Colony houses

The colony houses of Edinburgh were built between 1850 and 1910 as homes for artisans and skilled working-class families by philanthropic model dwellings companies.

In some areas, many upper Cottage Flat owners have converted their attic space in to additional living accommodation resulting in the property being more reminiscent of colony houses.

In some residential areas such as Colinton Mains, in Edinburgh, a majority of such accommodation has now been converted due to high property prices comparative to the cost of conversion.

A newspaper from 1870 reports: "The entire capital [of the Company] is subscribed by 836 members, 400 houses supplying healthful accommodation for at least 2,000 individuals, have been built and sold for £70,000; and an average profit of over 15 per cent has been paid every year.

The earliest residents of the colonies were skilled workers and artisan builders and this remained the largest occupational group for much of the 20th century.

The design of the buildings did result in a certain amount of overlooking and gossiping, but this feature has also contributed to a sense of identity and community that is quite unique in Edinburgh.