Edinburgh History

[Finbar Saunders]

1 hour ago, JDK2020 said:

 

Eastern Scottish HQ was in New Street right up to the 80s and probably into the 90s I believe.

 

Not sure of dates but late 80s they were bought over by Grampian Regional Transport who changed the white livery to cream. West Lothian transport started turning shit after they sold out to First.

[Footballfirst]

Eastern Scottish was originally the regional name for buses operated by the Scottish Bus Group since the early 1960s.  Prior to that the services were run by SMT (Scottish Motor Traction Company Ltd)   Following deregulation in 1986 the Scottish Bus Group split into a number of different companies, but the Eastern Scottish brand was retained by the company operating services in the Lothians.

 

GRT (First Bus) bought them over in 1994.

 

There is a fuller explanation given in this Wiki article.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Scottish

Edited April 5, 2024 by Footballfirst

[ehcaley]

8 hours ago, Footballfirst said:

Eastern Scottish was originally the regional name for buses operated by the Scottish Bus Group since the early 1960s.  Prior to that the services were run by SMT (Scottish Motor Traction Company Ltd)   Following deregulation in 1986 the Scottish Bus Group split into a number of different companies, but the Eastern Scottish brand was retained by the company operating services in the Lothians.

 

GRT (First Bus) bought them over in 1994.

 

There is a fuller explanation given in this Wiki article.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Scottish

SOL(Scottish Omnibuses Ltd.) when I was there for a short period after leaving school in 1977.

[Pap]

I think it was actually another number 80 bus that used to go up Gilmerton Road right to the Dalkeith Nature Trail/Park. Was an Eastern Scottish bus as well.

 

One thing i always remember about them (ES buses) was that they used to bomb it up and down Gilmerton Road. Really fast.

[Suspect Device]

On 18/07/2022 at 22:02, Tazio said:

Haha..  still call it that 😂

[Footballfirst]

I'm not sure if this has been posted previously.

 

[Footballfirst]

Market Street when there was a market there.

 

[Jambo dans les Pyrenees]

On 05/04/2024 at 12:10, Dawnrazor said:

The green and white buses, I can't remember when they were.

The 72 left Edinburgh about 15 minutes after the 74, the 72 turned at Cameron Crescent and I had to walk up the back road, past the cemetery, through the wee park to get home, the 74 went all the way to Rosewell.

 

Legend has it that only around 80% of number 74 buses ever made the return trip from Roswell.

[Dawnrazor]

34 minutes ago, Jambo dans les Pyrenees said:

 

Legend has it that only around 80% of number 74 buses ever made the return trip from Roswell.

🤣🤣 Could actually be right that!

[Mister T]

8 hours ago, Jambo dans les Pyrenees said:

 

Legend has it that only around 80% of number 74 buses ever made the return trip from Roswell.

It is a bit Wicker Man out there right enough 😂

[Dawnrazor]

1 minute ago, Mister T said:

It is a bit Wicker Man out there right enough 😂

It's a bit upmarket now, not something I'd thought I'd ever say! It was different when I grew up there 😆😆

[periodictabledancer]

[Footballfirst]

1 hour ago, periodictabledancer said:

 

I wonder if that is the same Cormack Brothers who had a shop in Bridge Road Colinton during the first half of the 20th century.  The photo below is not the best.

[periodictabledancer]

15 minutes ago, Footballfirst said:

 

I wonder if that is the same Cormack Brothers who had a shop in Bridge Road Colinton during the first half of the 20th century.  The photo below is not the best.

Bloody hell, there's some knowledge on here. 

[Footballfirst]

6 minutes ago, periodictabledancer said:

Bloody hell, there's some knowledge on here. 

I stay in Colinton, so have taken an interest in its history. Add in school projects for my kids about the village plus publication by local organisations, so there is a wealth of information to be had.

[Lone Striker]

3 hours ago, Footballfirst said:

 

I wonder if that is the same Cormack Brothers who had a shop in Bridge Road Colinton during the first half of the 20th century.  The photo below is not the best.

 

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/LxcyHJq1vQ4Mh25G8

[Lone Striker]

The link above is the Google streetview  still showing the building with the 2 chimneys 

[Footballfirst]

46 minutes ago, Lone Striker said:

The link above is the Google streetview  still showing the building with the 2 chimneys 

Yes. That's the Colinton Inn which has been there since approximately 1900.

 

There is now a separate entrance to the flat above the pub, but that would have been the accommodation for the "Inn" in is early years.

 

Here's an image from 1905 with the same row of shops on the left and the pub in the middle (only one chimney stack can bee seen though). 

 

Here is a copy of the PO directory for Bridge Road, Colinton in 1925.

 

 

Rangecroft was the proprietor of the Colinton Inn at the time. The Cormack Brothers in the photo a couple of posts up are listed for the grocers shop. John Pickin ran a shoe shop for which the original shop sign was only recently revealed when the shop was being refurbished.  

