Researching history of Craigwell Cottage

Craigwell Cottage at 16 Nether Craigwell, Edinburgh is one of 22 dwellinghouses which were formed when old industrial buildings were converted to housing in 1987.

On 26 April 2007 Sandcastle Holidays (Scotland) Ltd purchased the cottage at 16 Nether Craigwell with the intention of using it for holiday letting. Susan McNaughton of Sandcastle Holidays had spotted the property being marketed by Warners when looking for a potential property which would be ideal for self-catering holiday makers to spend a vacation in Edinburgh.

Whilst considering the purchase of the property, and breaking down the resistance of her fellow director to the purchase, Susan happened upon a photograph which was stored on the SCRAN Archive, showing Nick Groves-Raines standing at Nether Craigwell. Other photographs of the property at 65 Calton Road, Edinburgh were featured on the SCRAN Archive:-

1. Craigwell Brewery by Charles McKean
2. Craigwell Brewery, Calton Road, Edinburgh
3. Craigwell Brewery, Calton Road, Edinburgh - although the photograph shows the buildings opposite Nether Craigwell at Campbell's Close.
4. Former Craigwell Brewery, No 65 Calton Road, Edinburgh
5. Former Craigwell Brewery, No 65 Calton Road, Edinburgh
6. Former Craigwell Brewery, No 65 Calton Road, Edinburgh - again showing the building at Campbell's Close.
7. Nick Groves at former Craigwell Brewery, 1987
8. Nick Groves at former Craigwell Brewery, 1987
9. Balmoral Brewery Maltings, No 36 Calton Road, Edinburgh - photo is small, but appears to show brewery buildings photographed from somewhere on the side of Calton Hill.

The two photos of Nick Groves suggested to Susan that she should 'Google' Nick Groves to see what she could find - and this proved a fruitful search! Nick Groves-Raines was still practising in Edinburgh. He is an award winning architect and designed the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh, amongst many other successful projects.

His practice - Groves Raines Architects had a website with contact details, so Susan got in touch with a very helpful young lady in his offices, Nicky Jowett, who searched the Groves Raines Archives for photographs of the project. When these had been located, Susan went to the offices of Groves Raines in Liberton and borrowed the photographs, scanning them to make digital images. I think the best place to put these images is on a Picasa Album so that if you are interested you may view them as a slide show.

Here's the show: