Balgreen

Balgreen Scottish Gaelic:Baile Griain
Corstorphine Hill,seen in the south from a residential street in Balgreen
Balgreen Location within theCity of Edinburgh council area Balgreen Location withinScotland
OS grid reference	NT2188427537
Council area	City of Edinburgh
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Edinburgh
Postcode district	EH12, EH11
Dialling code	0131
Police	Scotland
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
UK Parliament	Edinburgh West
Scottish Parliament	Edinburgh Central

Balgreen(/bɔːlˈɡriːn/or/bɔːˈɡriːn/) (Scottish Gaelic:Baile Griain)is a suburb ofEdinburgh,located approximately two miles west of the city centre, most commonly known for its primary school, Balgreen Primary. It is located to the west ofMurrayfieldandSaughtonhall,to the east ofCorstorphine,and to the north ofGorgie.It is bound to the north byCorstorphine Hill,to the west byCarrick KnoweGolf Course, and roughly to the east byWater of Leith.

Etymology

The name comes from Balgreen House once situated where Balgreen School now stands and is probably derived fromScottish Gaelic,perhaps beingBaile na Grèine(sunny farm ) orBaile Griain(gravel farm) from the gravel on the riverbank, or perhaps fromBaile Grianain(farm of the sunny enclosure). It does not, as some etymologies have suggested, come from "Ball Green". The Gaelic "Bal-" (farm) prefix can also be found inBalernoand is not unusual in the area. The placename Balgreen is also found nearMuriestonandEcclesmachaninWest Lothian.

Amenities

The Water of Leith flows through here with theWater of Leith Walkwayconnecting the area toStockbridgeto the north east andColintonandBalernoto the south west. There is also a library, primary school, and a large park here, with facilities for football (soccer) etc., and a children's playpark.

Transport

Balgreen was served byBalgreen Halt railway stationwhich was closed in 1968

Tram

Balgreen tram stop is located off Balgreen Road, adjacently north of the main Glasgow to Edinburgh railway line.

Preceding station		Edinburgh Trams		Following station
Murrayfield towardsNewhaven		Newhaven - Edinburgh Airport		Saughton towardsAirport

Buses

Lothian Buses

• 12,26,31 (Corstorphine Road)
• 1,2,22,30 (Western Approach Road)
• 38 (Balgreen Road/ Saughtonhall Drive)

McGill's Scotland East

• 21 and 22 (Corstorphine Road)

Notable residents

• William Stevenson(1772–1829), Scottish nonconformist preacher and writer, farmed in this area.

References

• Cant, Michael,Villages of Edinburghvolumes 1 & 2, John Donald Publishers Ltd., Edinburgh, 1986-1987.ISBN0-85976-131-2&ISBN0-85976-186-X
• Harris, Stuart (1996). The Place Names of Edinburgh. Edinburgh: Gordon Wright Publishing. p. 144.ISBN0-903065-83-5.