Duddingston origins

Dodin de Duddingstoun, an Anglo-Norman knight who was granted the lands of Duddingston in the 12th century. 

This transaction was part of the Davidian Revolution, a period when King David I of Scotland invited Anglo-Norman nobles and knights northward, granting them estates in exchange for military allegiance, feudal order, and assistance in modernizing Scotland. 

• The Original Owner: King David I originally granted a vast tract of land near Arthur's Seat—then known by the Celtic name Treverlen—to the monks of Kelso Abbey around 1124. 
• The Knight’s Lease: Because monks could not provide military service or manage large agricultural estates directly, the Abbot of Kelso leased or "feued" the land to Dodin de Berwic between 1124 and 1147. 
• The Name Change: Dodin established a fortified farm or settlement there. By 1150, he was signing his name as "Dodin of Dodinestoun" (literally "Dodin's toun" or estate). Over the centuries, this evolved linguistically into the modern name Duddingston. 

At its industrial peak in the early 20th century, there were seven massive commercial breweries packed into the tiny Duddingston and Craigmillar suburb, all operating within a few hundred yards of each other. 

The Duddingston Seven

By 1906, the local green fields had transformed into a major global powerhouse for brewing Scottish ale. The seven notable sites clustered tightly together were: 

· Drybrough & Co. (Craigmillar Brewery)

· William Murray & Co. (Craigmillar No. 1 and No. 2 Breweries)

· Maclachlan’s (Castle Ales Brewery)

· Robert Deuchar Ltd. (Duddingston Brewery)

· The North British Brewery

· The Craigmillar Brewery

· The Paterson Brewery

They all chose this exact spot for two reasons: access to the Suburban Railway line for heavy cargo, and deep wells tapping into the legendary "Charmed Circle" aquifer, which yielded exceptionally pure brewing water.

The Story of Drybrough’s Brewery

Drybrough & Co. was the crown jewel of the local brewing scene. The family had been brewing across Edinburgh since before 1750. Facing cramped conditions in the Old Town, they built a state-of-the-art Victorian red-brick factory on Duddingston Road West in 1892, opening fully in 1895. 

· The Design: It was designed by famed industrial architect Robert Hamilton-Paterson, who also created Edinburgh's Caledonian Brewery. 

· The End of an Era: The brewery outlasted its neighbors but was eventually bought by corporate giants. It poured its very last pint on 23 January 1987, marking the death of Duddingston's heavy industrial brewing era. 

· The Site Today: Fortunately, the beautiful complex was preserved as a Category B listed building. It spent years as the Holyrood Business Park, and plans have been approved to sensitively transform the historic site into a mixed-use residential village named Holyrood Village, keeping its iconic industrial chimney stack standing high.

· The Kirk: Founded around 1124, Duddingston Kirk is one of Scotland's oldest churches still in use.

· The Loupin'-on Stane: Look outside the gate for this stone block, used by weary churchgoers to mount their horses.

· The "Joug": A heavy iron collar hanging near the gate. It was used in centuries past to lock up and publicly shame local sinners on Sunday mornings.

· Dr. MacNeil's Garden: Right next door sits Dr. Neil’s Garden, often called Edinburgh's "Secret Garden." Created in 1963 by medical doctors Andrew and Nancy Neil, it was designed as a place of healing and texture.

· Wee Story: The famous 19th-century minister and landscape painter, John Thomson, used to lock himself in the church tower to paint, completely ignoring his parish duties if the daylight was just right! It was known as the ‘Edinburgh’ room and that’s where the parishioners were told he’d went when he didn’t want to be disturbed. 

2. The Sheep Heid Inn

· Ancient Pub: Established in 1360, The Sheep Heid Inn is widely recognized as Scotland's oldest surviving public house.

· The Royal Gift: In 1580, King James VI of Scotland (later James I of England) gifted the landlord an ornate ram's head snuff box as a thank-you for the tavern's hospitality. This royal gift gives the pub its famous name.

· The Skittle Alley: Around the back is a traditional 19th-century bowling alley. It is the last remaining manual skittle alley in the country, where you still have to set up your own pins.

· Fun Fact: Queen Elizabeth II dropped by unannounced for a casual pub lunch and a drink in 2016, shocking the regulars.

3. The Jacobite Connection

· The 1745 Rebellion: In September 1745, Bonnie Prince Charlie chose the fields around Duddingston to set up his military camp before the Battle of Prestopans.

· The Royal Lodging: The Prince stayed in a small thatched cottage in the village (known today as Bonnie Prince Charlie's Cottage).

· Wee Story: Local legend says the Prince held a council of war in the village, plotting his victory while nervous locals hid their livestock in the nearby hills to stop the hungry rebel army from eating them.

4. Duddingston Golf Club & The Brewery Heritage

· The Golf Club: Formed in 1895, Duddingston Golf Club is a beautiful parkland course cut through by the braid burn. Formed by bankers and insurers.