the Stockbridge Colonies
Stockbridge takes it name
from the Scots words "stocc
brycg" meaning a timber foot bridge
after the original bridge that crossed the
Water of Leith to the small village.
The
current stone Stock Bridge was built in 1801
with the help of the architect James Milne
and it now allows traffic to cross the river
between the two adjoining estates of Deanhaugh
and St. Bernard's both of which were purchased
in the 1790's by the painter Henry Raeburn
(1756 -1823).
Milne was also responsible
for St. Bernard's Church in Saxe Coburg Street
built in 1823 and Anne Street which was designed
by Raeburn and named after his wife. Today
houses in Anne Street with their front gardens
are among Edinburgh's most expensive properties.
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After
the creation of Edinburgh's Georgian New town
which began in 1767, building steadily progressed
northwards to emcompass the small villages
along the river including Stockbridge and the
Dean Village.
Stockbridge
has a definite Bohemien vibe and many artists,
musicians, poets,writers and thespians have
made the area their home. Over the years famous
residents have included, portrait artist Sir
Henry Raeburn, poet James Hogg, surgeon Sir
James Young Simpson and more recently actor
Norman Lovett and the lead singer of the band
'Garbage', Shirley Manson.
The
original Mrs Doubtfire or "Madame Doubtfire"
lived and ran a rag and bone shop in South
East Circus Place, Stockbridge. The novelist
Anne Fine who also lived in the area was inspired
by the name which remained faded above her
shop (now a solicitors) many years after Madame
Doubtfire's death. Her novel of the same name
was in turn the inspiration for the movie based
on her book, although Robin William's character
bares little resemblence to the 'real' Madame
Doubtfire.
Another famous 'madame' from
Stockbridge was Dora Noyce was
well repected lady dressed in her fur coat,
twinset and pearls and posh accent and
was a good friend of Madame Doubtfire's, on
the surface no one (other than her clientele)
would have suspected that she ran a very successful
brothel from her elegant townhouse at 17 Danube
Street. She once said her busiest time was
during the Edinburgh Festival but the two weeks
of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
ran a close second.
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