Hospice history

How Challenger Lodge got its name

Challenger Lodge will no doubt be a familiar sight to anyone who has visited the Hospice, but what is probably less well known, is how the magnificent building got its name! We recently welcomed a visit from Charles Marriot, a descendent of the man who named it, Sir John Murray. Charles had been researching his grandmother’s life and wanted to see the house where she and his great aunts (Sir John’s children) had lived so happily, for so many years.

Sir John Murray was born to Scottish parents in Ontario, Canada and decided to move to Scotland to study medicine when he was just 17. Whilst travelling across the Atlantic, he became fascinated by the ocean and resolved to study it instead. He became an amateur scientist and studied at Edinburgh University.

In 1872, the opportunity arose for the then 30-yearold John to join a round-the-world trip funded by the Admiralty which was charged with ascertaining the depths of the oceans and preparing some maps for the Royal Navy. The name of the ship was HMS Challenger. He became eminent in his field and the science of Oceanography is widely believed to have been started by him. Later in life, John re-named his home on Boswall Road ‘Challenger Lodge’ after the ship, and it has kept its name ever since.