Tollcross, Edinburgh facts for kids
Tollcross (Scottish Gaelic: Toll na Croise) is a big road junction in Edinburgh, Scotland. It's southwest of the city centre and gets its name from an old area of land. Tollcross sits between the fancy area of Bruntsfield and the historic Grassmarket. It's a busy and interesting part of Edinburgh!
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What's in a Name?
The name Tollcross has been used since 1439. Early versions of the name, like Tolcors, suggest it might come from an old word meaning "boggy hollow." This makes sense because the area used to be low and wet. A stream called Lochrin Burn ran through it, between the Burgh Muir and the Grassmarket.
From the very beginning, "Tollcross" was the name for a piece of land. Old documents from the 1600s and 1800s talk about the "Lands of Tolcross" or "part of the village of Portsburgh called Tollcross."
Digging Up the Past
In 2012, archaeologists (people who study old things by digging) explored Tollcross. They found signs that people lived and worked there during the Middle Ages. The digs showed how the area changed over time. It went from being farmland to a busy industrial place. They found remains of old businesses like the Lochrin Distillery, slaughterhouses, an ice storage company, an ice rink, and even a garage. These buildings were often built on top of each other!
The Heart of Tollcross
The main junction in Tollcross connects several streets. These include Earl Grey Street, Lauriston Place, Brougham Street, Home Street, and West Tollcross. Right in the middle of the junction is a special iron clock. It has been a famous landmark in Edinburgh since 1901. This clock was a gift to the city. It was made by local clockmakers, James Ritchie & Son. The clock was first powered by weights, but it was changed to a spring system in 1926. It was one of the biggest street clocks in Britain to use this type of system. A clockwinder used to wind it every week! In 1969, it became electric. The clock was moved in 1974 for road changes, but people missed it so much that it was put back close to its original spot. In March 2022, the council removed the clock for safety reasons. Its future is not yet known. Tollcross blends into Bruntsfield to the south. To the north and west, it meets Fountainbridge. The Old Town is just to the east.
Things to Do and See
Tollcross is a very diverse area with lots of places to eat. You can find Indian, Chinese, Thai, French, Spanish, and Greek restaurants. There are also Turkish kebab shops, a Sushi bar, and traditional fish and chip shops. The area has many services for Edinburgh's Chinese community. These include a Chinese church, two Chinese supermarkets, and a support centre. Tollcross Primary School even has a special unit for learning in Scottish Gaelic. You can find many local shops here. There's a butcher, greengrocer, and different bakeries. There are also supermarkets, food stores, and a wine shop. You'll find banks, a post office, hairdressers, and clothes shops. There are also art shops, music shops, and tattoo parlours. Tollcross has around 10 cafés, newsagents, and several charity shops. There are also eight pubs.
The King's Theatre and The Cameo cinema are both in Tollcross. The area has a modern health centre, dental clinics, and pharmacies. Princes Exchange, a large office building, is home to part of the Bank of Scotland. Tollcross also has its own fire station. The Meadows and Bruntsfield Links are public parks nearby. They both have children's playparks. The Meadows has tennis courts, and Bruntsfield Links has a 'pitch and putt' course. People say golf was played on the Links very early in Scotland's history!
Homes in Tollcross
Most of the homes in Tollcross are Victorian tenement flats. These are large buildings with many apartments. Some older buildings from a village called Wrychtishousis are still standing. Many of the homes were built in the 1860s and 1870s by a builder named James Steel. He built many homes for working-class families. Many students live in Tollcross because Napier University has three student halls of residence here.
Local Churches
The main Church of Scotland churches for Tollcross are Barclay Viewforth Church and St Cuthbert's Church. Central Hall, a historic building, is owned by the Methodist Church. It was bought by Morningside Baptist Church in 2011 and is now called Central. The Scottish Episcopal Church is St Michael's and All Saints Church. The closest Roman Catholic church is the Church of the Sacred Heart. A convent of the Little Sisters of the Poor in Gilmore Place also has a care home.
Travel and Old Industries
Tollcross was important for industry in the 1800s. This was thanks to the nearby Union Canal, which opened in 1822. The canal helped businesses grow. The name Lochrin Buildings reminds us of the small Lochrin Burn (a "burn" is a stream in Scots). This stream ran from The Meadows to the Water of Leith. The area used to have the Lochrin Distillery and later the Lochrin Iron Works, both near the canal. The Drumdryan Brewery, which was where the King's Theatre is now, also used water from the burn. Other old businesses included a saw mill, a paraffin works, and a city slaughterhouse. In 1899, a tram depot and power station opened here for Edinburgh's tram system. After the last tram ran in 1956, it became a bus garage. This was later replaced by a new fire station in 1986. Tollcross is well-served by Lothian Buses, with many bus routes passing through.
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