Map - Balerno

Balerno (Baile Àirneach, IPA:[ˈpaleˈɛːɾʲnəx]; Scots: Balerno or Balernie) is a village on the outskirts of Edinburgh, Scotland situated 8 mi south-west of the city centre, next to Currie and then Juniper Green. Traditionally in the county of Midlothian it now administratively falls within the jurisdiction of the City of Edinburgh Council. The village lies at the confluence of the Water of Leith and the Bavelaw Burn. In the 18th and 19th century, the area was home to several mills using waterpower. In the 20th century, the mills closed and the village now forms a residential suburb of Edinburgh.

Balerno's name derives from the Scottish Gaelic Baile Àirneach, meaning "townland/town of the hawthorns". The earliest written records of Balhernoch or Balernach are found in the late 13th century.

The 18th century brought substantial development to the area, with several new flax, snuff and paper mills springing up around the Water of Leith and its tributary, the Bavelaw Burn (evidence of flax production can be seen in Harlaw Woods). The largest of these mills was the Balerno Bank Paper Mill which was located near the centre of the old village. The Balerno Bank Paper Mill mill was founded in 1810 and closed in the early 1990s. While the former site has been converted to housing, the former offices (built in a Scottish baronial style and lodge are still extant. They are Category B and listed respectively. On the eastern edge of Barlerno, the Malleny Mill was built in 1805 as a Flax mill. It was later used as a grain mill but was damaged by fire internally in 1910. It repaired in 1920 and converted into a ladies school. It is now housing but is Category C listed and the mills give their name to this area of Balerno. In 1825, a Scotch whisky distillery was established in Balerno but it was shortlived and closed by 1830.

In the 19th century, the village expanded with most of the present day stone buildings on the Main St dating from this period. These include the Grey Horse Inn (circa 1850), the late 19th century Malleny Arms Hotel (now the Balerno Inn), the Balerno Hardware and Pharmacy Buildings, as well as the buildings at 28-32 and 34 Main Street. In 1877, a primary school 'Deanpark' was built in the village. While the school moved to a new building in 1970, the original school, school Masters building and late annexes still exist and the spired Bell-cot is a focal point of the centre of the village. The school was expanded on at least 3 occasions between 1880 and 1914 and the main building now serves as the village library.

After the First World War house building began in earnest in the area and since then residential development has increased ahead of commercial and industrial development. There was a short loop railway running over what is now the Water of Leith Walkway. In 1938, the Royal Bank of Scotland building was erected in the village. It is category C listed and the building is now in use as a dentists.

From 1951 onwards, Balerno was expanded with the creation of a new housing estate under the builders Mactaggart & Mickel. In 1975, the village became part of the city of Edinburgh. Also in 1975, part of the village was designated as a conservation area (with the boundaries enlarged in 1997). In 1997, the village erected a memorial to a local resident Willie Shanks (BEM) for services to the people and children of Balerno.