This model of The Inch lays out the design drawn up for The Inch by architect David Stratton Davis.  It would make The Inch Edinburgh's first "garden city".  And in 1954 the Saltire Society declared The Inch was the best local authority housing in Scotland.  Inch Park is in the forefront of the picture, but altogether one-third of the land was given over to parks and green space, all part of the "garden city" philosophy which saw open spaces as an essential part of the design, not just an add-on.  And unlike many pre-war estates, The Inch  was designed as a self-contained community with plenty shops, as well as a doctor's surgery, schools and community facilities.This model of The Inch lays out the design drawn up for The Inch by architect David Stratton Davis.  It would make The Inch Edinburgh's first "garden city".  And in 1954 the Saltire Society declared The Inch was the best local authority housing in Scotland.  Inch Park is in the forefront of the picture, but altogether one-third of the land was given over to parks and green space, all part of the "garden city" philosophy which saw open spaces as an essential part of the design, not just an add-on.  And unlike many pre-war estates, The Inch  was designed as a self-contained community with plenty shops, as well as a doctor's surgery, schools and community facilities.
This model of The Inch lays out the design drawn up for The Inch by architect David Stratton Davis. It would make The Inch Edinburgh's first "garden city". And in 1954 the Saltire Society declared The Inch was the best local authority housing in Scotland. Inch Park is in the forefront of the picture, but altogether one-third of the land was given over to parks and green space, all part of the "garden city" philosophy which saw open spaces as an essential part of the design, not just an add-on. And unlike many pre-war estates, The Inch was designed as a self-contained community with plenty shops, as well as a doctor's surgery, schools and community facilities.

13 historic pictures of Edinburgh's 'garden city' The Inch as new group launched for Inch Park

Move from slums to new homes surrounded by open space ‘transformational’ for many of estate’s first residents

A new group is being launched to protect and improve one of Edinburgh’s most historic parks.

Inch Park, once part of the grounds of the 17th century Inch House, was an integral part of the design of Edinburgh’s first “garden city” – The Inch estate – just over 70 years ago. And when the Friends of Inch Park holds its first annual general meeting on Wednesday, September 27, at 7pm, at Inch House, the guest speaker will be Bill Cook, former councillor and author of the history of the estate.

Bill, whose family moved to The Inch from Greenside, behind the Playhouse, shortly before he was born, said when it was built around 1950 the estate – Edinburgh’s first “garden city” – was recognised as “transformational” for many of the residents who had come from the oppressive conditions of the slums and found themselves in new homes amid open spaces. “It derived directly from the post-war consensus and the initiatives people took during the war – they were planning during the war to build new houses when it was all over. The country was fighting to defeat Nazism and they were saying ‘We need to build a better world’.”

Here’s a look at the fascinating story of The Inch in 13 pictures.

Bill, whose family moved to The Inch from Greenside, behind the Playhouse, shortly before he was born, said when it was built around 1950 the estate – Edinburgh’s first “garden city” – was recognised as “transformational” for many of the residents who had come from the oppressive conditions of the slums and found themselves in new homes amid open spaces. “It derived directly from the post-war consensus and the initiatives people took during the war – they were planning during the war to build new houses when it was all over. The country was fighting to defeat Nazism and they were saying ‘We need to build a better world’.”

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