GUIDED tours are being offered of an excavation being undertaken ahead of the City of Edinburgh Council’s redevelopment of the former Silverlea Care Home into homes.
Forming part of the £1.3 billion Granton Waterfront regeneration, 142 high-quality and sustainable homes will be built on the site, including wheelchair-accessible ground floor dwellings in a mix of social rent (91) and mid-market rent (51).
Ahead of works commencing, AOC Archaeology are offering guided tours at the site this Saturday (March 23). Remains of the 18-19th century Murieston Mains farm and evidence of the estate surrounding a former 16th century house have been discovered at the site.
The findings include a culvert/flue that may have been used for heating the walled garden. Midden deposits from the 19th and 20th century, including bone, pottery, and milk bottles, have also been found which provides insight into the daily life of the estate.
It follows the discovery of a fossil plant remains, uncovered in a reused sandstone block possibly quarried in Craigleith, believed to be over 300 million years old. The fossil contains fragments of giant Club Moss and Horsetail, which grew in tropical swamps during the Carboniferous Period.
Members of the public are welcome to visit the site at 14 Muirhouse Pkway, Edinburgh, EH4 5EU from 10am-3pm to view the artefacts on display, with archaeologists on hand to talk about their discoveries.
City of Edinburgh Council leader Cammy Day said, “It is fantastic to see work continuing at pace at our £1.3 billion Granton Waterfront site, the largest sustainable regeneration project of its kind in Scotland. Archaeology projects, like the site at Edinburgh’s Muirhouse house and Mains farm, help us to get a glimpse of the area’s past.
“Our city has a rich heritage, but these discoveries continue to expose new aspects of its fascinating, varied history. The open day on Saturday is a chance for anyone with an interest to come and have a look at the historical work taking place, and to learn from the expertise of our brilliant archaeologists.”
