Balerno
Balerno
|
|
|---|---|
 Balerno
|
|
| Balerno shown within Edinburgh | |
| Population | 6,031 (2001 Census) |
| OS grid reference | NT165665 |
| Council area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BALERNO |
| Postcode district | EH14 |
| Dialling code | 0131 |
| Police | Scottish |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
Balerno (Scottish Gaelic: Baile Àirneach) is a suburb of Edinburgh, Scotland situated 8 miles south west of the city centre, next to Juniper Green and Currie. Administratively, Balerno falls within the jurisdiction of the City of Edinburgh Council.
Its name derives from the Scottish Gaelic Baile Airneach, meaning "townland/town of the hawthorns". The earliest written records of Balhernoch or Balernach are found in the late 13th century.
The 18th Century brought substantial development to the area, with many new flax, snuff and paper mills springing up around the Water of Leith and its tributary, the Bavelaw Burn (evidence of flax production can be seen in Harlaw Woods). The largest of these mills, Balerno Bank Paper Mill located near the centre of the old village closed in the early 1970s. After the First World War house building began in earnest in the area and since then residential pressures have almost overwhelmed commercial and industrial ones. There was a short loop railway running over what is now the Water of Leith Walkway.
Balerno Community High School was founded in 1983. Dean Park Primary School is the local primary school. It is located in the south of Balerno.
Balerno is home to Currie RFC, who play at Malleny Park. Currie won the Scottish Rugby Union Scottish Premiership Division One in 2007 and 2010. Balerno Bowling Club situated in the heart of the village dates back to 1885, plays lawn bowls in the Water of Leith league, Edinburgh & Leith Bowling Association.
The 17th century Malleny House and its surrounding gardens are owned by the National Trust for Scotland. While the house is not open to the public the gardens are and consist of a 3-acre (12,000 m2) walled garden set in approximately nine acres of woodland. The gardens feature four 100-year-old yew trees known as the Four Apostles and was home to Scotland’s National Bonsai Collection, which left around 2000 and is now located at Binny Plants near Ecclesmachan.
...
Wikipedia