IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Royston Mains Avenue, EDINBURGH, EH5 1NN

Once covered in tarmac for the patter of tiny feet and rhythmic tap of skipping ropes, the ground has now been cleared for redevelopment. Image

Goodbye to Royston Primary school, built to serve the area west of Granton which was developed between the wars. The site will doubtless be infilled with modern housing. This photograph was taken on 30th January, 2010. "Oor wee school's the best wee school, It's made o' bricks an' plaster; The only thing that's wrong wi' it Is the baldy-heided master. He goes to the pub on Saturday, He goes to the kirk on Sunday, He prays tae the Lord tae gi'e him strength Tae murder the bairns on Monday." -- traditional playground rhyme Image

This cleared site was formerly occupied, prior to demolition, by the Royston Primary School, built in 1937.

When this photograph was taken in January 2015, this house was all that remained standing on the cleared site of the demolished Royston Primary School of 1937. It is named "Royston School House" on the OS 1:1250 maps of 1945 (sheet 36/2376NW -B) and 1966 (sheet NT2376NW -D).

Architect : Reginald Fairlie, 1939 Grade C listed building. Historic Environment Scotland (listed building description) describes the building thus: "Summary Category C Group Category Details 100000020 - See notes Date Added 16/09/1998 Local Authority Edinburgh Planning Authority Edinburgh Burgh Edinburgh NGR NT 23165 76540 Coordinates 323165, 676540 Description Reginald Fairlie, 1939 with slightly later addition. Single storey, 9-bay, U-plan presbytery. Cape Dutch design. Brick base course, rendered and painted white above sill level. Brick sills to all windows. S (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: symmetrical arrangement; circular-plan step up to central entrance with gabled porch; semicircular-headed recessed door with brick architrave, stepped back in 3 stages. 3 regularly fenestrated flanking bays terminating in projecting pavilion bays, each with 3-light window. E AND W ELEVATIONS: pavilion bays at either end of entrance elevation extend N to form wings. That to E has central gabled entrance porch with doorway flanked by narrow windows; single bay to either side; that to N has small flat-roofed extension. W wing longer and terminates in projecting pavilion type bay (most of this wing is slightly later addition). COURTYARD ELEVATIONS: present U-shaped plan forms courtyard area to N. Rear of main body of building has 4 wide semicircular-headed windows; 2 similar to W side, to N of pilaster marking end of original building. Mainly 12-pane timber sash and case windows. Piended grey slate roof. Coped ridge stacks painted black and white: 3 to main body, 2 to E wing and 1 to N wing; round cans. Statement of Special Interest B group with adjacent St Margaret Mary's Church, also by Reginald Fairlie; designed as a part of the church complex here. References Bibliography PLAN submitted March 1939, in Dean of Guild, Building Control Section, Edinburgh; Patrick Nuttgens, REGINALD FAIRLIE (1959); John Gifford, Colin McWilliam and David Walker EDINBURGH in 'The Buildings of Scotland' series (first published 1984, this edition 1991) p601." Source : Historic Environment Scotland online listing description (copied 11th July 2023).

Architect : Reginald Fairlie, 1939. Category C listed building. Historic Environment Scotland (listed building description) describes the building thus: "Summary Category C Group Category Details 100000020 - See notes Date Added 16/09/1998 Local Authority Edinburgh Planning Authority Edinburgh Burgh Edinburgh NGR NT 23165 76540 Coordinates 323165, 676540 Description Reginald Fairlie, 1939 with slightly later addition. Single storey, 9-bay, U-plan presbytery. Cape Dutch design. Brick base course, rendered and painted white above sill level. Brick sills to all windows. S (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: symmetrical arrangement; circular-plan step up to central entrance with gabled porch; semicircular-headed recessed door with brick architrave, stepped back in 3 stages. 3 regularly fenestrated flanking bays terminating in projecting pavilion bays, each with 3-light window. E AND W ELEVATIONS: pavilion bays at either end of entrance elevation extend N to form wings. That to E has central gabled entrance porch with doorway flanked by narrow windows; single bay to either side; that to N has small flat-roofed extension. W wing longer and terminates in projecting pavilion type bay (most of this wing is slightly later addition). COURTYARD ELEVATIONS: present U-shaped plan forms courtyard area to N. Rear of main body of building has 4 wide semicircular-headed windows; 2 similar to W side, to N of pilaster marking end of original building. Mainly 12-pane timber sash and case windows. Piended grey slate roof. Coped ridge stacks painted black and white: 3 to main body, 2 to E wing and 1 to N wing; round cans. Statement of Special Interest B group with adjacent St Margaret Mary's Church, also by Reginald Fairlie; designed as a part of the church complex here. References Bibliography PLAN submitted March 1939, in Dean of Guild, Building Control Section, Edinburgh; Patrick Nuttgens, REGINALD FAIRLIE (1959); John Gifford, Colin McWilliam and David Walker EDINBURGH in 'The Buildings of Scotland' series (first published 1984, this edition 1991) p601." Source : Historic Environment Scotland online listing description (copied 11th July 2023).

The presbytery with the chapel beyond.