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{{Short description|Suburb of Edinburgh, Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2015}}
{{Infobox UK place
| official_name                    = Inverleith
| country                          = Scotland
| area_total_sq_mi                 =
| area_total_km2                   = 
| population                       = 
| population_ref                   = 
| pushpin_map                      = Edinburgh
| pushpin_map_caption              = Location within the [[City of Edinburgh council area]]
| os_grid_reference                = NT244754
| map_type                         = Scotland
| unitary_scotland                 = [[City of Edinburgh (council area)|City of Edinburgh]]
| coordinates                      = {{Coord|55|58|0|N|3|12|50|W|display=inline,title}}
| post_town                        = [[Edinburgh]]
| postcode_area                    = EH
| postcode_district                = EH3
| dial_code                        = 0131
| constituency_westminster         = [[Edinburgh North and Leith (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh North and Leith]]
| constituency_scottish_parliament = [[Edinburgh Northern and Leith (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh Northern and Leith]]
| gaelic_name                      = Inbhir Lìte
| scots_name                       = 
| static_image_name                = Edinburgh from Inverleith Park.jpg
| static_image_caption             = Edinburgh from Inverleith Park 
}}

'''Inverleith''' ([[Scottish Gaelic language|Scottish Gaelic]]: ''Inbhir Lìte'') is an inner suburb in the north of [[Edinburgh]], Scotland, on the fringes of the central region of the city. Its neighbours include [[Trinity, Edinburgh|Trinity]] to the north and the [[New Town, Edinburgh|New Town]] to the south, with [[Canonmills]] at the south-east and [[Stockbridge, Edinburgh|Stockbridge]] at the south-west.

Like many places in and around [[List of Scottish Gaelic place names#Lothian and Edinburgh|Lothian and Edinburgh]], the name comes from [[Scottish Gaelic]] – ''Inbhir Lìte'', meaning "Mouth of [[Water of Leith|Leith]]", as with Inverness, meaning mouth of the River Ness. Some documents refer to the area as "Inner Leith".

It is characterised by its wealth of open green space. The [[Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh]] and Inverleith Park, in addition to the numerous playing fields owned and used by the [[independent schools]] [[Edinburgh Academy]], [[Fettes College]], [[Stewart's Melville College]] and [[George Heriot's]]. The Royal Botanic Gardens' nursery garden, for growing and cultivating plants, is also located here. Within Inverleith there are very few shops and offices, and it is almost entirely  residential and recreational in character.

Today Inverleith is home to houses often being sold considerably in excess of one million pounds sterling.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.zoopla.co.uk/house-prices/edinburgh/inverleith-place/?sold_price_types=all&sold_price_years=all&so=price&sd=desc | title=House prices in Inverleith Place, Edinburgh EH3 stand at £1,049,244 on average - Zoopla}}</ref> These include Scotland's most expensive penthouses, selling for £1.5m, and a recently renovated villa, which sold for over two million pounds sterling.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cala.co.uk/homes/no1penthouse/ |title=The No.1 Penthouse at Pavilion, Inverleith |access-date=2013-04-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219030231/http://www.cala.co.uk/homes/no1penthouse/ |archive-date=19 February 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The houses are generally handsome and spacious [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]] or [[Georgian architecture|Georgian]] villas with two or three floors, garages and quite large gardens. The residents tend to be employed in professions in central Edinburgh. It is convenient for such workers, as it lies only a mile and a half from the centre. Being on grounds slightly higher than the centre, it commands views of the Edinburgh skyline, including [[Edinburgh Castle]] and [[Arthur's Seat]]. It has one of the lowest crime rates in the city<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/09/8279/5 | title=The Strategy for Justice in Scotland: Evidence Paper| date=21 September 2012}}</ref> and is a designated [[Conservation area (United Kingdom)|conservation area]].<ref name="character">[https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/file/23378/inverleith-conservation-area-character-appraisal Inverleith {{!}} Conservation Area Character Appraisal], [[City of Edinburgh Council]]</ref>

Within the area are [[Fettes College]], an independent boarding school, and the [[state school|state-run]] [[Broughton High School, Edinburgh|Broughton High School]]. [[Edinburgh Academy]], an independent day school, is nearby in the north of the New Town.

