Balerno

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Balerno is a suburb of the Scottish capital Edinburgh. It is considered one of the wealthier suburbs, and lies to the far south west of the city, next to Juniper Green and Currie.

[edit] History

Its name derives from the Scottish Gaelic Baile Airneach, meaning "town of the sloe". Written records of Balerno date back to the 1300s.

Balerno is a well known and loved town, it has many beautiful houses there! The 18th Century brought a splurge of development in the area, with many new flax, snuff and paper mills springing up around the Water of Leith. These mills were a prominent feature of village life until fairly recently. The arrival of a railway from the centre of Edinburgh saw an upsurge in housebuilding in the area. Since the arrival of the railway, residential pressures have overwhelmed commercial and industrial ones, with the last of the mills closing in the 20th century. The railway has since been removed, with a new High School placed on the site of the station in 1984. Balerno's community newspaper, as well as Currie and Juniper Green, is The Currie and Balerno News: [1] Balerno is on the foot of the Pentland Hills, and is a centre for hillwalking in Edinburgh. The town is serviced by the 44 bus route.

Balerno Community High School is one of the most successful schools in Edinburgh, consistently receiving good marks in the Scotsman annual school list. Balerno also has a Primary School (split over two locations). Balerno has two churches, St Mungo's church and Balerno Parish Church (Church of Scotland). St Josephs Catholic Church closed in August 2006.

Balerno is also home to Currie Rugby Football Club, who were eighth in the Scottish Rugby Union BT Premiership Division 1 2005/2006.

A farmers market is held in Balerno each month.

The earliest written records of Balhernoch or Balernach are found in the late 13th century. The coming of the turnpike road in the 18th century brought a burst of development in the area, and the start of the mills that were to become a prominent feature of village life until recent times. An abundant water supply from the nearby Pentland Hills powered barley, flax, snuff, and especially paper mills.

The arrival of a railway from the city opened up new possibilities, and after the First World War house building began in earnest in the area. Since then, residential pressures have almost overwhelmed commercial and industrial ones. After two centuries of paper-making, the last mill has closed - and as a further sign of the times, a well respected High School has been built on the former railway station.