Muirhouse Heritage in Pictures: Here are 28 fascinating photos of the Edinburgh neighbourhood from the 1950s and 1960s

The area looked very different more than half a century ago.

Muirhouse first appeared on maps of Edinburgh in around 1610, getting 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.

Bruntsfield Heritage in Pictures: Here are 35 fascinating photos of the Edinburgh neighbourhood in the 1950s and 1960s

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 28 pictures from The Scotsman archive to take you back to the Muirhouse of the 1950s and 1960s.

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9. Safety fears

Three-year-old James Fairgrieve shows how easy it is to climb protective railings at his home at Birnies Court, in Muirhouse, in November 1962. | TSPL