Northfield, Edinburgh facts for kids
Northfield is a neighborhood in Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland. You can find it to the east of the city center and to the west of Portobello.
This area was planned with lots of open space. The homes were built by the city council, but famous architects like Reginald Fairlie and the firm Reid and Forbes designed them. Building started in 1921 and finished about three years later.
Because the homes were built so well, many people who rented them later bought them. This happened through a program called "Right to Buy." Now, most of the homes in Northfield are owned by families.
The high quality of these buildings is still clear today. Some groups of buildings in Northfield are now "listed buildings." This means they are special and protected because of their history or unique design.
History of Northfield Homes
The Northfield area was planned starting in 1921. This was after Edinburgh changed its city limits in 1920. These changes included adding nearby towns like Portobello and Leith.
The city designed Northfield with lots of space between the homes. This was a generous plan, perhaps because Edinburgh had gained the land for free. Even though these were council homes, they were not designed by the city's own architect. Instead, the city hired private architects.
A well-known local architect, Reginald Fairlie, led the design. He worked with a practical local company called Reid and Forbes. Building started in 1922 and most of the homes were finished within two years.
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Later, in the 1960s, more modern homes were built in Northfield. These new buildings replaced temporary homes called "prefabs" that were near Mountcastle. Prefabs were quick-to-build houses often used after World War II.
