Blackhall, Edinburgh

Blackhall is a suburb in the north west of the Scottish capital city Edinburgh.
According to Stuart Harris in "The Place Names Of Edinburgh" the "Black-" in the placename could derive either from the Anglian "blaec" or Scots "blac" meaning simply black, and the "-hall" ending is from the Anglian "halh" or Scots "haugh" meaning land beside or in the bend of a river.
Blackhall is a mainly residential area with amenities including a library and a small number of shops. Most of the housing in the neighbourhood was constructed in the inter-war period, although the recent housing boom has seen new development on the north east slope of Corstorphine Hill. This development went ahead despite considerable opposition from the local community and an unusual planning quirk which allowed the development to go ahead based on forty-year-old outline permission.
Blackhall has numerous community and church-based groups including a bowling club, two Probus Clubs, and a horticultural society. There is a local community council, Craigleith/Blackhall, that serves the area.
The local school, Blackhall Primary School, has recently been extended and parts rebuilt, as has the local Royal High School which serves Blackhall.
One of the main arterial routes of the city goes through the area, which borders Drylaw, Davidson's Mains, and Craigcrook.