Marchmont

For other uses, see Marchmont (disambiguation).

Marchmont Road

Marchmont is a mainly residential affluent area of Edinburgh, Scotland. It lies roughly a mile to the south of the Old Town, separated from it by The Meadows and Bruntsfield Links. To the west it is bounded by Bruntsfield; to the south-southwest by Greenhill and then Morningside; to the south-southeast by The Grange; and to the east by Sciennes.

History

The whole area was a planned development, some of it being on what was previously agricultural land known as the Warrender Park, that name now being retained in such areas as Warrender Park Crescent, Road and Terrace. The name Marchmont was originally only used to refer to Marchmont Crescent, Road and Street, but is now used for the whole area. The buildings are almost exclusively four-storey tenements, although the earliest plans and some of the first building works anticipated the area would contain almost exclusively townhouses. The earlier Victorian buildings are mostly pink sandstone in a form of Scottish baronial style, by architects such as Edward Calvert, while the later Victorian and Edwardian buildings are often in blonde sandstone, and in a plainer, more uniform style.

Originally, the area was not allowed to have any premises selling alcohol,^{[citation needed]} and although that is no longer the case, there are only a small number of licensed premises. As of mid 2008, the Earl of Marchmont was refurbished and reopened. Other licensed premises include the Argyle Bar, The Hide and the Links Hotel. There are also a number of off-licensed shops.

Today

Late-Victorian tenement building in a relatively plain style for Marchmont

Due to its proximity to the city centre, the presence of local amenities, and generally being considered a pleasant area, it is considered a fairly desirable location to live in. This is reflected in high house prices, though these are now typical of most of Edinburgh. It is highly popular with students, with both Edinburgh University and Napier University within easy walking distance. There is a certain friction between permanent residents and temporary ones (many of whom are students), with the Marchmont Action Group Promoting Initiatives for the Environment (MAGPIE) unsuccessfully petitioning the Scottish Parliament to impose quotas on shared accommodation by restricting the number of Houses of Multiple Occupation Licences (HMO’s) granted for the area.

The area is home to the mosaic-tiled B-listed Warrender Swimming Baths, opened in 1887 and recently restored.

James Gillespie's High School has been in its present building in Marchmont since the 1960s. Local churches include St. Catherine's-Argyle and Marchmont St. Giles — both Church of Scotland. Both host various community activities including a playgroup.

Marchmont in fiction

Arden Street is home to Ian Rankin's fictional Detective Inspector John Rebus. (The author himself lives in nearby Merchiston, although he did reside on Arden Street at one point.)

The once James Gillespie's High School for Girls on Warrender Park Crescent was the school attended by Muriel Spark, and the lead character (and school) in her book, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie are said to be very closely based on her experiences there.

Pat McGregor from the 44 Scotland Street series by Alexander McCall Smith also lives in Spottiswoode Street for a time in Love Over Scotland.

Bibliography

Cant, Malcolm. Marchmont in Edinburgh. Edinburgh: J. Donald, 1984.

---. Marchmont, Sciennes and the Grange. Edinburgh: Cant, 2001.

References

Coordinates: 55°56′17.19″N 3°11′35.56″W / 55.9381083°N 3.1932111°W / 55.9381083; -3.1932111