 

 

The Downes family ran a fruit shop in the village for over 100 years until a year or so ago, when Patsy Downes who ran it for as long as I've stayed in Colinton (42 years) sadly passed away. Her brother is still alive, but didn't want to keep the shop going.  

 

The Waddells ran both a petrol station in Bridge Road as well as a garage in nearby Spylaw Street. Waddells is still operating as a business today.

 

Waddells - Bridge Road

 

Waddells - Spylaw Street

 

The above is an example of the type of information that is available if you have an interest in researching it.

Edited April 7, 2024 by Footballfirst

[stuart500]

14 hours ago, periodictabledancer said:

That's the corner of East London Street and Broughton Street. 

[JudyJudyJudy]

I was heading down to Waverley station via Cockburn street . First time I’ve walked down Craig’s close . Must be the most narrow close in Edinburgh ? 
 

 

[Pap]

22 minutes ago, JudyJudyJudy said:

I was heading down to Waverley station via Cockburn street . First time I’ve walked down Craig’s close . Must be the most narrow close in Edinburgh ? 
 

 

 

Used to meet a dealer half way down on drunken nights out, many moons ago

[JudyJudyJudy]

1 hour ago, Pap said:

 

Used to meet a dealer half way down on drunken nights out, many moons ago

Wisnae me! I can imagine a few shadey things happening up Craig’s close 😎

[Libertarian]

Interesting article on Bonnie Prince Charlie and Slateford/Longstone

 

https://the-lothians.blogspot.com/2017/12/exploring-fact-fiction-bonnie-prince.html 

[Lone Striker]

13 hours ago, Footballfirst said:

Yes. That's the Colinton Inn which has been there since approximately 1900.

 

There is now a separate entrance to the flat above the pub, but that would have been the accommodation for the "Inn" in is early years.

 

Here's an image from 1905 with the same row of shops on the left and the pub in the middle (only one chimney stack can bee seen though). 

 

Here is a copy of the PO directory for Bridge Road, Colinton in 1925.

 

 

Rangecroft was the proprietor of the Colinton Inn at the time. The Cormack Brothers in the photo a couple of posts up are listed for the grocers shop. John Pickin ran a shoe shop for which the original shop sign was only recently revealed when the shop was being refurbished.  

 

 

The Downes family ran a fruit shop in the village for over 100 years until a year or so ago, when Patsy Downes who ran it for as long as I've stayed in Colinton (42 years) sadly passed away. Her brother is still alive, but didn't want to keep the shop going.  

 

The Waddells ran both a petrol station in Bridge Road as well as a garage in nearby Spylaw Street. Waddells is still operating as a business today.

 

Waddells - Bridge Road

 

Waddells - Spylaw Street

 

The above is an example of the type of information that is available if you have an interest in researching it.

Great old photos, FF.  👍   I used to live at Baberton Mains back in the 80s, and was registered with the GP practice at one of the roads off Woodhall Road - can't remember which one, since its long gone.   More recently, I have fond memories of  going in to the Spylaw Tavern for a meal occasionally and then taking our dog for a walk in Spylaw Park.

 

I love seeing all these old photos, and then trying to locate the place  on Streetview to see which (if any) of the buildings still remain..   

[periodictabledancer]

5 hours ago, stuart500 said:

That's the corner of East London Street and Broughton Street. 

It is. 

[Radio Ga Ga]

1971

[Radio Ga Ga]

February 1981

[Radio Ga Ga]

1962

[Radio Ga Ga]

Tram jam, due to inconsiderate parking😀 

[Mister T]

1 hour ago, Radio Ga Ga said:

Tram jam, due to inconsiderate parking😀 

But no pot holes!

[EIEIO]

10 minutes ago, Mister T said:

But no pot holes!

Cobbles / setts less prone to pot holes. 

[EIEIO]

1 hour ago, Radio Ga Ga said:

Tram jam, due to inconsiderate parking😀 

Leith Street?

[Mister T]

52 minutes ago, EIEIO said:

Cobbles / setts less prone to pot holes. 

Also good for riots

[Morgan]

1 hour ago, EIEIO said:

Leith Street?

Yes.

 

I think the canopy on the left is where the Leith Street entrance to Roomzzz is now.

[indianajones]

Best thread on the forum. Should be documented and put in the museum. 

[Daktari]

East end of Princes Street, late 1800's.

 

[FWJ]

5 hours ago, Daktari said:

East end of Princes Street, late 1800's.

 

You can see why some people hated the N.B. when it was built.  It dominates that end of Princes Street.  It’s part of the fabric of the city now but when new it would have seemed enormous and out-of-scale.

[Footballfirst]

From Lost Edinburgh

A very rare image of the south side of the Grassmarket dating to before 1859. The roofs of the upper right hand quarter is the row of houses up to Heriot Bridge which was the original entrance into Heriots Hospital School. The buildings facing are very ramshackle and don't look long for this earth. It's a wonderful image from the photo album of Dr Thomas Keith.

