Wikipedia

Balerno

Not to be confused withBaleno.

Balerno(/bəˈlɜːrnoʊ/) is a village on the outskirts ofEdinburgh,Scotlandsituated 8 miles (13 kilometres) south-west of the city centre, next toCurrieand thenJuniper Green.Traditionally in the county ofMidlothianit now administratively falls within the jurisdiction of theCity of Edinburgh Council.The village lies at the confluence of the Water of Leith and the Bavelaw Burn. In the 18th and 19th century, the area was home to several mills using waterpower. In the 20th century, the mills closed and the village now forms a residential suburb of Edinburgh.

Balerno
Main St, Balerno
Balerno is located in the City of Edinburgh council area
Balerno
Balerno
Balerno is located in Scotland
Balerno
Balerno
Location withinScotland
Population5,486 (2011 Census)
OS grid referenceNT165665
Council area
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townBALERNO
Postcode districtEH14
Dialling code0131
PoliceScotland
FireScottish
AmbulanceScottish
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament
List of places
UK
Scotland
55°53′07″N3°20′15″W/ 55.88518°N 3.337526°W/55.88518; -3.337526

History

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Balerno's name derives from theScottish GaelicBaile Àirneag,meaning "townland/town of the sloe trees".[1]The earliest written records of Balhernoch or Balernach are found in the late 13th century.

The 18th century brought substantial development to the area, with several new flax, snuff and paper mills springing up around theWater of Leithand its tributary, the Bavelaw Burn (evidence of flax production can be seen in Harlaw Woods). The largest of these mills was the Balerno Bank Paper Mill which was located near the centre of the old village. The Balerno Bank Paper Mill was founded in 1810 and closed in the early 1990s.[2]While the former site has been converted to housing, the former offices (built in aScottish baronial style) and lodge are still extant.[2]They are Category B and C listed respectively.[3][4]On the eastern edge of Barlerno, the Malleny Mill was built in 1805 as aflax mill.[5]It was later used as a grain mill but was damaged by fire internally in 1910.[5]It repaired in 1920 and converted into a ladies school.[5]It is now housing but is Category C listed and the mills give their name to this area of Balerno.[5]In 1825, aScotch whiskydistillery was established in Balerno but it was shortlived and closed by 1830.[6]

In the 19th century, the village expanded with most of the present day stone buildings on the Main St dating from this period. These include the Grey Horse Inn (circa 1850), the late 19th century Malleny Arms Hotel (now the Balerno Inn), the Balerno Hardware and Pharmacy Buildings, as well as the buildings at 28-32 and 34 Main Street.[7][8][9][10][11]In 1877, a primary school 'Deanpark' was built in the village.[12][13]While the school moved to a new building in 1970, the original school, school Masters building and late annexes still exist and the spiredBell-cotis a focal point of the centre of the village.[13][12]The school was expanded on at least 3 occasions between 1880 and 1914 and the main building now serves as the village library.[13]

After the First World War house building began in earnest in the area and since then residential development has increased ahead of commercial and industrial development. There wasa short loop railwayrunning over what is now theWater of Leith Walkway.In 1938, the Royal Bank of Scotland building was erected in the village. It is category C listed and the building is now in use as a dentists.[14]

From 1951 onwards, Balerno was expanded with the creation of a new housing estate under the builders Mactaggart & Mickel.[15]In 1975, the village became part of the city of Edinburgh.[16]Also in 1975, part of the village was designated as a conservation area (with the boundaries enlarged in 1997).[17]In 1997, the village erected a memorial to a local resident Willie Shanks (BEM) for services to the people and children of Balerno.[18]

Governance

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Bavelaw Road in Balerno with the former Balerno Bank Paper Mill offices on the left

Local

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Balerno is governed by theCity of Edinburgh Counciland is also served by a local community council.[19]

Scottish Parliament

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Balerno is in theEdinburgh Pentlands constituencyfor theScottish Parliamentand theMember of the Scottish ParliamentisGordon MacDonald.[20]Balerno is also covered by theLothian electoral regionwhich gives the area seven additional MSPs.[21]

House of Commons

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Balerno is represented within the constituency ofEdinburgh South Westin theHouse of Commons.The currentMember of Parliament(MP) isScott Arthur.[22]

Culture and Community

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Malleny House & Gardens

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Malleny Gardens is owned by the National Trust for Scotland

The 17th centuryMalleny House and Gardenare owned by theNational Trust for Scotland.[23]The house incorporates parts of an early house dated to 1589.[23]It is thought thatSir James Murray of Kilbabertonwas the designer of the main house building.[23]While the house is not open to the public the gardens are and consist of a 3-acre (12,000 m2) walled garden set in approximately nine acres of woodland.[24]The gardens feature four 100-year-old yew trees known as the Four Apostles and was home to Scotland's National Bonsai Collection, which left around 2000 and is now located at Binny Plants nearEcclesmachan.[25]The gardens are home to one of the largest rose collections in Scotland.[26]

Scottish SPCA

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TheScottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animalsoperates an Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre on Mansfield Rd in Balerno. The SSPCA opened the centre in 1930 as a Rest Farm for working horses. The centre cares for and rehomes thousands of neglected and mistreated animals every year.

