“Hill without a spring”. That’s what Drylaw means in the Scots language. The name hints at the area’s history. Today, we’re exploring Drylaw in Edinburgh. This place has seen centuries of change.
Drylaw’s story stretches back to at least 1296. A document mentions a Walter of Drylaw. It’s likely a castle stood here to protect the lands. Thomas Forrester received a charter for Drylaw in 1406. This followed the death of his father. By 1491, the estate divided. There was Easter and Wester Drylaw. Wester Drylaw seemed more important. Easter Drylaw might have been a farm.
The Hope family owned Easter Drylaw in the 1550s. The Forresters continued to own Wester Drylaw. In 1544, English forces burned Drylaw. This happened during the Rough Wooing. Later, it was rebuilt. Elizabeth Forrester married David Makgill in 1557. Drylaw then transferred to the Makgills.
The Makgills may have sold or rented Drylaw to the Crichton family. Alexander Crichton was called Laird of Drylaw by 1570. Sir James Makgill owned Drylaw in 1641. The Makgill family combined Easter and Wester Drylaw in 1638.
James Loch bought Drylaw in 1641. His family owned it for 145 years. The Loch family likely added to Drylaw. There are mid-17th century details in the ruins. John Adair’s map around 1682 shows two Drylaws. The Wester portion appears larger.
In 1718, the Lochs built a new house south of Old Drylaw House. The older building became stables. These stables included medieval gargoyles. These gargoyles may have come from the original castle. At this time farmland surrounded the property. There were two farms Drylaw Mains and Easter Drylaw. Roy’s map of 1745 shows Drylaw with gardens. It also shows the smaller property of “E Drylaw”.
George Loch sold the estate to William Ramsay in 1786. William Ramsay lived at Drylaw House for a short time. He then bought Cramond Regis, later named Barnton House. The stables fell into disrepair. However, the new Drylaw House has been maintained. It is still a private residence. Parts of the estate were sold. Housing estates were built on the land. The old farm of Easter Drylaw was built on in 1936.
Today, Drylaw is a suburb in northwest Edinburgh. It’s located between Blackhall and Granton. It is part of the Drylaw–Telford community. The area saw a major housing scheme in the 1950s. This aimed to rehouse people from Leith. Drylaw Parish Church was built in 1956. Sir William Kininmonth designed it. The A902 road passes through here.
Notable residents include Baron Loch of Drylaw. Admiral Francis Erskine Loch was born and raised in Drylaw House. Graham Hastings from Young Fathers also grew up in Drylaw. From its early days as a defensive site, Drylaw evolved. It became an estate, then a residential area. The ruins and the newer house tell the story of Drylaw’s long and varied past. A fire even took hold of Drylaw House, which operates as an event space and exclusive accomodation. So the history of Drylaw is alive.