Raeburn Place

Raeburn Place is the main street of Stockbridge, a suburb in Edinburgh. It shares its name with the playing fields beside it. These fields witnessed the first international rugby match in 1871, when Scotland defeated England. Scotland played all their home internationals here until the 1920s. The Edinburgh Academy still uses the fields for sports. The Women’s Rugby World Cup final was held here in 1994, and the first women’s rugby internationals for Scotland and Ireland took place here in 1993. Opposite the rugby ground lies Grange Cricket Club. Two matches of the 1999 Cricket World Cup were played there. Scotland faced Bangladesh and New Zealand on those occasions. The club remains a key venue for cricket in Scotland. The Edinburgh Academical Football Club and Edinburgh Academical Cricket Club also use the fields for their activities. Visitors to Raeburn Place find a quiet street in a well-kept suburb. The playing fields stretch beside it, framed by trees and paths. The Grange Cricket Club’s ground sits across from the rugby pitch. The area retains a sense of history, with plaques marking its sporting past. It offers a peaceful place to walk or reflect on the origins of rugby and cricket.