DEAN, a quoad sacra parish (formerly), partly in the
parish of Corstorphine, but chiefly in the parish of St-CuTHBERT,
Edinburgh, county of Edinburgh; containing
2262 inhabitants, of whom 108 are in Corstorphine,
and 2154 in St. Cuthbert's. This place, now
somewhat decayed, is situated on the north bank of the
Water of Leith, and forms a western suburb of the city
of Edinburgh, from which it is distant about threequarters
of a mile. The village stands on the Edinburgh
and Queensferry road, on both sides of which it once
stood. In its vicinity is Dean bridge, a superb and stupendous
structure, thrown over the ravine of the Water
of Leith, and having four arches, each ninety feet in
span, and of corresponding height from the stream; it
was completed in 1831, and from it is presented one of
the finest views in the neighbourhood of the city. Dean
House here, is a venerable mansion surrounded with fine
old trees, which failed not to attract the notice of Sir
Walter Scott. The parish was in the presbytery of
Edinburgh, synod of Lothian and Tweeddale. Dean
church, erected in 1836, and intended chiefly for the inhabitants
of the village of Water-of-Leith, and the surrounding
population, is in the later English style, and
contains 1030 sittings, of which thirty are free: the
stipend of the minister is £80, arising from seat-rents
and collections. There are also an episcopal chapel, and
a place of worship for members of the Free Church.