of Baroque
and Grecian architecture by William Henry Playfair
. Thomas Stevenson
, father of Robert Louis Stevenson
was a devout and regular attender here. The building is now known at the St Stephen's Centre and is run in conjunction with Stockbridge Parish Church in Saxe Coburg Street nearby.
St Vincent's Scottish Episcopal
Chapel is in the same street, built in 1857 in English Gothic
on a much smaller scale. Services are held on Sundays and certain weekdays. For a while, but no longer, it was the Church of the Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus
of Jerusalem Grand Commandery of Lochore.
To the north west, the Standard Life offices on Henderson Row contain as a cetrepiece the frontage of the old Edinburgh Tramway offices. The winding gear for this cable-operated tram is preserved on the east side of the office at the entrance to Silvermills at Henderson Place.
To the north east and overlooking Silvermills lies St Bernard's House, a brick building constructed in 1987 by Lothian Homes Limited, with 46 private retirement flats and a warden's flat. The warden's flat became a retirement flat in 2010. Its main entrance is on Henderson Row, the gardens and car park are accessed from West Silvermills Lane. On this site, at the Disruption of the Church of Scotland in 1843, St Bernard’s Free Church was founded together with a church hall and a beadle's house. The church was rebuilt in 1856. The Free Church united with the United Presbyterian Church in 1900, forming the United Free Church when it became known as St Bernard’s United Free Church. Dean Street Congregation united with St Bernard’s United Free Church in 1915. It became St Bernard’s South at the Union in 1929 of the Church of Scotland and the United Free Church. The greater part of Dean Street Congregation formed a separate congregation in Queen Street Hall (later the BBC Headquarters) in 1861.The Queen Street Congregation moved to a newly built church in Eyre Crescent, called Davidson Church after its first minister, Rev. Peter Davidson in 1881. St Bernard’s South and Davidson united at St Bernard’s Davidson Church in 1945. St Bernard’s Stockbridge united with St Bernard’s Davidson in 1980. It was demolished in 1985.
As the name suggests, the village was centred around a mill for Silver (which had been discovered locally in the 17th century). Up until 1995 the remnant mill lade was still discernable leading from 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...
at a point just north of the Stockbridge
Stockbridge
-Places:In the United States* Stockbridge, Georgia* Stockbridge, Massachusetts* Stockbridge, Michigan* Stockbridge Township, Michigan* Stockbridge, New York* Stockbridge, Vermont* Stockbridge, Wisconsin* Stockbridge , WisconsinIn the United Kingdom...
through the area and onto the small man-made pond at Canonmills
Canonmills
Canonmills is a suburb of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. It is south-east of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Inverleith.It lies in low-lying ground north of Edinburgh's New Town on ground that was uneconomic to connect to the higher New Town street levels....
, known as Canonmills Loch.
History
The low-lying land of Silvermills and Canonmills proved an impediment to the building of the New Town.In the 19th century the area was best known for its great tannery. This together with other industries colonised the lands which until recently were considered uneconomic to develop. No parts of it nor the old mills still exist but until the 1990s remnants did stand on both sides of West Silvermills Lane to the south of Silvermills House (c.1760) built for Mr. Nicol Somerville.
John Lauder of Silvermills (d. July 28, 1838), owner of the tannery, and father to the famous brother artists Robert Scott Lauder
Robert Scott Lauder
Robert Scott Lauder was a Scottish mid-Victorian artist who described himself as a "historical painter". He was one of the original members of the Royal Scottish Academy.-Life and work:...
(1803-1869) and James Eckford Lauder
James Eckford Lauder
James Eckford Lauder was a notable mid-Victorian Scottish artist, famous for both portraits and historical pictures....
(1811-1869), both born in Silvermills had a house south of the 'Great Mill Lade' (or Lead or Dam), just behind where St. Stephen's Church now stands; the land for the church was purchased by the City of Edinburgh from Mr. Lauder in 1822.
Silvermills was incorporated into Edinburgh in 1809 by a Local Act of Parliament Extending the Royalty (49 Geo III Cap. xxi) passed 28 April.
