Dalry, Edinburgh
Dalry (/dælˈraɪ/ dal-RYE) is an area close to the centre of the Scottish capital Edinburgh, between Haymarket and Gorgie. The name Dalry may derive from Dail Ruigh or Dail Righ, Scottish Gaelic for the "Meadow Slope" or "King's Meadow" respectively. "Field of the heather" from Dail and Scottish Gaelic fhraoich, heather, has also been suggested as a derivation.[1] Dalry is often mentioned along with the neighbouring area of Gorgie to the southwest, and the joint name Gorgie-Dalry is commonly used by the City of Edinburgh Council. Dalry also borders Ardmillan. It has become an increasingly popular residential area in recent years, and has a range of shops, restaurants and leisure facilities. Princes Street, in central Edinburgh, is ten to fifteen minutes' walk from the area. Many of Edinburgh's major employers are also within walking distance.
Dalry was developed in the nineteenth century and contains a mix of traditional tenements, "colonies" (terraced houses where one floor has an entrance at one side, and the other floor has an entrance on the other side; street names follow the buildings rather than the roads between them), and much more recently built residential properties, including a substantial development on the site of a former distillery and other light industry.
Dalry has one of Edinburgh's Victorian swimming baths, now known as Dalry Swim Centre, in Caledonian Crescent.[2] Nearby is the former mansion Dalry House, built about 1661, probably for the Chieslie family. The house was reputedly haunted by a member of the family who was hanged for a shooting in 1680.[3] Once set in extensive grounds, the house is now surrounded by tenements. From the late nineteenth century to about 1960 it was used as a teacher training college, then by the Edinburgh & Leith Old People's Welfare Committee for social activities, classes and a lunch club until closed down in 2002. The house has been converted into flats.[4] Also nearby is St. Brides Community Centre in Orwell Terrace, run by the City of Edinburgh Council in the former St. Bride's church and offering a programme of classes and activities for adults and children.[5]
The east end of Dalry has seen major development, but a large area at Haymarket, to the east of Dalry, has been empty and partly used as a car park for a number of years following the closure of the railway depot previously located in the area. The site was included in the shortlist of potential locations for the Scottish Parliament. A plan has now been approved to build a large retail, hotel and office development there.
See also
Coordinates: 55°56′36.85″N 3°13′10.52″W / 55.9435694°N 3.2195889°W
References
- ↑ Ross, David (2001),Scottish Place-names, Birlinn, Edinburgh, p.63. ISBN 1-84158-173-9
- ↑ http://www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/list-79
- ↑ http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2314454
- ↑ http://www.edinburghsilversurfers.co.uk/framefree/dalryhouse.htm
- ↑ http://www.stbrides.org/