164 Craigmillar and its Eftvirons. 



Town of Edinburgh is built on the boulder-clay. 

 Several examples of the huge blocks of stone, or 

 " travelled rocks," characteristic of the boulder-clay 

 deposit, are found in this neighbourhood, more par- 

 ticularly at the sea-shore, where they have often 

 proved a source of wonder to observers not acquainted 

 with their history. The boulder-clays, as well as the 

 whole subject of the natural features of this district 

 during successive geological periods, were described 

 by the late Hugh Miller, in his well-known picturesque 

 style, in two lectures delivered to the members of the 

 Edinburgh Philosophical Institution. These lectures 

 are now included in a posthumous volume entitled 

 ' Edinburgh and its Neighbourhood.' 



Before concluding this short sketch of the geo- 

 logical features of the Craigmillar district, a few words 

 may be said regarding the Craigmillar building-stone. 

 Craigmillar sandstone has been quarried for centuries 

 — the castle and other buildings in the district, in- 

 cluding the older portion of The Inch House, having 

 been built from it. In the erection of George Square, 

 the Regent Bridge, the barracks at Piershill, the 

 Edinburgh Water Company's reservoirs, and many 



