News and Events
Views of Cramond: Celebrating 50 Years of the Cramond Association
Could you ever imagine a time when you could stroll across the A90 at the Cramond Brig Hotel without seeing a car? Want to know where you would have caught a steam train from Barnton Station?
Would you ever think it possible to wander down Whitehouse Road, in between the trees, with nothing to spoil the view but acres of lush farmland? What did Cammo Tower do, what did Cammo House look like, and was Cramond Tower really a ruin for more than 300 years?
The answers to all these questions can be found amongst the glossy pages of our newest publication, Views of Cramond, a fabulous calendar published to celebrate our 50th anniversary in 2010. It contains almost 40 images old and new, many of which have never been published before.
A limited number have been produced for general sale from late August 2009, making it an ideal Christmas present. But you will have to hurry as they are selling out fast! Priced at £10 each, the calendars will be available from the Maltings exhibition centre in Cramond village or from Cramond Association Committee members.
Contact Jim Murray, Treasurer on 0131 339 6191 to place an order, or write to him at 1 Cammo Grove Edinburgh, EH4 8EU. All proceeds from the sale of the calendars will be donated to local good causes.
For more information on the Cramond Association 50th anniversary, click here.
Events 2009-2010
The Cramond Association holds a wide variety of events and presentations throughout the year. All are held at Cramond Kirk hall and start at 7.30pm unless otherwise stated.
The Cramond Association's programme of events for 2009-2010 is:
| 2009 | |
Monday 28 September |
The Georgian House, Edinburgh: Dr Sheonagh Martin, National Trust for Scotland, |
Monday 26 October |
The life and times of an MP: John Barrett, MP |
Monday 30 November |
Who do you think you are?: Caroline Gerard, Scottish Genealogy Society |
Wednesday 9 December |
Carols by Candlelight |
2010 |
|
Monday 25 January |
The Really Terrible Orchestra: Richard Neville Towle, Conductor |
Monday 22 February |
The value of Carers in the community: Ian Huggan |
Monday 30 March |
AGM followed by Canals of Scotland, Ronald Rusack |
Monday 27 April |
The John Murray Archive, David McClay, National Library of Scotland |
Roman Fort Excavations
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Visitors at the Roman Fort dig |
The City Council's Archaeologist has recently completed a successful community-based archaeological excavation at Cramond's Roman fort. This was initially an attempt to uncover a third occupation phase and provisional findings have confirmed that there was another fort based at the site, prior to the two Roman occupations already known. Whether this is Roman or not has yet to be confirmed.
Items of interest found during the six-week-long dig have included: two Roman daggers, a bronze cup, a couple of early Antonine coins, various other metalwork including metal work from leather Roman armour and barrel-loads of pottery.
A selection of the items found is on display at the Maltings in Cramond village, courtesy of Cramond Heritage Trust. This part of the site will be landscaped to enable visitors to see the remains of the Roman Fort. The paths will be reinstated and expanded to enable wheelchair access to the site. At the moment they are temporarily covered to protect them until consolidation work can be carried out in the spring of 2009, prior to the final landscaping. All funds are in place to enable this final phase of the project to be completed.
Large quantities of human bone fragments were also discovered in the area between the Kirk Hall and the east wall of the kirkyard. This implies that Cramond Kirk’s graveyard had been much larger during medieval times. Beneath these fragments were what appeared to be more complete skeletons resting above the Roman level, although excavation was stopped at this point to avoid disturbance of the burials. This part of the site has now been backfilled and will be properly landscaped once the ground has settled.
The Corner Project
A four-year campaign to raise £75,000 for a new play park has now paid off for a youth group in Cramond, Edinburgh. The Corner Project was set up by Cramond’s Sunday Plus Youth Group in 2004 as a direct response to the area’s lack of facilities for young people. Thanks to their fundraising efforts, and with a little help from Cramond Heritage Trust, Edinburgh’s newest play park is now open!
The park has been created in the walled garden, behind Cramond Kirk Hall, and follows extensive consultation with young people from the local area and City of Edinburgh Council. Attractions include a wide selection of the latest in cutting-edge play equipment.
Revd Dr Russell Barr of Cramond Kirk said: “From the very happy sound of children laughing and playing that comes across to the Manse from the walled garden, I know that the park has long been a favourite place for Cramond families. The new facilities have greatly enhanced the attraction and it is very encouraging to see that it is often very busy. Sunday Plus has provided a wonderful facility and is to be congratulated on their tremendous achievement.”
Kate Mackenzie, Local Councillor, City of Edinburgh Council, added: “I am delighted that the Corner Project is now a reality and I know that the young people will enjoy their new play park. An important part of working towards such a goal is the satisfaction for young people in undertaking such a project and raising funds and negotiating with others to make it happen. Well done to all involved.”
Organiser Kirsty Gillies from The Corner Project, said: “It is very exciting to see that the youth group’s hard work has resulted in a designated area for the young people of Cramond and the surrounding area.“
Cammo Grazing
Areas of grassland on Cammo Estate have in the past been let out for cattle grazing. Over the last five to 10 years, this has not taken place and has resulted in poor quality of grass. The Countryside Ranger Service aims are to re-introduce grazing to the Estate to enhance biodiversity, to use sustainable methods of managing the site and, to ensure efficiency in how we manage our sites.
The Cramond Association welcome the proposals as being very positive for Cammo and those who use the estate. It's an added feature to look at when out walking the dog and an educational bonus in terms of biodiversity and quality in the grazed areas. It’s also very cost effective in the longer term and will benefit the Council hugely especially at a time when resources are stretched. The animals will only be there for a short period of the year so for those who do see it as an inconvenience they will only have to put up with it for a relatively short amount of time.
If you would like any further information, please drop into the Visitor Centre at the Cammo Estate where there is a small exhibition on display.
River Almond Crossing Update
An organisation called JMP Consulting was contracted by South East of Scotland Transport Partnership (SEStran) to examine the feasibility of replacing the ferry with a bridge. Their report suggested installing a bridge at a site just above the Cramond Boat Club’s dingy park. Apart from the fact that the landing point on the Dalmeny Estate riverbank would provide such a steep access to the estate that it would be impossible to negotiate with a wheelchair, the estate raised objections to the 24 hour access that this would provide.
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A computerised image of the proposed Cramond chain ferry |
The local community has been examining the possibility of replacing the old ferry with a modern alternative which would comply with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act, a necessary process to enable access to potential grant funding for the project.
A design for a chain ferry with access via a hydraulically operated lift has been proposed. This has the provisional approval of most of the interested parties, including Dalmeny Estate. Further consultation and design refinement is currently underway.