Davidson's Mains
| Davidson's Mains | |
|---|---|
 Cottages | |
  Davidson's Mains Location within theCity of Edinburgh council area  Davidson's Mains Location withinScotland | |
| OS grid reference | NT204755 |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area |
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| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | EDINBURGH |
| Postcode district | EH4 |
| Dialling code | 0131 |
| Police | Scotland |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
Davidson's Mainsis a former village and now a district in the north-west ofEdinburgh,Scotland.[1]It is adjacent to the districts ofBarnton,Cramond,Silverknowes,Blackhalland Corbiehill/House O'Hill. It was absorbed into Edinburgh as part of the boundary changes in 1920 and is part of the EH4 postcode area.
Locals sometimes abbreviate the name toD'Mainsor even simplyDmains.
Etymology[edit]
The place is named after William Davidson, a wealthy merchant who boughtMuirhouse,east of the district, in 1776.[2]AmainsisLowland Scotsfor an estate farm orhome farm.
Prior to the 19th century, it was known asMuttonhole.[1]Locals continued to use this name until at least 1860.[3]The origin of this name is unknown, though it perhaps refers to the local sheep farming industry.[4] Muttonholecould also be derived frommort-toun-hole,another name for a "murder hole" (drowning pit).[5]
History[edit]
The original village runs east-west and is still identifiable as a series of modest cottages on each side of the road. Quality Street was added in 1827, designed byJames Gillespie Graham.The church on Quality Street was built as Cramond Free Church in 1843 and is byDavid Cousin.The railway arrived late in 1894 but spurred villa development to the north and north-west.[6]
Description[edit]
Within the district there is a variety of shops and businesses, ranging from cobblers to large supermarkets, as well as food outlets of various kinds. The district is also served by four churches, a Tesco, 2 veterinary surgery, adoctor's surgery,two dental surgeries, the Corbie and other takeaways, a primary school and a Greggs.[7]The state secondary school that serves the area is theRoyal High School.Davidson's Mains Park is near the high school which has a play park and a football pitch.
Public Transport[edit]
Davidson's Mains railway stationclosed in 1951 prior to theBeeching cutsdue to underuse. The area lay beyond the Edinburgh tram network.[8]
The district is currently served by two bus routes run byLothian Buses:the 21, which travels to the Gyle Centre viaClermistonand toLeithin the other direction; and the 47, which travels fromCammotoPenicuik.
References[edit]
- ^ab"Davidson's Mains (Muttonhole)".Gazetteer for Scotland.
- ^"Granton History: Muirhouse".
- ^Grants Old and New Edinburgh vol.5 p.110
- ^"A Brief History of Davidson's Mains".Archived fromthe originalon 4 September 2014.
- ^Cameron, Archibald Cowie (1899).The History of Fettercairn.J. and R. Parlane. p. 142.
"Gallowhills," and the women by drowning in the Mort-toun-holes, or "Muttonholes" as these are now called.
- ^Buildings of Scotland: Edinburgh by Gifford, McWilliam and Walker
- ^"home".Davidson's Mains Primary School.Retrieved2 January2016.
- ^"Granton History: Edinburgh tram routes 1950".
External links[edit]
- Davidson's Mains Parish Church (Church of Scotland)
- Church of the Holy Cross Davidson's Mains (Scottish Episcopal)
