Slateford Explained

Official Name:Slateford
Gaelic Name:Àth na Sglèata
Country:Scotland
Pushpin Map:Edinburgh
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within the City of Edinburgh council area
Coordinates:55.9281°N -3.2417°W
Os Grid Reference:NT219706
Static Image Name:Slateford Aqueduct and Viaduct - geograph.org.uk - 1532265.jpg
Static Image Caption:Slateford Aqueduct
Unitary Scotland:City of Edinburgh
Lieutenancy Scotland:Edinburgh
Post Town:EDINBURGH
Postcode Area:EH
Postcode District:EH14
Dial Code:0131
Constituency Westminster:Edinburgh South West
Constituency Scottish Parliament:Edinburgh Southern

Slateford (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Àth na Sglèata)[1] is an area of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. It is east of the Water of Leith.

The former village of Slateford lies on the Lanark Road where it crosses the Water of Leith, NaNmiles south west of Slateford Station. The name "Slateford" comes from local rock found in the area and the old fording point on the Water of Leith that the village grew round. In 1882 it had a post office with money order savings bank and telegraph departments, a police station, a Good Templars Hall, School, U.P. Church and the extensive bleachfields of Inglis Green. The village was crossed by the Union Canal Slateford Aqueduct in 1822 and a few years later the 14-arch viaduct carrying the Caledonian railway line. The situe of the Canal, Road and Rail bridges capture all three modes of transport together still to this day. In 1952 and later in 1967 major road widening projects removed all but a few of the original cottages, though Slateford House, School (Now the headquarters and visitor centre for the Water of Leith conservation trust), and Church (used as a warehouse) still stand today.

Slateford is home to the first car-free housing development in the UK, Slateford Green.[2]

Rail transport

Slateford railway station is served by hourly trains to Edinburgh Waverley to the east and Shotts and Glasgow Central to the west. Certain Peak journeys run to and from North Berwick.

Bus transport

Lothian Buses operate six routes to the area:

4 Hillend – Oxgangs – Slateford Station – Haymarket – Princes Street – Meadowbank – Northfield – Bingham – The Jewel - Queen Margaret Uni34 Riccarton – Sighthill – Longstone – Slateford Station – Fountainbridge – Princes Street – Lochend – Leith – Ocean Terminal35 Riccarton - Sighthill – Chesser – Fountainbridge – Canongate – Easter Road - Leith – Ocean Terminal36 Gyle Centre - Hermiston Gait - Sighthill - Longstone - Craiglockhart - Morningside - Tollcross - Bonnington - Leith - Ocean Terminal44 Balerno – Currie - Slateford Station – Haymarket – Princes Street – Meadowbank – Willowbrae - Brunstane – Musselburgh – WallyfordN44 Balerno – Currie - Slateford Station – Haymarket – Princes Street – Elm Row

McGill's Scotland East operates one service to the area

20 ASDA Chesser – Longstone – Kingsknowe – Wester Hailes – The Calders – Bankhead – Hermiston Gait – Edinburgh Park – Gyle Centre - Ratho

Notable people

References

  1. http://www.gaelicplacenames.org/databasedetails.php?id=1268 Gaelic Place-Names of Scotland
  2. Web site: Ryley. Tim. Encouraging Bicycle Use in Residential Neighbourhoods: Insights from Edinburgh. 5th Cycling and Society Symposium UWE 2008: Bicycle use in residential neighbourhoods. University of the West of England. 25 February 2013.

External links