Silverknowes

Is Silverknowes a hidden gem? Many think so. Silverknowes, nestled on the Firth of Forth, offers a unique blend of history and natural beauty. Silverknowes wasn’t always the residential haven it is today. Before the 1930s, it was open farmland known as Randalston, a name echoing from the 14th century. Imagine the transformation. The landscape shifted dramatically when McTaggart & Mickel, tenement builders from Glasgow, acquired most of the land in 1934. Their vision? A new suburb for Edinburgh. They began crafting Silverknowes, street by street, starting west of Silverknowes Road. Silverknowes Avenue, Crescent, Drive, Hill, Loan, and Terrace emerged. World War II interrupted their efforts, but the builders returned in 1952, expanding Silverknowes further east. Silverknowes Bank, Brae, Court, Eastway, Gardens, Grove, Parkway, and Place joined the growing community, often arranged in concentric semi-circles around Silverknowes Road. The final additions, Silverknowes Green, Midway, Southway, and View, came in 1960, built on land from the former Drylaw Estate. Originally, Silverknowes housed a mix of private and council homes. Now, it’s primarily owner-occupied, a testament to the Right to Buy legislation of the 1980s. Silverknowes boasts a beautiful promenade, a three-mile stretch along the Firth of Forth from Cramond to Granton. Its construction began in the early 1930s, finally completed in 1947. The adjacent Marine Drive offers scenic drives. Silverknowes even played a role in World War II. A heavy anti-aircraft battery stood guard north of the Silverknowes Golf Course. A “Starfish” decoy, designed to mislead enemy bombers, was located at the west end of Marine Drive. Today, Silverknowes offers the modern resident a golf course, playing fields, and convenient bus routes to Edinburgh city centre. It’s a community shaped by history, from quiet farmland to a thriving suburb, always with the Firth of Forth as its backdrop. Silverknowes. A place where history and modern living intertwine.