The area gives its name to the [[Inverleith (Edinburgh ward)|Inverleith]] [[Wards of the United Kingdom|ward]] under the [[City of Edinburgh Council]] created in 2007, but this encompasses a larger territory including Stockbridge, [[Comely Bank]] and more westerly neighbourhoods such as [[Blackhall, Edinburgh|Blackhall]], [[Craigleith, Edinburgh|Craigleith]] and [[Drylaw]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/scotland/wards/|title=United Kingdom: Scotland {{!}} Council Areas and Electoral Wards|website=City Population|date=30 June 2019|access-date=8 November 2021}}</ref>

==Early proprietors==
[[File:Union House.jpg|thumb|left|Union House, on Inverleith Terrace, was built as a [[Christian Science]] church in 1911, but is now offices<ref>{{cite web|url=http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/149898/details/edinburgh+18+inverleith+terrace+st+colm+s+education+centre+and+college+annie+small+centre/|title=Edinburgh, 18 Inverleith Terrace, Site Number NT27NW 146 |work=[[Canmore (database)|CANMORE]] |publisher=[[RCAHMS]] |access-date=2009-04-01}}</ref>]]
Inverleith was for over two centuries owned by the [[Rochead baronets|Rocheid]] (sometimes spelt Rochead) family. It changed hands when a co-heiress, Mary (d. 1749) married [[Sir Francis Kinloch, 3rd Baronet]], of Gilmerton (1676–1747).<ref>''Index to Genealogies, Birthbriefs, and Funeral Escutcheons'', recorded in the Lyon Office, by Francis J. Grant, W.S., [[Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records]], Edinburgh, 1908, p.&nbsp;46</ref> Their son Alexander (d. 1755) inherited the entire Inverleith estates, and changed his surname to become Alexander Rocheid of Inverleith. Alexander and his descendants spent most of their time in Germany, and the Inverleith estate was leased. In 1774, [[Inverleith House]] was built, to designs by the architect David Henderson.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/52050/details/edinburgh+arboretum+place+royal+botanic+garden+inverleith+house/ |title=Inverleith House, Site Number NT27NW 27 |work=[[Canmore (database)|CANMORE]] |publisher=[[RCAHMS]] |access-date=2009-04-01}}</ref> Alexander's son James Rocheid of Inverleith leased Inverleith Mains at the beginning of the 19th century to George Lauder (1776–1824), Comptroller of the City of Edinburgh's Tolls, and the great-grandfather of Sir [[Harry Lauder]].<ref>''The Ancestry of Sir Harry Lauder'', in ''The Scottish Genealogist'', vol. LIII, No.2, Edinburgh, June 2006, pps: 74 - 87. {{ISSN|0300-337X}}</ref>

==Parks and gardens==
[[File:Palmhouse.jpg|thumb|The Palm House in the Royal Botanic Gardens]]
In late 1823, George Lauder, described as the tenant farmer of Inverleith Mains,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/htol/lauder3.htm | title=Biographical Notes on Sir Harry Lauder}}</ref> agreed with James Rocheid of Inverleith to a reversion of part of his leasehold lands, 11.5 [[Scots acre]]s, for the site of the [[Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh|Royal Botanic Garden]], which had formerly been located on [[Leith Walk]]. Commonly known as "The Botanics", the new site was opened in May 1824, comprising a large and varied set of gardens or parks with a wide range of plants, from around the world, in the open and in greenhouses. There is a Chinese-themed garden, an extensive landscaped rock garden, a large palm house, and since its opening in July 2006, an official memorial of [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother]], opened by [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth]]. It is maintained as a very popular tourist attraction, local leisure amenity, and scientific research centre.

