Street Name History

An analysis of the word Polwarth means ‘Pol’ (Gaelic) for a muddy stream and ‘Warth’ (Saxon) for dwellings. The validity of the word certainly dates from AD900 when the church at the settlement of Polwart (vernacular), in Berwickshire was dedicated to St Mungo. He had brought Christianity to that district and formed a church there in the 6th century.

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These streets were named as a compliment to Henry Francis, 7th Baron of Polwarth (1800-1867). He has the right of possession of the ground on which the streets were built. His other title was Earl of Marchmont. Henry Francis was Lord-in-Waiting to Queen Victoria (1843-1867). The Marchmont title had, in reality, become dominant since 1794. The Polwarth name survived through his daughter, Anne.

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When Polwarth Parish Church opened in 1901, it was named Candlish Church, Merchiston. The name was Anglican for ‘farm place’. The first proclamation of the name Merchiston (discerned Merchinstoun) was in 1266. Alexander Napier became the landowner from 1438. One of his sons was appointed Controller of Scotland in 1450, possibly called Archibald. Another son, Alexander, became Lord Provost of Edinburgh. The most acclaimed of course was John Napier. His invention of logarithms was published in 1614. Moreover, he was reputed to be a wizard and a divining rod treasure seeker. He died in 1617 while a fanciful interpreter of the apocalypse. The Merchiston named streets were built on what was part of the Merchiston Castle Estate owner by the Napier family. Their land was massive, stretching from Jordan Burn to Gorgie Road, taking in Boroughmuir and Meggetland. Landowners were venerated according to their acreage.

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Once part of the Merchiston Estate, the name came into the Napier family when Sir Frances Napier was created Baron Ettrick in 1872. Sir Francis had distinguished diplomatic careers as ambassador to the United States, the Netherlands and Russia. In addition, he was Governor of Madras in 1866. The Ettrick connection to the Napiers stemmed back as far as 1699 when the Mistress of Merchiston Castle married Sir William Scott of Thirlestane, which is situated on the River Ettrick.

Mr John Clapperton, Master of the Merchant Company, named his house ‘Gillsland’. This name was later extended to the road which was made in 1897. The Merchant Company at this time was in possession of much of the surrounding land, including the site of George Watson’s College, which was build in 1930.

The Spylaw streets were named after the old snuff mill at Colinton owned by the Gillespie brothers, this road being a route to Colinton. The name ‘Spy Law’ originated from a lookout hill In the ancient parish of Hailes whose alternative name was Spylaw.

All the above information was sourced from ‘Update’, The Magazine of the Polwarth Parish Church, issues 19 and 20 (Feb 2008 and Mar 2008). Researcher: Robert M Hogg