Origins

Originally Gracemount took the name of Priesthill.

Gracemount House was built c1780 and was the rectory of St Catherine’s Chapel of the Kaims, situated near the site of St Catherine’s Well, the Balm Well.

The Balm Well was the ‘Bathesda’ (house of mercy, or flowing water) of Liberton for centuries.

The Balm Well Balm Well - Edinburgh Geological Society (edinburghgeolsoc.org) is a short half mile walk from The Mansion. It is situated on the grounds of The Balm Well, Toby Carvery.

Unfortunately, St Catherine’s Chapel no longer remains.  However, a few years ago, remarkably some of the stones from the chapel were believed to have been found in the grounds of The Mansion. 

It is also thought there is an underground tunnel running from The Mansion to the site of St Catherine's Chapel.  Given the relatively close proximity to Gilmerton Coves and the rumoured underground tunnels running from the Coves to Craigmillar Castle, as well as the many underground vaults and tunnels across Edinburgh, there is a possibility that such an underground tunnel does exist in the Gracemount area!