Gilmerton
Gilmerton (Scottish Gaelic: Baile GhilleMhoire, IPA:[ˈpaləˈʝiːʎəˈvɔɾʲə]) is a suburb of Edinburgh, about 4 miles (6.4 km) southeast of the city centre.
Gilmerton
| |
|---|---|
Gilmerton Post Office | |
Gilmerton Location within the City of Edinburgh council area Gilmerton Location within Scotland | |
| OS grid reference | NT2969 |
| • Edinburgh | 4 miles (6.4 km) |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Edinburgh |
| Police | Scotland |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
The toponym "Gilmerton" is derived from a combination of Scottish Gaelic: Gille-Moire– a personal name and later surname meaning "Servant of [the Virgin] Mary", from which comes the first element, "Gilmer", – and Old English: ton meaning "settlement" or "farmstead". Versions of the name are recorded from the middle of the 12th century.
Below its centre is a series of shallow linked caves collectively called Gilmerton Cove. Traditionally these were attributed to the work of a local blacksmith, George Paterson (d.1735), who began work in 1720 and completed excavations in 1724 occupying these caves under his house and smiddy for eleven years. Paterson's name is incribed on the lintel at the entrance.