Burdiehouse

Burdiehouse is an area in the south east of Edinburgh, Scotland, near Gilmerton, Gracemount and Southhouse. The name may be a corruption of the name Bordeaux, from French immigrants who lived in the area.

Burdiehouse
Burdiehouse Location within the City of Edinburgh council area Show map of the City of Edinburgh council area Burdiehouse Location within Scotland Show map of Scotland
OS grid reference	NT274672
Council area	City of Edinburgh
Lieutenancy area	Edinburgh
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	EDINBURGH
Postcode district	EH17
Dialling code	0131
Police	Scotland
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
UK Parliament	Edinburgh South
Scottish Parliament	Edinburgh Eastern
List of places UK Scotland 55°53′50.30″N 3°9′31.01″W

Today, Burdiehouse is an area with a high level of residents living in poverty.

The Burdiehouse Burn (known elsewhere as the Lothian Burn, Niddrie Burn and Brunstane Burn) flows through the area.

Etymology

James Grant ascribes the area's name to a corruption of "Bordeaux House". He suggests this name may be derived from French members of the entourage of Mary, Queen of Scots who lived for a time at Craigmillar Castle (which also led to the name of the nearby Little France). Grant prefers the explanation that the area was the home of silk weavers who had emigrated from Picardy.^[1]

Limeworks

Burdiehouse was locally known for its limestone deposits especially in the 18th and 19th centuries.^[2] Three lime kilns on Burdiehouse are now listed buildings.^[3] The deposits were rich in fossils and a "large reptile" fossil found in 1833 was presented to the Royal Society of Edinburgh.^[1]