Bruntsfield

Bruntsfield Links
©2022 Gazetteer for Scotland

Bruntsfield Links

A small district in south-central Edinburgh, Bruntsfield is centred around Bruntsfield Place a mile (1.5 km) south southwest of the city centre. Taking its name from Richard Broun, the King's Sergeant of the Borough Muir, who was responsible for collecting rents for Robert II (1316 - 1390) in return for access to an area of land, Broun's Field was given to the de Lawdre family prior to 1381 who created a small estate. Their descendants (Lauder) later held the Grange estate to the south. The Bruntsfield estate passed to the Warrender family in 1695 and, in 1869, it was Sir George Warrender (1825 - 1901) who began feuing the estate for building.

Bruntsfield Links is a noted area of parkland, where golf has been played since 15th century. The 16th century Bruntsfield House is now incorporated as the administration block of James Gillespie's High School, beyond Bruntsfield Links in Marchmont. Bruntsfield Primary School lies on Montpelier and dates from 1893.

The former Bruntsfield Hospital for Women and Children was founded in 1885 by medical pioneer Sophia Jex Blake (1840 - 1912), with a specially-designed building opened in 1911. It closed in 1992 and the site redeveloped for housing, although Jex Blake's family home, Greenhill Cottage, remains.


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