Astley Ainslie Hospital: A history of health, wealth, and innovation in South Edinburgh
Summer 2025
The Astley Ainslie Hospital grounds might just be the Grange’s best-kept secret. Dog walkers know its peaceful paths well, but few realise they’re strolling through centuries of stories—from the ruins of a medieval plague village to the site of a pioneering occupational therapy school. Add in bubbling spring water, ancient wells, and trees planted by celebrated botanists, and you’ll find parkland where every corner has a tale to tell.

As the NHS prepares to leave the site, the Astley Ainslie's lush grounds are facing an uncertain future, sparking fears of development among locals who treasure its century-old trees, rare species, and peaceful paths. This project shares the site’s rich history and hidden stories in support of the community’s push to keep the grounds open to the public.