As part of the Edinburgh 900 celebrations, Bridgend Farmhouse community centre held a traditional Christmas Fair on Sunday 1 December, complete with market stalls, apple-pressing, children’s games and a ceilidh.
Children from local primary schools – Castle View and Craigour – designed community shields, recalling the days when King David gave Edinburgh its royal charter in 1124. It’s thought the land at Bridgend has been used as a farm ever since, until the year 2000. It’s now an independent community centre with its own allotments, still growing fruit and vegetables.
On Sunday the apple-press was in full operation and bottles of juice were being sold from the market stalls, along with hand-made holly wreaths, wooden Christmas gifts and jam and chutneys. Entertainment in the marquee was provided by the Craigmillar Community Choir. Food made in the Bridgend kitchen was being sold all day.
Meanwhile in the bothy (the old piggery) children were rediscovering traditional farmyard games. And in the exhibition room, the Bridgend creative writing group were reading some of their poems on the theme of farming over the centuries.
They are soon to be printed in a 40–page booklet, along with the group’s own illustrations. In the evening, a traditional farmyard ceilidh was held in the marquee, with a live fiddle band and “stovies” were served at the interval to keep dancers fuelled up.
In all, over 260 people enjoyed the Bridgend Fair, just one of the many community events supported by the Edinburgh 900 Community Fund to celebrate this special year.
