Craigleith, Edinburgh

Craigleith (Scottish Gaelic: Creag Lìte) is a district of west Edinburgh, Scotland. Its name comes from various forms of Craig of Inverleith or rock or hill of Inverleith. Much of the Craigleith sandstone was used to build the old and new town houses in Edinburgh as well as many famous buildings including Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace and the statue of Nelson on Nelson's Column in London. Because of its particular hardness, Craigleith Sandstone was also favoured for cutting stones used in the making of cut glass during the Victorian era.^[1]

The Craigleith area extends from Ravelston Dykes, to Crewe Toll and the Ferry Road, and Comely Bank on the east. Queensferry Road and Craigleith Road both pass through here.

The area is generally middle class, across the entire range, and may sometimes be known as "Bungalow Land". There is a disproportionate number of private schools near here, notably Stewart's Melville College and The Mary Erskine School. Craigleith Retail Park was built upon the infilled Craigleith Quarry in 1995 and is situated at the junction of Queensferry Road and Craigleith Road. The Royal Victoria Hospital is off Craigleith Road while the Western General Hospital on Crewe Road was opened in 1868 as the Craigleith Hospital and Poorhouse.

References

See also

• Edinburgh Crystal

External links

• A History of the Craigleith Hill District

Areas of Edinburgh
Abbeyhill Alnwickhill Ardmillan Baberton Balerno Balgreen Bankhead Barnton Beechmount Bingham Blackford Blackhall Bonaly Bonnington Burghmuirhead Braepark Broomhouse Broughton Brunstane Bruntsfield Bughtlin Burdiehouse The Calders Cameron Toll Cammo The Canongate Canonmills Chesser Church Hill Clermiston Colinton Comely Bank Comiston Corstorphine Cowgate Craigcrook Craigentinny Craigleith Craiglockhart Craigmillar Cramond Crewe Toll Currie Curriehill Dalmeny Dalmahoy Dalry Davidson's Mains Dean Village Drumbrae Drylaw Duddingston Dumbiedykes East Craigs East Pilton Easter Road Eastfield Edinburgh Park Fairmilehead Ferniehill Ferry Road Firrhill Forrester Fountainbridge Gilmerton Gogar Gogarloch Goldenacre Gorgie The Grange Grassmarket Granton Greenbank Greendykes Greenhill Haymarket Hermiston Holy Corner Holyrood Holyrood Park Hunter's Tryst Ingliston Inverleith Jock's Lodge Joppa Juniper Green Kaimes Kingsknowe Kirkliston Lauriston Leith Liberton Little France Lochend Lochrin Longstone Marchmont Maybury Mayfield Meadowbank The Meadows Merchiston Moredun Morningside Mortonhall Mountcastle Muirhouse Murrayfield New Town Newbridge Newcraighall Newhaven Newington Niddrie Northfield Old Town Oxgangs Parkgrove Parkhead Piershill Pilrig Pilton Polwarth Portobello Powderhall Prestonfield Ratho Ratho Station Ravelston Redford Restalrig Riccarton Roseburn Saughton Sciennes Seafield Shandon Sighthill Silverknowes Slateford South Gyle South Queensferry Stenhouse Stockbridge Swanston Tollcross Torphin Trinity Turnhouse Tynecastle Warriston West Coates West Craigs West End West Pilton Wester Broom Wester Hailes Western Harbour Westfield

Coordinates: 55°57′42″N 003°13′43″W / 55.96167°N 3.22861°W / 55.96167; -3.22861 (Craigleith)