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Coordinates: 55°53'05?N 3°20'17?W? / ?55.884699, -3.338127
Balerno is a suburb of the Scottish capital Edinburgh. It is considered one of the wealthier suburbs, and lies to the far south west of the city, next to Juniper Green and Currie.
[edit] History
Its name derives from the Scottish Gaelic Baile Airneach, meaning "hawthorn farm" [1]. The earliest written records of Balhernoch or Balernach are found in the late 13th century.
The 18th Century brought a splurge of development in the area, with many new flax, snuff and paper mills springing up around the Water of Leith. These mills were a prominent feature of village life until fairly recently. The arrival of a railway from the centre of Edinburgh saw an upsurge in housebuilding in the area. Since the arrival of the railway, residential pressures have overwhelmed commercial and industrial ones, with the last of the mills closing in the 20th century. The railway has since been removed, with a new High School placed on the site of the station in 1984.
[edit] Transport
The A70 runs near the town. The town is serviced by the Lothian Buses 44 bus route, which connects Balerno to Currie, Slateford, the City Centre, Brunstane and East Lothian. The town is also served by the First Edinburgh 424 bus route, which connects it to Juniper Green in one direction and East Calder and Livingston, however this only runs every 2 hours Monday to Friday.
[edit] Schools
Balerno Community High School is one of the most successful schools in Edinburgh, consistently receiving good marks in the Scotsman annual school list. Dean Park Primary School is the local primary school, and it is split over two locations in Balerno.
[edit] Churches
Balerno has two churches, St Mungo's Church (Scottish Episcopalian) and Balerno Parish Church (Church of Scotland). St Joseph's Catholic Church closed in August 2006.
Balerno is home to Currie RFC, who play at Malleny Park. Currie won the Scottish Rugby Union Scottish Hydro Electric Premiership Division One in 2007.
[edit] Farmers Market
A farmers' market is held in Balerno Main Street on the second Saturday of each month.
[edit] Local Newspaper
Balerno's community newspaper, as well as Currie and Juniper Green, is The Currie and Balerno News [2].
[edit] References
- , Bòrd na Gàidhlig - History of Gaelic
- , CBNEWS
[edit] External links
(Source: Wikipedia) |