The Incorporation of Baxters

The Incorporation of Baxters was the Union of Bakers back in the days when Dean Village, was an industrial powerhouse of Edinburgh, full of mills. The first photo shows what looks like a large oven (now filled in) with a plaque for the Incorporation above it; the second photo is a different angle on the same building and the last photo shows a smaller plaque for the Incorporation that is found on the bridge at Bell's Brae in Dean Village.

Dean Village Bridge

This is a bridge across the Water of Leith in Dean Village. It was built more or less at the point where the original ford crossed the river when Dean Village was first established as a settlement. You can see more of my photos of Dean Village on this blog here (and that post itself includes more links if you're really interested!).

I posted a photo of another bridge across the Water of Leith today over on Crafty Green Poet. You can see that here.

for Sunday Bridges

St George's Well

St George's Well is the 'poor relation' to the much more elaborate St Bernard's Well along the Water of Leith.

St Bernard's Well

Assording to legend StBernard's Well was originally discovered by Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, the founder of the Cistercian Order, in the 12th Century, who was ill and living in a cave near the Water of Leith. He noticed the spring because so many birds visited it and he drank its healing waters until his strength returned.

The well was re-discovered by three school boys from Heriot's School while they were fishing in the Water of Leith in 1760. A simple well house covered it until 1789, when the current building was commissioned by Lord Gardenstone and designed by Edinburgh landscape painter Alexander Nasymth. The marble statue represents Hygieia, Goddess of Health.

For decades wealthy holiday makers used to visit Edinburgh to take the well's waters. These waters were believed to cure arthritis, back ache, and even blindness. The taste was apparently pretty disgusting though. At one point the pump room apparently resembled a continental cafe and the water was even bottled at one point. The well remained open until 1940. Nowadays you can access the interior only on special occasions such as Edinburgh's Doors Open Day.

I posted a photo of bridges further up the Water of Leith over on Crafty Green Poet. You can see them here.

The Dene

The Dene is a peculiar bridge and stairway over the Water of Leith in Stockbridge, Edinburgh. It featured in a scene in the excellent Edinburgh set horror film Outcast. I haven't been able to find out anything about the history of the Dene though, so if anyone knows anything please let me know!

There are lots of interesting bridges over the Water of Leith, you can see photos of some of the others here, here and here.

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For Sunday Bridges

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Sandy over on Witterings recently posted about the Water of Leith, you can read what he said and see his photos, here.

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As ever, coloured text takes you to other pages, where you can find out more!

Dean Village

A couple more photos of the beautiful Dean Village along the Water of Leith. I recently attended the Water of Leith Conservation Trust stakeholder conference, you can read more about that here.

You can see my other recent photos of Dean Village on this blog by following the links below:

Well Court.

Dean Bridge.

Drumsheugh Turkish Baths.

Dean Bridge

This photo shows part of the Dean Bridge, which spans the Water of Leith. It was built in 1832 by Thomas Telford and offered a more direct route into Edinburgh from outlying areas. It bypassed Dean Village and helped to push it into economic decline, though these days it has recovered and is a popular and attractive suburb of Edinburgh.

The building in front of the bridge is a Category B listed building now occupied by offices, though used to be a former squash court. (Thanks Nemesis Republic for this piece of information!)

For Sunday Bridges

as ever, text in orange links to other websites where you can find out more.

Well Court, Dean Village

This Category A listed building was built in 1883-86 in the Dean Village as housing for local workers. The building was commissioned by Sir John Findlay, who at one time was the proprietor of The Scotsman. He bought the land and had the old tenements cleared away so his new model housing could be built.

Well Court is a quadrangle of small flats around a central courtyard, built with distinctive red sandstone dressings. An advertisement of the period described Well Court as “providing homes of two and three rooms with conveniences, let to a respectable class of working men at rentals of £7 to £12 per annum”. There was also a meeting house where weddings, parties and functions were held. There was a resident factor, who lived in the clock tower block.

The building was extensively renovated in 2007/08.

Colinton

This is one of my favourite buildings in Colinton. Colinton is one of the original villages along the Water of Leith. It is now part of the City of Edinburgh but still feels quite like a village.

Today I took a lot of photos along the Water of Leith in Dean Village, I'll be sharing some of those here in the next few weeks!