Farmers Market

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Afarmers' marketis held in Balerno Main Street on the second Saturday of each month. The Balerno Farmers Market is run by Balerno Village Trust.

Balerno Village Screen

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2013 saw the launch of Balerno Village Screen - a community cinema project with free admission and funded by donations. The screenings are shown monthly on the first Saturday of every month in the Ogston Hall and the St Joseph's Centre. So far around 400 villagers have turned out per screening to watch the films.[27]

Music Festival

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2008 saw the launch of Balerno's music festival with events held at Balerno Parish Church, Balerno Bowling Club, Balerno Parish Church New Hall, the Grey Horse Inn and the St Joseph's Centre.[28]

Red Moss Wildlife Reserve

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Red Moss is one of only four raised bogs of sphagnum moss surviving in the Lothians and is aSite of Special Scientific Interest.It is currently managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust.[29]

Transport

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See alsoTransport in Edinburgh
The Balerno Line on a 1915 map

Historical

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TheCaledonian Railwaybuilt theBalerno line,a spur line fromSlateford,viaColinton,which connectedBalerno railway stationto the centre of Edinburgh. The line saw an upsurge in housebuilding in Balerno. The last passenger train to run on the line was in 1943, and a High School was placed on the site of the goods station in 1983. The line runs adjacent to the Water of Leith river.

Present day

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TheA70runs near the village. The village is serviced by the 32 bus route to Cramond and the 44 to Wallyford, both of which is operated byLothian Buses.The route connects Balerno to Currie,Slateford,the City Centre,BrunstaneandEast Lothian.The village was also served by the E&M Horsburgh service 24 bus route, which connected it toJuniper Greenin one direction andEast CalderandLivingston,but this has been terminated.

Education

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Harmeny School in Balerno

Balerno Community High Schoolprovidessecondary educationfor local children of S1 to A6 age groups and was founded in 1983.[30]

Dean Park Primary Schoolis the local primary school and is located in the south of Balerno. The current school was built in 1972.[31]

Harmeny School is a grant-aided special school for primary school aged children with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties that was established in 1958.[32]As well as new buildings, part of the school occupies the former Mansfield House, a Category B listed ScottishArts and Crafts stylehouse.[33]The house was designed byDunn & Findlayin 1898 and then substantially altered between 1906/1907 byRobert Lorimer.[33]

Religious Sites

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Balerno Parish Church and Hall

Balerno has two churches (the parish church and St Mungo's Church).

Balerno Parish Church is part of theChurch of Scotland.The church was designed in aGothic stylebyJames Graham Fairleyand completed in 1888.[34]It is Category C listed, rectangular in shape and composed of sandstone andAshlar.[34]It was originally designed as a church for a United Presbyterian congregation.[34]

St Mungo's Church is part of theScottish Episcopal Church.The church was designed byRobert Rowand Andersonand completed in 1869.[35]The church is finished in whiteharlingand is Category B listed.[35]

The nearby former St Joseph's Catholic Church closed in August 2006, with the building purchased by Balerno Parish Church and renamed"The St Joseph's Centre".[36]

Sport

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Balerno is home toCurrie RFC,who play at Malleny Park.Curriewon theScottish Rugby UnionScottish Premiership Division Onein 2007 and 2010.

Balerno Bowling Club situated in the heart of the village dates back to 1885, plays lawn bowls in the Water of Leith league, Edinburgh & Leith Bowling Association.

Media

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C&B News– originallyCurrie & Balerno News– is a volunteer-led “local community news magazine” (available in print and as a downloadablePDF) covering Balerno and neighbouringCurrie,Juniper Green,Baberton MainsandColinton.Originally launched in February 1976, and published 10 times a year, the magazine features local news and articles, contributions from local political representatives, and updates on local planning issues—all voluntarily submitted by local residents.[37]The magazine published its 500th issue in October 2024.[38]

A bespoke edition of the “lifestyle and community magazine”Konectis delivered to households in Balerno and neighbouringCurrie,Juniper Green,Baberton MainsandRatho.[39]

Since 2021, Balerno Parish Church has published a monthly newsletter,Balerno Blether.[40]This replaced the previously bimonthly publicationThe Bridge,which ceased during theCovid-19lockdowns in 2020.

