Marchmont
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- This article is about the area of Edinburgh. Marchmont is also the title of a novel published in 1796 by Charlotte Smith.
Marchmont is a mainly residential area of Edinburgh, Scotland.
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[edit] Location
Marchmont is 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.
[edit] 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 to refer to Marchmont Crescent, Road and Street, but is now used for the whole area. The buildings are almost exclusively four-storey tenements. 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 regular 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 two notable pubs, The Argyle Bar and The Earl of Marchmont. There are, however, a number of off-licensed shops.
[edit] Today
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.[citation needed]
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. The latter hosts various community activities including a playgroup.
[edit] Marchmont in fiction
Arden Street is home to Ian Rankin's fictional Detective Inspector John Rebus. (The author himself lives in nearby Merchiston.)
The once James Gillespie's School for Girls on Warrender Park Terrace 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.
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