Hermitage of Braid

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Hermitage of Braid, the 18th-century house which gives the area its name Hermitage House - geograph.org.uk - 142667.jpg
Hermitage of Braid, the 18th-century house which gives the area its name

The Hermitage of Braid is an area between the Braid Hills and Blackford Hill in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Braid Burn runs through it and it has large sections of forest and paths for walking. [1] It comprises part of the 60.3-hectare (149-acre) Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill Local Nature Reserve, as well as the former Braid estate and country house. [2] Within the public nature reserve and forest, there is also a small community garden, which has medicinal plants, culinary plants and other wildflowers (it is set on the site of the former garden of Braid House). [3] The garden (restored in 2014) is organised by a community group, the 'Friends of the Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill'. [3] [4]

Contents

History

The Braid estate was the property of the de Brad family one of whom, Henri de Brad, was Sheriff of Edinburgh in the 12th century. A castle stood on the estate until the 18th century. [2] In the 18th century the estate was purchased by the lawyer Charles Gordon of Cluny (died 1814), [5] who commissioned the present house, known as Hermitage of Braid or Hermitage House, which stands on the north side of the Braid Burn. [6] The house was built in 1785 by the Edinburgh architect Robert Burn. [6] The castellated style may have been influenced by the work of Robert Adam. [7] Charles Gordon's son was the soldier and MP Colonel John Gordon (c.1776–1858). [5] The house is a category A listed building. [7] The nearby doocot is category B listed, has 1,965 stone nesting boxes and is the second largest in Edinburgh. [8]

In 1937, the then owner of the Hermitage, John McDougal, gifted the land to the city for use as a public park. [2] A pillar in the grounds records the gift, and the subsequent opening of the park on 10 June 1938 by Lord Provost Sir Louis Gumley. [9] The house is now a visitor centre for the nature reserve, and offices of the City of Edinburgh Council's Countryside Natural Heritage Service. [2]

References

  1. ↑ Drainey, Nick (19 August 2022). "Walk of the week: Blackford Hill and the Braids". The Times and The Sunday Times. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Hermitage of Braid Local Nature Reserve". City of Edinburgh Council. Archived from the original on 11 August 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Friends of the Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill". Social Farms & Gardens. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  4. ↑ "Friends of the Hermitage". Friends of the Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill Edinburgh Scotland. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  5. 1 2 Bulloch, J. M. (1911). The Gordons of Cluny (PDF). pp. 19–33.
  6. 1 2 "Hermitage of Braid". The Cockburn Association. 15 September 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  7. 1 2 Historic Environment Scotland. "Hermitage of Braid, off Braid Road (Category A Listed Building LB27407)" . Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  8. ↑ "HERMITAGE OF BRAID, OFF BRAID ROAD, DOVECOT WITH WALL (LB27413)". Home. 1 July 1948. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  9. ↑ "Hermitage of Braid". Canmore. RCAHMS. Retrieved 6 November 2013.

55°55′12″N3°12′03″W / 55.9199°N 3.2009°W / 55.9199; -3.2009

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