[[File:Inverleith Park, Edinburgh.JPG|thumb|Inverleith Park]]
In 1889 the city acquired South Inverleith Mains Farm from the Rocheid family to create Inverleith Park, adjacent to the Royal Botanic Gardens.<ref name="character"/><ref>[https://www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-history-news-and-blog/a-window-on-sporting-history-the-first-rugby-match-scotland-v-england-in-1871 A window on sporting history: the first rugby match, Scotland v England in 1871], Andy Mitchell, Scottish Sport History, 10 August 2019</ref> This includes [[allotment (gardening)|allotments]] and a well maintained pond, popular for use by model boat enthusiasts and well populated with water birds and occasionally kingfishers. The park also the site of French boule ([[pétanque]]) competitions. [[Cricket]], [[rugby union]] and [[association football|football]] matches are played there as well. There are also [[tennis]] and [[volleyball]] courts maintained by Edinburgh Council and a safe play area for toddlers.

The park has hosted the Edinburgh International Science Festival, and is also used as a viewing area for fireworks set off over central Edinburgh. Inverleith Park also plays host to an annual Foodies Festival.

In early 2018, the Kinloch Anderson Sundial that was originally gifted to the City of Edinburgh in 1890, was restored as the result of an approach from the Friends of Inverleith Park to Kinloch Anderson. The company restored the sundial to mark its 150th anniversary.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.scottishfield.co.uk/fashion-beauty/fashion/firm-celebrates-150-years-by-restoring-parks-sundial/|title=Firm celebrates 150 years by restoring park's sundial - Scottish Field|date=2018-06-21|work=Scottish Field|access-date=2018-06-22}}</ref>

The park has also played host as a shooting location for feature films such as ''[[Chariots of Fire]]'' and ''Dark Sense''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://edinburgh.org/edinburgh-on-film/maps-and-itineraries/edinburgh-film-map/|title=Edinburgh Film Map - This is Edinburgh|website=edinburgh.org|language=en|access-date=2018-06-22}}</ref>

==Sport==
A former home of the [[Scotland national rugby union team]], the [[Inverleith Sports Ground]] (hosting international matches from 1899 until 1925 when they moved to [[Murrayfield Stadium]])<ref>{{cite web|title=Scotland {{!}} Inverleith: the first purpose-built international rugby ground|url=http://www.rugbyfootballhistory.com/scotland.html|website=Rugbyfootballhistory.com|access-date=7 November 2021}}</ref> is located off Ferry Road and is today used by [[Stewarts Melville RFC]].<ref>[http://tims92.blogspot.com/2011/04/stewarts-melville-inverleith-sports.html Stewart's Melville {{!}} Inverleith Sports Field], Tim's 92</ref>

In addition to some public facilities in Inverleith Park itself, the wider area contains a large expanse of separate but almost contiguous sports grounds, most of which are associated to local, historic fee-paying schools like the [[Edinburgh Academy]], [[Fettes College]] and [[Stewart's Melville College]] (plus those of modern [[Broughton High School, Edinburgh|Broughton High School]]), including the home grounds of [[Edinburgh Academical Football Club|Edinburgh Accies]] (at [[Raeburn Place]]), [[Edinburgh Northern RFC]] and [[Inverleith RFC]], as well as [[The Grange Club]], home of the [[Scotland national cricket team]].

==Notable residents==
*[[James Black (Moderator)|James Black]], clergyman
*[[William Bryson (electrical engineer)|William Bryson FRSE]], electrical engineer
*[[William Charles (fur trader)|William Charles]], trader
*[[Daniel Ellis (botanist)|Daniel Ellis]], botanist
*[[Cosmo Innes]], lawyer and historian
*Sir [[Thomas Innes of Learney]], Lord Lyon
*[[Horatio McCulloch]], artist
*[[Moray McLaren]] and his wife [[Lennox Milne]]
*[[Alexander Martin (Scottish minister)|Alexander Martin]], clergyman and academic
*[[Thomas Hugh Milroy]], physicist and chemist
*[[James Pillans]], scholar
*[[Robert Louis Stevenson]], author
*[[Freya Mavor]], actress and model

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* ''The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh'', by Harold R Fletcher and William H Brown, [[HMSO]], Edinburgh, 1970, {{ISBN|0-11-490425-1}}

{{Areas of Edinburgh}}
{{Parks and gardens in Edinburgh}}

[[Category:Areas of Edinburgh]]
[[Category:Parks and commons in Edinburgh]]