Dumbiedykes Modernism

Dumbiedykes Hi-rises
The first school for the education of Deaf children in Great Britain, Braidwood?s Academy, was founded in 1760 in a small Georgian villa with a direct view of Arthur?s Seat.

The Deaf pupils signing on their way to school gave the name Dumbiedykes to the road and this name extended to the entire district.

In the late 19th Century and until the mid 20th Century, this was characterised as a 'slum'. The residents were given new homes in Craigmillar, the Inch and Gracemount.

The council built these high rise council houses in the 1960's. Today they are right beside the Scottish Parliament and next to the offices of the Scotsman and the University of Edinburgh. The price of the (ex) council flats has risen but its not yet the Barbican....

Part of the Age of F.I.R.E. series