Swanston, Edinburgh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Swanston |
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 Swanston Cottages |
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 Swanston
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| Population | 75 |
| OS grid reference | NT240672 |
| Council area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Edinburgh |
| Postcode district | EH10 |
| Dialling code | 0131 |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament |
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| Scottish Parliament |
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Swanston is a village and residential area on the southern edge of Edinburgh, Scotland, noted for its picturesque thatched cottages set around an informal village green. Because of its relatively isolated position at the foot of the Pentland Hills, it has remained largely unaffected by commercial or suburban development.
The village grew up in the 18th century, originally to provide accommodation for farm workers on Swanston Farm. The farm, in turn, can trace its origins back at least to the 13th century and possibly earlier. The area has also played a role in supplying Edinburgh with fresh water. Its most notable resident was the young Robert Louis Stevenson, whose family leased a holiday home in the village during the late 19th century.
Origins
The name "Swanston" is said to derive from Old Norse Sveins tún, meaning 'Sveinn's enclosure/farm'. It first appears in a document in 1214, referring to Sveinn's farm within the Barony of Redhall. There is some evidence that the farming estate dates back to the 9th century.
The name Swanston appears in 14th century charters granted in the reign of David II. It is listed as part of land owned by the Knights Templar. This same connection reappears in a document in the reign of James VI, when it is entitled Swain'ston. Both Sven and Swain are early words for a person who cares for animals (e.g. pigswain).
The name of Caerketton Hill seems to be from Cumbric carn 'cairn' and the personal name Catell, thus meaning 'cairn of Catell'. It may alternatively be from caer, meaning 'fortification of Catell. Both a prehistoric fort and cairn surmount the hill.
History
The area was traditionally seen as two farm estates: Easter Swanston owned by the Ross family; and Wester Swanston owned by the Foulis family. The two were united in 1749 when the Trotters of Mortonhall (who had bought Wester Swanston in 1670) also acquired Easter Swanston. The Trotter family planted the T-Wood to the south of the village. This is actually cruciform in plan, but due to local topography appears as a T (for Trotter) from the four compass points. It memorialises a family member lost in battle.
Robert Louis Stevenson spent several summers here in the 1870s, as a result of his father taking out a lease for Swanston Cottage (on a spur road to the NW of the village) from 1867 to 1880. Stevenson set his novel St. Ives in this village, describing the house in detail. It is also alleged that Stevenson wrote Treasure Island under a tree within metres of his cottage. However, since his authorship of the novel post-dates his final year in Swanston, this is not possible. Stevenson's nanny "Cummy" (Alison Cunnington) lived in the small house on the left hand side of the lane leading to Swanston Cottage, from 1880 to 1893 (having lived in the Cottage with them whilst they lived here).
Images for kids
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Swanston Cottage
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The lintel above the door of the waterman's cottage commemorating Alison Cunningham
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The path from the top of the village into the Pentland Hills
