View source for Balgreen

{{Short description|Suburb of Edinburgh, Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2015}}
{{more citations needed|date=March 2018}}
{{infobox UK place
| country                          = Scotland
| official_name                    = Balgreen
| gaelic_name                      = 
| population                       =
| population_ref                   =
| pushpin_map       = Edinburgh
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within the [[City of Edinburgh council area]]
| os_grid_reference                = NT2188427537
| map_type                         = Scotland
| coordinates = {{coord|55|56|34|N|003|15|23|W|type:city_region:GB-EDH_scale:30000|display=title|name=Balgreen}} 
| unitary_scotland                 = [[City of Edinburgh (council area)|City of Edinburgh]]
| constituency_westminster         = [[Edinburgh West (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh West]]
| constituency_scottish_parliament = [[Edinburgh Central (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh Central]]
| post_town                        = [[Edinburgh]]
| postcode_district                = EH12, EH11
| postcode_area                    = EH
| dial_code                        = [[UK Telephone numbering plan|0131]]
| static_image_name                = Roseburn 2005.jpg
| static_image_caption             = [[Corstorphine Hill]], seen in the south from a residential street in Balgreen 
}}

'''Balgreen''' ({{IPAc-en|b|ɔː|l|ˈ|ɡ|r|iː|n}} or {{IPAc-en|b|ɔː|ˈ|ɡ|r|iː|n}}) is a suburb of [[Edinburgh]], located approximately two miles west of the city centre, most commonly known for its primary school, Balgreen Primary. It is located to the west of [[Murrayfield]] and [[Saughtonhall]], to the east of [[Corstorphine]], and to the north of [[Gorgie]]. It is bound to the north by [[Corstorphine Hill]], to the west by [[Carrick Knowe]] Golf Course, and roughly to the east by [[Water of Leith]].<ref>[https://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst11638.html Balgreen], [[Gazetteer for Scotland]]</ref>

==Etymology==

The name comes from Balgreen House once situated where Balgreen School now stands and is probably derived from [[Scottish Gaelic]], perhaps being ''Baile na Grèine'' (sunny farm ) or ''Baile Griain'' (gravel farm) from the gravel on the riverbank, or perhaps from ''Baile Grianain ''(farm of the sunny enclosure). It does not, as some etymologies have suggested, come from "Ball Green". The Gaelic "Bal-" (farm) prefix can also be found in [[Balerno]] and is not unusual in the area. The placename Balgreen is also found near [[Murieston]] and [[Ecclesmachan]]in [[West Lothian]].<ref name=Bell>{{cite book|title=Literary Corstorphine: A reader's guide to West Edinburgh|date=2017|last=Bell|first=Raymond MacKean|location=Edinburgh|publisher=Leamington Books|isbn=9780244644406}}</ref>

==Amenities==
The Water of Leith flows through here with the [[Water of Leith Walkway]] connecting the area to [[Stockbridge, Edinburgh|Stockbridge]] to the north east and [[Colinton]] and [[Balerno]] to the south west. There is also a library, primary school, and a large park here, with facilities for football (soccer) etc., and a children's playpark.

==Transport==
Balgreen was served by [[Balgreen Halt railway station]] which was closed in 1968

=== Tram ===

Balgreen tram stop is located off Balgreen Road,  adjacently north of the main Glasgow to Edinburgh railway line.

{{s-rail-start|noclear=yes}}
{{s-rail|title=Edinburgh Trams}}
{{Rail line|previous=[[Murrayfield Stadium|Murrayfield]]<br><small>''towards [[Newhaven, Edinburgh|Newhaven]]''</small> |next=[[Saughton]]<br><small>''towards [[Edinburgh Airport tram stop|Airport]]''</small>|route=''Newhaven - Edinburgh Airport''|col={{temporary rail colour|8D122A}} }}
{{s-end}}

=== Buses ===
==== [[Lothian Buses]] ====

* 12,26,31   (Corstorphine Road) 
* 1,2,22,30  (Western Approach Road) 
* 38         (Balgreen Road/ Saughtonhall Drive)

==== [[McGill's Scotland East]] ====

* 21 and 22  (Corstorphine Road)

==Notable residents==
* [[William Stevenson (Scottish writer)|William Stevenson]] (1772–1829), Scottish nonconformist preacher and writer, farmed in this area.<ref name=Bell/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

* Cant, Michael, ''Villages of Edinburgh'' volumes 1 & 2, John Donald Publishers Ltd., Edinburgh, 1986-1987. {{ISBN|0-85976-131-2}} & {{ISBN|0-85976-186-X}}
* Harris, Stuart (1996). The Place Names of Edinburgh. Edinburgh: Gordon Wright Publishing. p.&nbsp;144. {{ISBN|0-903065-83-5}}.

{{Areas of Edinburgh}}
[[Category:Areas of Edinburgh]]
[[Category:1986 Commonwealth Games venues]]
[[Category:Edinburgh Trams stops]]