Stockbridge
If you are looking to relocate to Edinburgh, my monthly choice of one of the lovely places to live in seems very timely. Stockbridge has just been named the location of least deprivation in Scotland! The figures are based on a measurement of seven criteria – levels of income, employment, health, education, housing, access to services and crime. Here are my thoughts why Stockbridge topped the bill!
St Stephen Street
Stockbridge is a lovely small catchment of Edinburgh to live in! It has the feel of a little village on its own, but importantly within 20 mins walking distance of George Street. Come down the hill on Howe Street, with the hills of Fife ahead across the Forth. Walk between the grandeur of Royal Circus and down into Stockbridge itself. St Stephen Street to your right, site of the old Stockbridge Market, now with an array of boutiques, vintage shops, diners and interior design shops. Having been tempted into the Golden Hare bookshop today, I came away enthused and inspired. And consequently poorer! I lived at the far end of St Stephen Street 20 years ago. It wasn’t nearly as desirable then!
It’s all here
Just before you hit the bridge, is the location for the Farmer’s Market is held every Sunday. It features local produce, street food, creative crafts and art work. The delicious Paella hits the mark every time. Cross over the water of Leith, continue on around the corner into a choice of fantastic cafes and restaurants, charity shops, an art and jewellery shop, bakery, fishmonger, independent designer outlets…its all there. What other area of Edinburgh can support two cheese shops at either end of a half mile stretch?
Rugby, taking the waters and bagpipes
Up on the hill to the south is Ann Street – one of the most desirable and sought after residential streets in Edinburgh. To the North, as you travel out towards Comely Bank, is Raeburn Place – home of Edinburgh Acies rugby club. Most noteworthy for us Scots, Raeburn Place was the site of The first international
rugby football game. It took place in 1871, between England and Scotland – Scotland won! We hold onto these moments!
The joy of Stockbridge comes not just from the local trades and services, but the access to green space on the doorstep. Turn left before the bridge over the water of Leith, and walk upstream to St Bernard’s Well, a well house originally built in 1760. The waters of the well were thought to have medicinal qualities. As a result , they were frequented by the nobility and gentry. Continue up the river to Dean Village – another blog!
On the other side of Raeburn Place, past the holy ground of Scottish rugby, is Inverleith Park – a recreation ground used by the local dog walkers, rugby and cricket teams, and food festivals. It also happens to be a fantastic viewpoint for the Hogmanay and Edinburgh Festival fireworks for those less inclined to camp out on Princes’ Street. Sometimes you even get a resident piper with the castle in the background – just incase you weren’t already sold!
Schools
There are two good local Primary Schools, Stockbridge Primary and The Flora Stevenson Primary School. Broughton High school serves the secondary state pupils. However, Stockbridge has a plethora of Independent Schools, that should cover all bases. The Edinburgh Academy www.edinburghacademy.org.uk, Fettes College
www.fettes.com, and Erskine Stewart’s Melville School www.esms.org.uk