In 1835 architect George Smith erected St Stephen's School in St.Stephen's Street, which street was laid out in 1825. At the end of this street was a large skating rink designed in 1895 but converted into a theatre five years later. It then became a ballroom which burned down to be replaced by flats in the style of the surrounding Georgian architecture.
Silvermills Today
All but Silvermills House itself was redeveloped by 1997, as part of a Council plan for the area. The western side is largely housing. The main estate is by Cala Homes and has a sculpture at its centre, full-size of a horse and rider holding an eagle, "Horse~Rider~Eagle" by sculptor, Eoghan Bridge. The eastern section contains a two storey workshop built in brick but with a traditional flavour.Although redeveloped the medieval routes of both East and West Silvermills Lane were preserved in their entirity. The former steep dog-leg link from the east lane to Fettes Row was removed c.2000 when a new office block was built but a public pedestrian route still exists under the building.
Immediate Vicinity
The most prominent building in the immediate vicinity is St. Stephen's ChurchSt. Stephen's Church, Edinburgh
Saint Stephen's Church is located in the New Town of Edinburgh, Scotland, at the bottom of Saint Vincent Street. It was built in 1827-1828, to a design by architect William Henry Playfair ....
in St Stephen's Place at the north end of St Vincent Street, built in 1827 for £18,975, on a design of vast scale, a mixture of Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
and Grecian architecture by William Henry Playfair
William Henry Playfair
William Henry Playfair FRSE was one of the greatest Scottish architects of the 19th century, designer of many of Edinburgh's neo-classical landmarks in the New Town....
. Thomas Stevenson
Thomas Stevenson
Thomas Stevenson PRSE MInstCE FRSSA FSAScot was a pioneering Scottish lighthouse designer and meteorologist, who designed over thirty lighthouses in and around Scotland, as well as the Stevenson screen used in meteorology...
, father of Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson was a Scottish novelist, poet, essayist and travel writer. His best-known books include Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde....
was a devout and regular attender here. The building is now known at the St Stephen's Centre and is run in conjunction with Stockbridge Parish Church in Saxe Coburg Street nearby.
St Vincent's Scottish Episcopal
Scottish Episcopal Church
The Scottish Episcopal Church is a Christian church in Scotland, consisting of seven dioceses. Since the 17th century, it has had an identity distinct from the presbyterian Church of Scotland....
Chapel is in the same street, built in 1857 in English Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
on a much smaller scale. Services are held on Sundays and certain weekdays. For a while, but no longer, it was the Church of the Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus
Order of Saint Lazarus
This article concerns the order of knighthood named after Saint Lazarus. For other uses of the name Lazarus, see Lazarus .The Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem is an order of chivalry which originated in a leper hospital founded by the Knights Hospitaller in 1098 by the...
of Jerusalem Grand Commandery of Lochore.
To the north west, the Standard Life offices on Henderson Row contain as a cetrepiece the frontage of the old Edinburgh Tramway offices. The winding gear for this cable-operated tram is preserved on the east side of the office at the entrance to Silvermills at Henderson Place.
To the north east and overlooking Silvermills lies St Bernard's House, a brick building constructed in 1987 by Lothian Homes Limited, with 46 private retirement flats and a warden's flat. The warden's flat became a retirement flat in 2010. Its main entrance is on Henderson Row, the gardens and car park are accessed from West Silvermills Lane. On this site, at the Disruption of the Church of Scotland in 1843, St Bernard’s Free Church was founded together with a church hall and a beadle's house. The church was rebuilt in 1856. The Free Church united with the United Presbyterian Church in 1900, forming the United Free Church when it became known as St Bernard’s United Free Church. Dean Street Congregation united with St Bernard’s United Free Church in 1915. It became St Bernard’s South at the Union in 1929 of the Church of Scotland and the United Free Church. The greater part of Dean Street Congregation formed a separate congregation in Queen Street Hall (later the BBC Headquarters) in 1861.The Queen Street Congregation moved to a newly built church in Eyre Crescent, called Davidson Church after its first minister, Rev. Peter Davidson in 1881. St Bernard’s South and Davidson united at St Bernard’s Davidson Church in 1945. St Bernard’s Stockbridge united with St Bernard’s Davidson in 1980. It was demolished in 1985.