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Exploring Newington
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Continuing to the traffic lights on the corner of Mayfield Road and West Mayfield is Mayfield Salisbury Church.
On the opposite corner of West Mayfield is an imposing apartment block in classical style, which replaced a car showroom and garage in the 1990’s. My walk takes m e up South Gray St to Duncan St where there is an imposing The Edinburgh Geographical Institute. The firm was also known as John Bartholomew and Co.A commemorative plaque was put up with the support of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society.
From here one can also get a glimpse along the street across Minto Street to Blacket Avenue with Holyrood Park in the distance.
and the Prayer Room-- I
n Salisbury Place I am faced by Longmore House, once widely known as a Hospital, it now houses the headquarters of Historic Scotland. An imposing building in classical style. It was built in 1874 by the (Royal) Edinburgh Association for Incurables and together with Liberton Hospital (1875) were known as the Royal Edinburgh Hospital for Incurables.
Turning right I come to Newington Road. To the south are large houses many of them Hotels and Guest Houses. Turning toward the city one passes along a street of typical terraces of residential apartments, 4 stories high with small businesses at ground level. The spire of St Peter’s Episcopal Church in
Another church building can be seen at the end of Lutton Place. It turns out to be dedicated to Saints Margaret and Leonard, and used by the Society of St Pius X for the Latin Mass on Sunday’s at 13.00 hours. Turning back I continue along South Clerk St. Hidden behind no 60, the middle tenement of block of three constructed by edinburgh builder Duncan McRae between 1870 and 1871. To the rear of the building are small garden plots belonging to each flat and the old drying-green, which together have all been turned by the residents into an award winning garden. Those who were able to visit on the Gardens Open day found a garden 'abundant in wildlife' where the wild birds were protected by the domesticated ones. There are 6 hens and a cockerel called Rudolph whose presence apparently protects the wild birds from the cat! Near to the Post Office is a church like building called Kings Hall.
The Queen's Hall was indeed once a Church; now a popular Concert Hall. Chamber Music and Jazz and other events particularly during the Festivals. There is a Bar and Cafe here too.
On the opposite corner is the building I remember as Salisbury Church of Scotland, where I used to take my Mother in the early 1980's On one of the little sideroads off Causewayside is a small Jewish Cemetry; it is locked but left me wishing I could read the Hebrew! There is also a fairly new Liberal Jewish Congregation which gained its indep There are many other places where people congregate as at Minders in Causewayside! At the north end of Causewayside is the Royal (Dick) Veterinary College of the University of Edinburgh. The College looks out on the South East corner of the Meadows, a lovely green space of trees and grass alive with crocuses and daffodills in Spring.
The Meadows area is quite special even in Autumn as this picture shows. Once just a wet marsh area it is now a joy to all and used as a walkway and play area throughout the year. Circuses and Fairs as well as cricket and football are familiar sights.
BUCCLEUCH-GEORGE SQUARE
Further views of the Meadows Park are seen from melville Drive as one ges north. On Hope Park Terrace there is an old Police Box which is more often now a Kiosk where one can get coffee! There is also a childrens playground here-and comfort stations for those caught short! On the right is the rear entrance to the Queens Hall café. This building set slightly back from the road looks closed and shuttered and little used and stands out only because of the contrast with the the tall tenements which line the street. It belongs to the Ancient Order of Foresters.
Most of Buccleuch St has tall tenement buildings
with flats At Crosscauseway is the Buccleuch Free Church of Scotland a lively congregation also serving students of the University of Edinburgh.
On the other side of the road is a University building which was a Chapel once. It has the remains of an old graveyard beside it; an interesting survival with the modern buildings of the University buildings of George Square behind.
The Methodist Church in Nicolson Square is also a base for University Students. It has a cafe- the Square Centre cafe with volunteer staff- a popular venue during the week. Opposite the Mosque where until recently there was a carpark a new building is underway. Much has changed since I worked at the University; Faculties have been replaced by three Colleges made up of 21 Schools and the new building will house the new School of Informatics. Informatics (I checked) ' is the study of the structure, behaviour, and interactions of both natural and artificial computational systems. It includes the disciplines of Artificial Intelligence, Cognitive Science and Computer Science.' Anyway the Public Carpark is long hidden beneath the rising new building.
The Medical School which used to be housed in George Square has moved to Little France with the new Royal Infirmary and in George Square itself there is now a Labyrinth where staff and students -and the rest of us- may spend time in quiet reflection The Medical School is not the only long established institution to have moved from George Square. The familiar skyline over the RIE has disappeared, replaced by the new Quartermile Development But the Meadows Park remains one of Edinburgh marvellous green spaces with playing fields, walkways and trees -and the view of the 'crouching lion' of Holyrood Park. ________________----____
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It’s location and with its spire and clock it is easily recognised; particularly useful as it has a bus stop outside on Mayfield Road. Passengers on the 42 bus find it a useful reference point on their journey- and those who alight there or have to wait for a bus can study the Church Notice Board there! The flowering cherry trees on this corner are a lovely sight in the Spring and the main church entrance with its glass doors are welcoming to the visitor, but if one rounds the corner, one finds that a second modern entrance where the church has been extended and links to what used to be the manse. Tucked in behind is a lovely garden. The church seems to have a comparatively large membership(around750) and welcomes anyone interested to its 3 services each Sunday, one for the young, one more traditional and the short reflective evening service. There is also another Church community who use the building- the Chinese Evangelical Fellowship which meets there on Sunday afternoons. 
building called 
Also in this street is the Baptist Church.
Upper Gray Street is attractive with a variety of buildings with small gardens. No 3 is small and historically interesting having a historical record going back to 1812 (See the West Blacket Association Historical pages) Nearby is St Columba’s Roman Catholic Church with the priest’s house next door with a small Oratory accessible separately for quiet prayer and reflection. 
-St Columba’s Church 
The Hospital was set up to cater for people presumed to be incurable and in need of constant medical supervision. Such patients were unable to receive attention at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, which did not have facilities to look after long-term cases.’ In 1948 it came under the NHS and in my memory was the location of the Breast Cancer Unit until it was moved to the Western General Hospital 
Lutton Place is visible from here. This building like most Scottish Episcopal church buildings dates from the Nineteenth Century around 1860 and is noticeable not only for its spire but the round extension at the back which was originally a baptistery. 
The garden is a welcome sight for passers-by and a favourite place to sit and contemplate or eat one’s lunch! There’s even more greenery around the church as there is a Bowling Green at the back! 
Unlike the one-time chapel building further along on the left called the Queen’s Hall this really is a church building, being the meeting place of the Community Church of Edinburgh. There is also a Primary School based here- the Regius Christian School. The church is not part of a denomination but links with other Community Churches across the UK. The King of the title is Jesus. .jpg)
Back to Causewaysude one cannot miss the modern building which is the Science Faculty of the National Reference Library on the corner with Salisbury Place. 
In nearby Salisbury Road is the home of the Edinburgh Hebrew Congrgation which sounds lively and welcoming with an informative 
endence 2 or3 years ago. 
on the top floors and small businesses offices and cafes at ground level.
This brings us back to the Meadows near the Public Tennis Courts 
