Edinburgh's Muirhouse Heritage in Pictures: These 22 photographs from the 1950s and 1960s show what life was like in the Capital's residential area

The neighbourhood appears on maps of Edinburgh dating back to around 1610 and gets its name from a mansion built on the edge of Wardlie Moor – literally the ‘moor house’.

In 1794 the owner, William Davidson, left the house to his nephew the Rev Thomas Randall of St Giles Cathedral, insisting that he adopted the name Davidson.

He did as he was asked and in 1827 the house was inherited by his son William Davidson, the latest generation of the family that made their fortune.

William left the old Muirhouse to become derelict, moving to a new mansion designed by R & R Dickson in 1932 – and the building remains to this day.

Two ruined towers of the former Muirhouse still stood until they were demolished in 1954 after becoming unstable.

Much of the housing is in high rise blocks – including Martello Court, Birnies Court, Fidra Court, Gunnet Court and Inchmickery Court.

The area has recently been subject to redevelopment and regeneration, with newly-refurbished properties and council plans to provide new council housing.

Here are 22 pictures to take you back to Muirhouse in the 1950s and 1960s.

Read more:

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