consisted of two large farms, situated on either side of a cart track along the line of the present Swanston Road. Easter Swanston was the property of the Ross family. Wester Swanston originally belonged to Sir John Cockburn and later by the Foulis family of Colinton. In 1670, the two farms were united under the ownership of the Trotters of Mortonhall.

The present village began to take shape in the early 18th century with the construction of a substantial three-storey