All About Edinburgh
Canonmills
New Town Edinburgh
David I built mills for the Augustinian canons of Holyrood, hence the origin of the place name Canonmills. The area from Dundas Street to Canonmills was once a Loch fed by the Water of Leith river.
In the mid 1700s the water in the loch receded and only covered the area where King George V Park stands with the surrounding area marsh land which was called Canon Mills Haugh.The water depth of Canonmills loch at that time was less than 6 foot and in cold winters the loch froze and curling and ice skating took place on the frozen loch. Near to where Robert Louis Stevenson was born he mentions the loch in his writings "Catriona".
Etching of Canonmills Loch by John W Ewbank 1825 curtesy of capital collections
Eyre Place Canonmills
New Town Edinburgh
King George V Park
The Royal Gymnasium
The Canonmills loch was drained in 1847 and years later a philanthropist
called John Cox built the Royal Gymnasium. due to the lack of use it was closed and the ground was taken over by St Bernard's football club in 1878. St Bernard's were a successful team and won the Scottish Cup in 1895. Another memorable game was when 27000 spectators watch St Bernard's beating Hibernian 1 - 0.
Canonmills
New Town Edinburgh
Robert Louis Stevenson
First School
The first school Robert Louis Stevenson attended was just a few yards over the Water of Leith, in the building which is now a Baptist Church. On the south facing wall can be found plaque that reads:
1850 -1894 In this hall Robert Louis Stevenson first went to school Circa 1857.
Canonmills
New Town Edinburgh
Canonmills Bridge
The Canonmills bridge walked over by Robert Louis Stevenson on his way to school. The bridge was built in 1840 to allow easy access across the river (Water of Leith). It was later widened to allow both pedestrians and traffic in 1896.
Brandon Street Canonmills
New Town Edinburgh
Sir Darcy Thompson
Sir Darcy Thompson was born in Brandon Street Canonmills in 1860. He was attended Edinburgh Academy from 1870 to 1877 1878 he entered the University of Edinburgh as a medical student, under the guidance of marine biologist Sir Wyville Thompson Trinity College, Cambridge, where he he graduated in the natural science He published many books on the sciences and was knighted in 1937. He was a lecturer at both Dundee and St Andrews Universities a true scholar and scientist
Brandon Street Canonmills
Edinburgh New Town
Dundas House
Dundas House was built in 1883 to house a printing works of Robert Clark
the founder of the printing works R & R Clark Ltd
Warriston Crescent Canonmills
New Town Edinburgh
Frédéric Chopin
Frédéric François Chopin a Polish composer and pianist lived at 10 Warriston Crescent Canonmills in 1948 with his friend a Polish doctor, Adam Łyszczyński. Chopin was on a tour of Scotland as his music was a favourite of the high class and nobility of the time. When staying with his friend he composed a song to a poem by Stefan Witwicki titled ‘Spring’ for his good friends wife.
Howard Place Canonmills
Edinburgh New Town
Robert Louis Stevenson
Birthplace
Robert Louis Stevenson was born on the 13 November 1850 at 8 Howard Place Edinburgh near to Canonmills and the Water of Leith. Robert Louis Stevenson (RLS) moved with his family at the age of 2 to 1 Inverleith Terrace (Now 9)
in 1853 they then moved into the New Town.
