Dean Village to Stockbridge

As my hosts live in Stockbridge I thought this walk to Dean Village and back would be a neat morning outing. And well away from the central Edinburgh crowds. Indeed at the start in Dean Bridge it was wonderfully peaceful. And nice view across the city too

Dean Bridge, built by the famous civil engineer Thomas Telford with Holy Trinity Church beyond, both from the 1830s

Kirkbrae House, originally a tavern for millers and bakers in the 17th century

Drumsraugh Baths

There are a few streets here with mews houses that are nice to wander through 

And then suddenly one comes upon the Water of Leith - a beautiful stretch of river. And suddenly the peace of my morning from tourists ended. Edinburgh tour groups obviously head to this spot and the little footbridge is smothered in people taking selfies.

The prosperity of this area, and the reason for the tall buildings by the river's edge, was based on the river and the power that it could generate for flour mills.

Wells Court, built in the 1880s for working class tenants of the area

The Old Village School from 1875, but now flats

A late 18th century tenement building

West Mill. Once industrial these mills now look picturesque. Its a very photogenic setting

The sign of the Baxters - bakers. Although they look reminiscent of tennis rackets, they are supposed to be crossed bread paddles used to get the loaves (three on each paddle) out of the oven.

Baxters Tolbooth which the stonework declares dates from 1675

Now the walk leads down the river

This is the site of a demolished mill, Lindsays Mill, the only remnants of which are a pile of millstones cemented into the middle of the viewing platform

This is Dean Bridge again, this time from below. Fine bit of Victorian engineering.

St Bernard's Well. The spring was topped by a structure designed by the artist Alexander Nasmyth as a Greek Temple, with a statue of Hygieia, the Greek goddess of health, in the middle.

This really is a delightful river walk on a sunny summers day.

St Bernard's Bridge

There are some really substantial lovely houses up here. This street has a very rare feature in Edinburgh - front gardens

A fine clock tower stands here, originally part of the Edinburgh Savings Bank, but now above a not very good pizza chin restaurant. (Had lunch there - great setting, but awful food) 

The Stockbridge Colonies, originally terraces of working class accommodation

Stockbridge Parish Church built by architect James Milne

Stockbridge Library

St Stephens Place. This grand entrance was originally to Stockbridge Market

Now onto St Stephens Road where my friends had a flat. This Victorian building is now owned a dance company

Next door is the former St Stephens School. Even the schools in the 1830s were built to fit in with the overall look of the area, rather tan to stick out as a building of very different use to the surrounding residencies.

St Stephens Church , designed by the influential Edinburgh architect William Henry Playfair. There is statue to him in central Edinburgh.

This house is known as Duncan's Land, "Land" in Scots meaning "property", and was the home of the artist David Roberts, particularly known for his exotic watercolours of Eastern lands. Although the house dates back to the 1790s, the stones came from buildings demolished to make was for the New Town, hence the stone lintel above the doorway dated 1609.