 

[Seymour M Hersh]

On 22/04/2024 at 10:16, Daktari said:

East end of Princes Street, late 1800's.

 

 

I wonder what happened to the buildings that became the North British Hotel? Fire or some sort of damage or were the just knocked down for the building of the NB? 

[Daktari]

[Stuart Lyon]

18 hours ago, Footballfirst said:

From Lost Edinburgh

A very rare image of the south side of the Grassmarket dating to before 1859. The roofs of the upper right hand quarter is the row of houses up to Heriot Bridge which was the original entrance into Heriots Hospital School. The buildings facing are very ramshackle and don't look long for this earth. It's a wonderful image from the photo album of Dr Thomas Keith.

 

Much later photo of this location showing the Volunteer Arms 

[Lone Striker]

On 01/05/2024 at 17:10, Footballfirst said:

From Lost Edinburgh

A very rare image of the south side of the Grassmarket dating to before 1859. The roofs of the upper right hand quarter is the row of houses up to Heriot Bridge which was the original entrance into Heriots Hospital School. The buildings facing are very ramshackle and don't look long for this earth. It's a wonderful image from the photo album of Dr Thomas Keith.

 

Thats an incredible glimpse back in time.  Life must have been unimaginably hard back then.  No sanitation or running water or central heating  in your  flat, a daily grind of walking to a shop to buy meagre foodstuffs to get by. Most jobs would involve hard physical work.   Disease and death never far away. 

 

For all our moans about life today, we've got it easy compared to these poor souls.

 

 

[Daktari]

13 hours ago, Lone Striker said:

For all our moans about life today, we've got it easy compared to these poor souls.

And it's not that far away. My mother is 94 and her grandparents lived in conditions not unlike that.  The big change came in her parents (my own grandparents ) lifetime through the 20th century. 

[Footballfirst]

47 minutes ago, Daktari said:

And it's not that far away. My mother is 94 and her grandparents lived in conditions not unlike that.  The big change came in her parents (my own grandparents ) lifetime through the 20th century. 

I can recall visiting my grandmother in the early 1960s, who stayed in a miners row in a Lanarkshire village. There were no indoor toilet or bath/shower facilities.  You used the kitchen sink to get washed, or in the case of a young child it was a zinc bath in front of the fire.

[Stuart Lyon]

A couple of photos I found recently.

[Pap]

On 02/05/2024 at 23:42, Lone Striker said:

Thats an incredible glimpse back in time.  Life must have been unimaginably hard back then.  No sanitation or running water or central heating  in your  flat, a daily grind of walking to a shop to buy meagre foodstuffs to get by. Most jobs would involve hard physical work.   Disease and death never far away. 

 

For all our moans about life today, we've got it easy compared to these poor souls.

 

 

 

Proper winters as well.

 

I wonder if they said, at least we have it easier than our grandparents had.

[Lone Striker]

10 hours ago, Stuart Lyon said:

A couple of photos I found recently.

Great finds there, STuart. 👍 In the top one, the side where these 2 bungalows are is where Logan & Forrest dairy depot was - probably behind the left-hand house, or maybe that bungalow had gone by then.

 

Looking at Streetview, the photo seems to have been taken from the garden of 387 Queensferry Road.

 

For the bottom one, do you know when these early double deck motorised buses operated ?  I'm guessing the photo is from around 1920 ?

 

 

[Australis]

On 03/05/2024 at 13:08, Daktari said:

And it's not that far away. My mother is 94 and her grandparents lived in conditions not unlike that.  The big change came in her parents (my own grandparents ) lifetime through the 20th century. 

When you think of running water in our houses, toilets, baths, showers, central heating, electric lights, electricity and gas etc 

 

It's been for just over 100 years.

We are spoiled rotten compared to people before us.

 

Makes you wonder what the next 100 will bring.

 

Edited May 4, 2024 by Australis

[The Real Maroonblood]

On 03/05/2024 at 14:02, Footballfirst said:

I can recall visiting my grandmother in the early 1960s, who stayed in a miners row in a Lanarkshire village. There were no indoor toilet or bath/shower facilities.  You used the kitchen sink to get washed, or in the case of a young child it was a zinc bath in front of the fire.

I can relate to this and the only difference I was living in these conditions as a child. 

[PTBCAL]

On 03/05/2024 at 14:02, Footballfirst said:

I can recall visiting my grandmother in the early 1960s, who stayed in a miners row in a Lanarkshire village. There were no indoor toilet or bath/shower facilities.  You used the kitchen sink to get washed, or in the case of a young child it was a zinc bath in front of the fire.

Five of us in a one bedroom flat at Ritchie Place late 70s

 

I was getting a tin bath on a Sunday then - getting my hair washed with washing up liquid 😕