IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Burnbrae, EDINBURGH, EH12 8UB

East Craigs, at the time this photo was taken, was not a housing estate, but the laboratories and experimental farm of what is now the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency Image The year before, it had been decided that the land would be sold for housing, so was not cultivated over the winter. The resulting mass of poppies was spectacular, originating from a dormant seed bank in the soil, despite the fact that weed control in the fields, used for experimental plots and crops, had been practised for many years

Detail of the poppies in the field at East Craigs Image

One block on Burnbrae Drive, part of a large residential development on the site of what was government agricultural and plant health laboratories and plant breeding station. Under various names they had been there since 1925. The farmland was rezoned for housing and new laboratories were built and occupied at Gogarbank in 2006 Image The East Craigs laboratories were demolished and replaced with houses. The house to the left is East Craigs House- see Image

Some of the new housing developments on the west side of Edinburgh.

Part of a large residential development on the site of what was government agricultural and plant health laboratories and plant breeding station. Under various names they had been there since 1925. The farmland was rezoned for housing and new laboratories were built and occupied at Gogarbank in 2006 Image The East Craigs laboratories were demolished and replaced with houses.

The house on Burnbrae Drive, fitting into the landscape four years or so after its restoration Image

On Burnbrae Drive, a newly restored house originally built in 1768, with an octagonal staircase added c. 1800. The restoration is part of a large residential development on the site of what was government agricultural and plant health laboratories and plant breeding station. Under various names they had been there since 1925. The farmland was rezoned for housing and new laboratories were built and occupied at Gogarbank in 2006 Image The East Craigs laboratories were demolished and replaced with houses; East Craigs House was last used as a residence in the 1950/60s, when it was the home of William Robb, the last director of the Scottish Society for Plant Breeding Research Station before it moved to Pentlandfield. A picture of the house in 1921 can be seen at http://www.scri.ac.uk/scri/file/annualreports/SCRI_History_AnnualReport2010.pdf [p. 3, and a portrait of William Robb on p.16]. From the outside the restoration looks very good.

Category C Listed building with later additions, including the semi-octagonal tower at the front. See http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB28069 for more information.