Meadowbank, Edinburgh facts for kids
Meadowbank is a lively suburb located in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is best known for Meadowbank Stadium. This stadium was first built in 1970 for big international sports events. It closed in 2017 for a big makeover. Now, it is a modern sports center for local athletes. The new stadium officially opened its doors on November 4, 2022.
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History of Meadowbank
The Meadowbank area grew a lot during the Victorian era. This was when Edinburgh began to expand towards the east. Holyrood Park is a large park that sits just south of Meadowbank.
Meadowbank Lodge is a historic building. It was built in 1858 and is next to Holyrood Park. This lodge is listed as a Category C building, meaning it is important to the area's history.
Meadowbank Parish Church is named after the Meadowbank area. However, it is actually located in a nearby area called Abbeyhill. The church was originally called Hollyrood Abbey Church. It was built in 1899 and is listed as a Category B building.
Meadowbank Retail Park is a shopping area. It is found on the western side of Meadowbank. This retail park was built in the early 1990s. Before that, the land was home to a foundry (a place where metal is melted and shaped). It also had a tall, seven-story Malt house (a building used to prepare grain for brewing).
Where is Meadowbank?
Meadowbank is located to the east of central Edinburgh. It shares a border with Abbeyhill on its western side. To the north of Meadowbank, you will find the areas of Lochend and Restalrig. To the east, Meadowbank is next to Parsons Green, Jock's Lodge, and Piershill.
Getting Around Meadowbank
The main A1 road passes through Meadowbank. The East Coast Main Line railway also runs through here. This railway connects Edinburgh to England.
Meadowbank once had two train stations. However, these stations are no longer in use. Meadowbank Stadium railway station served the stadium nearby. It opened in 1986 for the 1986 Commonwealth Games. The station was used until 1998.
Queen's Station History
The Queen's Station was a special private railway station. It was used by Queen Victoria. This station allowed her to travel directly to Holyrood Palace. It meant she did not have to go through the busy Old Town. The North British Railway built this station in 1850. It stopped being used sometime after 1881. On August 29, 1851, Queen Victoria arrived at the station. She was met by a large military escort and many cheering crowds.
Famous People from Meadowbank
Duncan Shaw grew up in Meadowbank. He lived in a flat in a tenement building. Duncan Shaw later became a Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. This is a very important role in the Church of Scotland.