Sunny Swanston

The weather was beautiful today, so a wander round Swanston village on the southern outskirts of Edinburgh was required today.

The name "Swanston" is said to derive from Old Norse Sveins tún, meaning 'Sveinn's enclosure/farm'. It first appears in a document in 1214, referring to Sveinn's farm within the Barony of Redhall. There is some evidence that the farming estate dates back to the 9th century.

The name Swanston appears in 14th century charters granted in the reign of David II. It is listed as part of land owned by the Knights Templar. This same connection reappears in a document in the reign of James VI, when it is entitled Swain'ston. Both Sven and Swain are early words for a person who cares for animals (e.g. pigswain).

Robert Louis Stevenson spent several summers here in the 1870s, as a result of his father taking out a lease for a Swanston Cottage from 1867 to 1880. Stevenson set his novel St. Ives in this village, describing the house in detail. It is also alleged that Stevenson wrote Treasure Island under a tree within metres of his cottage.

Hope you have enjoyed today too.