Maroon Mile Industry Growth in Gorgie and Dalry

Industry Growth in Gorgie and Dalry

Stop two of the Maroon Mile

The Maroon Mile has a rich industrial heritage, with several industries contributing to the local economy of Gorgie and Dalry. Among these industries were Cox’s glue works, based at Gorgie Mills, which produced glue, gelatine, and other products. It remained in Gorgie until 1969. Oral History interviews collected as part of the Maroon Mile Project have attested to the strong smell which came from the factory during production. Other well-known industrial smells of the area are from the local breweries and distilleries.

The Caledonian Distillery was built in 1855 at Haymarket, while another distillery, the North British, was established in 1885 in Wheatfield Road. Brewing was also important in the area, with Bernard’s in Slateford Road and Wheatfield and the Caledonian Brewery opening in 1869 in Slateford Road.

In the early 1880s, the Edinburgh baking family of McVitie built a factory in Stewart Terrace, and under its manager, Alexander Grant, produced the first Digestive biscuit. Other similar industries here over this period included rubber manufacture, chemicals, and printing.

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Stop 2 - Industry Growth in Gorgie and Dalry

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EDUCATION IN GORGIE AND DALRY

The earliest school in the area appears to be Gorgie School, which opened in 1871 and closed in 1939. St Cuthbert’s Roman
Catholic School was established in 1876 and since 1896 has been at Hutchison
Crossway, while Orwell Primary School is now the home of Garvald Workshops.
Balgreen Primary School, on Balgreen Road, dates from 1934. The area also
boasts several nurseries for pre-school children.

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The area also became a haven for the distillery and brewing industries. Caledonian Distillery was built in 1855 at Haymarket, while another distillery, the North British, was established in 1885 in Wheatfield Road. On the brewing front, both Bernard’s and the Caledonian Brewery, which opened in 1869, were situated on Slateford Road.