Balgreen ( or ) (
Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic ( gd, Gàidhlig ), also known as Scots Gaelic and Gaelic, is a Goidelic language (in the Celtic branch of the Indo-European language family) native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a Goidelic language, Scottish Gaelic, as well as ...
: ''Baile Griain)'' is a suburb of
Edinburgh
Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...
, 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
Carrick Knowe is a suburb in the west of Edinburgh in Scotland, located approximately 3 miles from the city centre. It is bordered by Tyler's Acre to the north, the Glasgow/Aberdeen railway line to the south, Carrick Knowe Golf Course to the east ...
Golf Course, and roughly to the east by
Water of Leith.
Etymology
The name comes from Balgreen House once situated where Balgreen School now stands and is probably derived from
Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic ( gd, Gàidhlig ), also known as Scots Gaelic and Gaelic, is a Goidelic language (in the Celtic branch of the Indo-European language family) native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a Goidelic language, Scottish Gaelic, as well as ...
, 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
West Lothian ( sco, Wast Lowden; gd, Lodainn an Iar) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and was one of its historic counties. The county was called Linlithgowshire until 1925. The historic county was bounded geographically by the A ...
.
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.
Buses
Lothian Buses
Lothian Buses is a major bus operator based in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is the largest municipal bus company in the United Kingdom: the City of Edinburgh Council (through Transport for Edinburgh) owns 91%, Midlothian Council 5%, East Lothi ...
* 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.
[
]
References
* Bell, Raymond MacKean ''Literary Corstorphine: A reader's guide to West Edinburgh'', Leamington Books, Edinburgh 2017
* Cant, Michael, ''Villages of Edinburgh'' volumes 1 & 2, John Donald Publishers Ltd., Edinburgh, 1986-1987. &
* Harris, Stuart (1996). The Place Names of Edinburgh. Edinburgh: Gordon Wright Publishing. p. 144. .
{{coord, 55, 56, 34, N, 003, 15, 23, W, type:city_region:GB-EDH_scale:30000, display=title, name=Balgreen
Areas of Edinburgh
1986 Commonwealth Games venues
Edinburgh Trams stops