The area is now primarily residential, but was the site of Backside Lee Farm until the 1970s when the land was sold to Crudens for development.

[1] The waterworks, including a covered treated water reservoir and open settling ponds, were designed in 1875 by the civil engineer James Leslie.

A second covered reservoir was added in 1888 giving a total capacity of 15 million gallons.

Initially, the main water source was Gladhouse Reservoir in the Moorfoot Hills and the works supplied East Edinburgh, Leith and Portobello.

In 1905 the supply was supplemented by the Talla Reservoir to cope with the growing population.