One of the attractive walkways close to Edinburgh city centre is along the Water of Leith.  In the past the river played an important part in the development of Edinburgh’s industry with the water providing power for many mills which lined its banks.  These included paper, flour, woollen and linen cloths, spices and snuff but now there is very little evidence.  Today for much of its length it is a peaceful green oasis linking former villages including the Dean Village which had several flour mills.
One of the ‘newer’ buildings in Dean Village is Well Court which was completed in 1886 with accommodation originally intended for local workers in the village.  An advertisement from the 1880s described Well Court as, “providing homes of two and three rooms with conveniences, let to a respectable class of working men at rentals of £7 to £12 per annum.”  The housing conditions were relatively good but there were strict rules including being locked out if they were out after a certain time.  Today it is one of the most desirable places to live in the area especially as it’s only a short walk from the city centre