{"id":2759,"date":"2024-01-25T17:21:22","date_gmt":"2024-01-25T17:21:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edinburghname.com\/?p=2759"},"modified":"2025-06-16T10:56:40","modified_gmt":"2025-06-16T09:56:40","slug":"the-meadows-from-cattle-pasture-to-public-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/edinburghname.com\/en\/eternal-2759-the-meadows-from-cattle-pasture-to-public-park","title":{"rendered":"The Meadows: From Cattle Pasture to Public Park"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Edinburgh boasts an impressive array of attractions, with its recreational areas holding a special place. Parks, in particular, offer locals a fantastic opportunity for active leisure and a chance to enjoy the fresh air with family and friends. For more fascinating insights, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/edinburghname.com\/en\">edinburghname.com<\/a>.<br>However, Edinburgh&#8217;s parks, including the famous Meadows, have a surprisingly rich and often overlooked history. Their past reveals them to be an integral part of the city&#8217;s story. This article delves into the captivating history of this renowned Edinburgh park, uncovering facts that many might not know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a6e29f331068\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a6e29f331068\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/edinburghname.com\/en\/eternal-2759-the-meadows-from-cattle-pasture-to-public-park\/#How_It_All_Began\" >How It All Began<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/edinburghname.com\/en\/eternal-2759-the-meadows-from-cattle-pasture-to-public-park\/#Further_Developments\" >Further Developments<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/edinburghname.com\/en\/eternal-2759-the-meadows-from-cattle-pasture-to-public-park\/#A_New_Status\" >A New Status<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/edinburghname.com\/en\/eternal-2759-the-meadows-from-cattle-pasture-to-public-park\/#An_Exception_to_the_Rule\" >An Exception to the Rule<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/edinburghname.com\/en\/eternal-2759-the-meadows-from-cattle-pasture-to-public-park\/#A_Cradle_of_Football\" >A Cradle of Football<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/edinburghname.com\/en\/eternal-2759-the-meadows-from-cattle-pasture-to-public-park\/#Wartime_Efforts_and_Post-War_Plans\" >Wartime Efforts and Post-War Plans<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/edinburghname.com\/en\/eternal-2759-the-meadows-from-cattle-pasture-to-public-park\/#A_Hub_for_Events\" >A Hub for Events<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_It_All_Began\"><\/span>How It All Began<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Initially, the land that now forms The Meadows was a vast common pasture for livestock, a practice that continued right up until 1920. Only when the need for grazing diminished did the area transition exclusively into a park.<br>Interestingly, a sizable lake once occupied a significant portion of the future parkland. Before Edinburgh&#8217;s first water pipeline was installed in 1621, this very lake supplied much of the city with drinking water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Further_Developments\"><\/span>Further Developments<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In the mid-17th century, the body of water was partially drained. Then, in 1722, Sir Thomas Hope, a prominent politician and agricultural innovator, ordered further drainage work. His vision was to transform the marshy area into a park, complete with a living hedge and charming lime tree avenues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_New_Status\"><\/span>A New Status<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite its use for grazing and its popularity among Edinburgh residents for strolls, full public access to The Meadows wasn&#8217;t officially granted until the mid-19th century. It was then that new pathways began to emerge, gradually giving the area the distinct feel of a proper park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"An_Exception_to_the_Rule\"><\/span>An Exception to the Rule<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>City council documentation strictly prohibited construction within the park&#8217;s boundaries. Yet, on one occasion, an exception was made. Permission was granted to erect a large, temporary glass pavilion for the 1886 International Exhibition of Industry, Science, and Art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Cradle_of_Football\"><\/span>A Cradle of Football<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The 1870s saw The Meadows play a crucial role in the development of football in Edinburgh. Numerous football teams, including the now-famous Heart of Midlothian FC and Hibernian F.C., used the park for training and matches. The first recorded game between these two historic rivals took place here on 25th December 1875.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Wartime_Efforts_and_Post-War_Plans\"><\/span>Wartime Efforts and Post-War Plans<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>During the Second World War, designated sections of the park were used to grow food, a practice that continued until the 1960s. Following this, there were proposals to build a &#8220;flyover&#8221; through the park to create a major thoroughfare, but thankfully, these ambitious plans were scrapped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Hub_for_Events\"><\/span>A Hub for Events<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Meadows has been the venue for many pivotal events in the city&#8217;s history. As mentioned, the 1886 International Exhibition of Industry, Science, and Art was held here. Its expansive open spaces have also made it ideal for sporting events. Notably, the annual Meadows Marathon, which draws around a thousand runners, takes place here every March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"536\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.edinburghname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2025\/06\/image-16.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2760\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.edinburghname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2025\/06\/image-16.png 800w, https:\/\/cdn.edinburghname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2025\/06\/image-16-300x201.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.edinburghname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2025\/06\/image-16-768x515.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.edinburghname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2025\/06\/image-16-696x466.png 696w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><br>In conclusion, The Meadows is a place steeped in history. What began as a simple cattle pasture has gradually transformed into a cherished public park, embraced by locals as one of the city&#8217;s most iconic spots. Strolls and active recreation are now commonplace, and its numerous paths and avenues create a truly unique and delightful atmosphere, making it an indispensable part of Edinburgh&#8217;s fabric.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Edinburgh boasts an impressive array of attractions, with its recreational areas holding a special place. Parks, in particular, offer locals a fantastic opportunity for active leisure and a chance to enjoy the fresh air with family and friends. For more fascinating insights, visit edinburghname.com.However, Edinburgh&#8217;s parks, including the famous Meadows, have a surprisingly rich and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":456,"featured_media":1586,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[331],"tags":[1347,1351,1346,1355,1354,1357,1267,1352,1358,1350,1353,1345,1349,1356,1348],"moimportance":[29,30,33],"motype":[325],"moformat":[18],"class_list":{"0":"post-2759","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-environment","8":"tag-1886-international-exhibition","9":"tag-community-park","10":"tag-edinburgh-attractions","11":"tag-edinburgh-parks","12":"tag-football-history-scotland","13":"tag-historical-facts","14":"tag-historical-landmarks","15":"tag-leisure-activities-edinburgh","16":"tag-meadows-marathon","17":"tag-public-access","18":"tag-public-green-spaces","19":"tag-scottish-heritage","20":"tag-the-meadows-history","21":"tag-urban-development-edinburgh","22":"tag-victorian-edinburgh","23":"moimportance-aktualna-bilshe-roku","24":"moimportance-golovna-novyna","25":"moimportance-retranslyacziya-v-agregatory","26":"motype-eternal","27":"moformat-vlasna"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/edinburghname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2759","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/edinburghname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/edinburghname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edinburghname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/456"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edinburghname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2759"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/edinburghname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2759\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2763,"href":"https:\/\/edinburghname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2759\/revisions\/2763"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edinburghname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1586"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/edinburghname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2759"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edinburghname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2759"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edinburghname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2759"},{"taxonomy":"moimportance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edinburghname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moimportance?post=2759"},{"taxonomy":"motype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edinburghname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/motype?post=2759"},{"taxonomy":"moformat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edinburghname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moformat?post=2759"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}