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^Bòrd na Gàidhlig - History of GaelicArchived11 September 2007 at theWayback Machine
  2. ^abHistoric Environment Scotland."Edinburgh, Balerno, Paper Mill (50308)".Canmore.Retrieved18 June2022.
  3. ^Historic Environment Scotland."45 BAVELAW ROAD, BALERNO BANK PAPER MILL OFFICES (Category B Listed Building) (LB26740)".Retrieved18 June2022.
  4. ^Historic Environment Scotland."41-43 (ODD NOS) BAVELAW ROAD, BALERNO BANK PAPER MILL LODGE WITH BOUNDARY WALL (Category C Listed Building) (LB26727)".Retrieved18 June2022.
  5. ^abcdHistoric Environment Scotland."44 HARLAW ROAD, THE GLEN, MALLENY MILL WITH MILL LADE AND BOUNDARY WALL (LB26907)".Canmore.Retrieved18 June2022.
  6. ^Moss, Michael (1981).The Making of Scotch Whisky. A History of the Scotch Whisky Distilling Industry.James and James.ISBN9780907383000.
  7. ^Historic Environment Scotland."20 AND 22 MAIN STREET, INCLUDING GREY HORSE INN (Category C Listed Building) (LB27124)".Retrieved18 June2022.
  8. ^Historic Environment Scotland."15 MAIN STREET, MALLENY ARMS HOTEL (Category C Listed Building) (LB27106)".Retrieved18 June2022.
  9. ^Historic Environment Scotland."24 AND 26 MAIN STREET, BALERNO HARDWARE AND PHARMACY (Category C Listed Building) (LB27131)".Retrieved18 June2022.
  10. ^Historic Environment Scotland."28-32 (EVEN NOS) MAIN STREET (Category C Listed Building) (LB27138)".Retrieved18 June2022.
  11. ^Historic Environment Scotland."34 MAIN STREET (Category B Listed Building) (LB27145)".Retrieved18 June2022.
  12. ^abHistoric Environment Scotland."17, BRIDGE ROAD, DEANPARK PRIMARY SCHOOL, SCHOOL MASTER'S HOUSE WITH BOUNDARY WALLS (Category C Listed Building) (LB26752)".Retrieved18 June2022.
  13. ^abcHistoric Environment Scotland."1 AND 5 MAIN STREET, BALERNO, DEAN PARK PRIMARY SCHOOL ANNEXE (Category C Listed Building) (LB49896)".Retrieved18 June2022.
  14. ^Historic Environment Scotland."4 MAIN STREET ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND WITH BOUNDARY WALL (LB27115)".Canmore.Retrieved18 June2022.
  15. ^Historic Environment Scotland."Balerno Housing Estate (183591)".Canmore.Retrieved18 June2022.
  16. ^"Edinburgh's Balerno: 18 pictures from the 1950s and 1960s of the village on the outskirts of the Capital".The Scotsman.Retrieved18 June2022.
  17. ^"Balerno conservation area".Edinburgh City Council.Retrieved18 June2022.
  18. ^Historic Environment Scotland."Balerno, Deanpark Brae (306286)".Canmore.Retrieved18 June2022.
  19. ^"Your locality, ward and community council".Edinburgh Council.Retrieved18 June2022.
  20. ^"Gordon MacDonald".The Scottish Parliament.Retrieved18 June2022.
  21. ^"Your MSPs - Lothian Region".The Scottish Parliament.Retrieved18 June2022.
  22. ^Swanson, Lan (9 July 2024)."Meet Edinburgh's new MPs: Scott Arthur, Labour MP for Edinburgh South West".edinburghnews.scotsman.Edinburgh Evening News.Retrieved15 July2024.
  23. ^abcHistoric Environment Scotland."MALLENY HOUSE WITH WALLED GARDEN, BOTHY, IRONWORK, GATES, GATEPIERS, GREEN COTTAGE AND STABLES (Category A Listed Building) (LB27172)".Retrieved18 June2022.
  24. ^"Malleny Garden".National Trust for Scotland.Retrieved18 June2022.
  25. ^"National Bonsai Collection - Scotland".
  26. ^"Malleny Garden".Woodland Trust.Retrieved18 June2022.
  27. ^Balerno Village Screen
  28. ^Best of Balerno Music Festival
  29. ^"MOSS OF BALERNO".Scottish Wildlife Trust.Retrieved18 June2022.
  30. ^"Balerno Community High School".Edinburgh City Council.Retrieved18 June2022.
  31. ^"About".Dean Park Primary School.Retrieved18 June2022.
  32. ^"History".Harmeny Education Trust.Retrieved18 June2022.
  33. ^abHistoric Environment Scotland."MANSFIELD ROAD, HARMENY HOUSE, (NOW SCHOOL) (Category B Listed Building) (LB27181)".Retrieved18 June2022.
  34. ^abcHistoric Environment Scotland."IONA ABBEY (Category C Listed Building) (LB26944)".Retrieved18 June2022.
  35. ^abHistoric Environment Scotland."11 LADYCROFT, ST MUNGO'S EPISCOPALIAN CHURCH WITH COTTAGE AND BOUNDARY WALL AND GATEPIERS (Category B Listed Building) (LB26991)".Retrieved18 June2022.
  36. ^Balerno Parish Church - The St Josephs' Centre.
  37. ^"C&B News".C&B News.Retrieved18 June2022.
  38. ^"Scottish Parliament".
  39. ^"Konect Balerno".Retrieved7 July2023.
  40. ^"Balerno Blether".Balerno Parish Church.Retrieved28 September2024.
  41. ^"Scars: Edinburgh teens who became post-punk heroes".Retrieved7 August2018.
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