Balgreen

Balgreen (/bɔːlˈɡriːn/ or /bɔːˈɡriːn/) (Scottish Gaelic: Baile Griain) is a suburb of Edinburgh, located approximately two miles west of the city centre, most commonly known for its primary school, Balgreen Primary. It is located to the west of Murrayfield and Saughtonhall, to the east of Corstorphine, and to the north of Gorgie. It is bound to the north by Corstorphine Hill, to the west by Carrick Knowe Golf Course, and roughly to the east by Water of Leith.

Balgreen
Corstorphine Hill, seen in the south from a residential street in Balgreen
Balgreen is located in the City of Edinburgh council area
Balgreen
Balgreen
Location within the City of Edinburgh council area
Balgreen is located in Scotland
Balgreen
Balgreen
Location within Scotland
OS grid referenceNT2188427537
Council area
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townEdinburgh
Postcode districtEH12, EH11
Dialling code0131
PoliceScotland
FireScottish
AmbulanceScottish
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament

Etymology

The name comes from Balgreen House once situated where Balgreen School now stands and is probably derived from Scottish Gaelic, perhaps being Baile na Grèine (sunny farm ) or Baile Griain (gravel farm) from the gravel on the riverbank, or perhaps from Baile 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 in Balerno and is not unusual in the area. The placename Balgreen is also found near Murieston and Ecclesmachanin West Lothian.[1]

Amenities

The Water of Leith flows through here with the Water of Leith Walkway connecting the area to Stockbridge to the north east and Colinton and Balerno to 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

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
towards Newhaven		   Newhaven - Edinburgh Airport   Saughton
towards Airport

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)

Rail

Balgreen was served by Balgreen Halt railway station which was closed in 1968.

Notable residents
  • William Stevenson (1772–1829), Scottish nonconformist preacher and writer, farmed in this area.[1]

References
  1. Bell, Raymond MacKean (2017). Literary Corstorphine: A reader's guide to West Edinburgh. Edinburgh: Leamington Books. ISBN 9780244644406.
  • Cant, Michael, Villages of Edinburgh volumes 1 & 2, John Donald Publishers Ltd., Edinburgh, 1986-1987. ISBN 0-85976-131-2 & ISBN 0-85976-186-X
  • Harris, Stuart (1996). The Place Names of Edinburgh. Edinburgh: Gordon Wright Publishing. p. 144. ISBN 0-903065-83-5.
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