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Heart of Darkness
2 hours ago, Footballfirst said:

Here's a close up of the basin, with Lothian Road running behind the main edifice and Morrison Street on the left. 

 

image.thumb.jpeg.e73c6f6fcce9d37a86902cabfc4cfe6f.jpeg

Love it. 😍👍

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Ricardo Quaresma
53 minutes ago, Heart of Darkness said:

👍

 

Cheers, as you may guess I live very near the place

 

You'll notice all the drains outside Sainsbury's / Cinema; they look and certainly used to smell like they're a legacy from the Canal; there's dozens of them IIRC

 

Also, if you walk through scottish widows, look at the steps on the south side of the circular green; they're all covered in some light beige organism, which I am guessing is some sort of resilient lichen; they painstakingly tried to get rid and rebuilt the steps, but it returned within a quite short space of time

 

That's on Port Hamilton, the basin on the left; the Leamington Lift bridge was, I understand, moved from either Port Hamilton or Fountainbridge and I think I remember reading the latter, but wouldn't swear to it

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Ricardo Quaresma
On 02/01/2025 at 13:07, Footballfirst said:

Topping out in 1964

 

May be a black-and-white image of 8 people, street and skyscraper

 

Martello Court, Pennywell Gardens

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John Findlay
13 hours ago, Footballfirst said:

https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/news/article/13525/historic-clock-returned-to-leith-walk

 

The clock, which began life on Waverley Bridge in 1857 before being moved to the West End in 1896, was eventually placed at the roundabout on London Road in 1955. It was removed in 2007 during the original tram project and is now being replaced as Trams to Newhaven nears completion.

It's back near London Road, more at the South end of Elm Row.

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periodictabledancer
8 hours ago, Lone Striker said:

 

Doh !! :facepalm:      Cheers to both of you. 

 

 I'm still trying to get my head around why the profile of the Castle in the original photo made me think it was taken from the SW.  

So am I . 😁

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Heart of Darkness
10 hours ago, Footballfirst said:

1958

 

image.thumb.jpeg.fdf985225b9e87c38a338ce742e8af7a.jpeg

Ha, good one. Looking to where the museum is now. 👍

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Heart of Darkness
9 hours ago, Ricardo Quaresma said:

 

Cheers, as you may guess I live very near the place

 

You'll notice all the drains outside Sainsbury's / Cinema; they look and certainly used to smell like they're a legacy from the Canal; there's dozens of them IIRC

 

Also, if you walk through scottish widows, look at the steps on the south side of the circular green; they're all covered in some light beige organism, which I am guessing is some sort of resilient lichen; they painstakingly tried to get rid and rebuilt the steps, but it returned within a quite short space of time

 

That's on Port Hamilton, the basin on the left; the Leamington Lift bridge was, I understand, moved from either Port Hamilton or Fountainbridge and I think I remember reading the latter, but wouldn't swear to it

Thanks Ricardo. Next time I'm running along the canal I will pay a visit to the steps and drains. Never knew that the lift bridge was moved to where it's situated now.  👍👍👍

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Footballfirst
9 minutes ago, Heart of Darkness said:

Ha, good one. Looking to where the museum is now. 👍

Yes. One looking from the opposite direction.

LindsayPlace.thumb.jpg.d06335e69c2bb0953c4600711f5d7172.jpg

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The Real Maroonblood
35 minutes ago, Montgomery Brewster said:

Superb site 

👍

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Footballfirst

The Mound looking a bit quieter than normal and before the stonework on the National Gallery was cleaned up.

 

Mound009.thumb.jpg.91db04057bc6959b977f1cce0444a449.jpg

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Heart of Darkness
7 minutes ago, Footballfirst said:

Yes. One looking from the opposite direction.

LindsayPlace.thumb.jpg.d06335e69c2bb0953c4600711f5d7172.jpg

You can just make out the Chambers St sign. 

Would have loved to have walked those streets before they came crashing down. Saying that though, I was born in 1970 so maybe I did and can't remember!! 😊😂😂

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Ricardo Quaresma
1 minute ago, Heart of Darkness said:

Thanks Ricardo. Next time I'm running along the canal I will pay a visit to the steps and drains. Never knew that the lift bridge was moved to where it's situated now.  👍👍👍

 

NP mate

 

The drains at the end underwent extensive cleaning after complaints; I'm sure the council cleaned the drains on the opposite side of the road too, bit of a fumble, there 😆

 

I think there's a lot of stuff on this site:

 

https://canmore.org.uk/site/search

 

https://canmore.org.uk/site/search/result?SIMPLE_KEYWORD=Port Hopetoun&SITECOUNTRY=1

 

Here's the steps and the location of the old drawbridge into Port Hopetoun

 

image.thumb.png.d8b6873024ae8dbea7484e7f78116021.png

 

 

Here's other images, presumably at the time of draining on the 2nd one

 

SC00785604.jpg

 

SC01133096.jpg

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Heart of Darkness
26 minutes ago, Ricardo Quaresma said:

 

NP mate

 

The drains at the end underwent extensive cleaning after complaints; I'm sure the council cleaned the drains on the opposite side of the road too, bit of a fumble, there 😆

 

I think there's a lot of stuff on this site:

 

https://canmore.org.uk/site/search

 

https://canmore.org.uk/site/search/result?SIMPLE_KEYWORD=Port Hopetoun&SITECOUNTRY=1

 

Here's the steps and the location of the old drawbridge into Port Hopetoun

 

image.thumb.png.d8b6873024ae8dbea7484e7f78116021.png

 

 

Here's other images, presumably at the time of draining on the 2nd one

 

SC00785604.jpg

 

SC01133096.jpg

👍

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Ricardo Quaresma

Footbridge crossing Canal into Port Hamilton

 

 

image.png

 

 

 

-

Edited by Ricardo Quaresma
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Jambo314
58 minutes ago, Footballfirst said:

A more difficult location to identify.

GreenhillGardens.thumb.jpg.781cfcc47db5e5acb32ed1bc4c709f6a.jpg

Possibly Greenhill Gardens FF?

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Footballfirst
4 minutes ago, Jambo314 said:

Possibly Greenhill Gardens FF?

It is. 👍  I assume it's a No 5 bus about to turn into Strathearn Place.

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Jambo314
4 minutes ago, Footballfirst said:

It is. 👍  I assume it's a No 5 bus about to turn into Strathearn Place.

Yeah that would be my guess.

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AyrJambo
On 04/01/2025 at 22:48, Footballfirst said:

Here's a more detailed map, from the 1890s I think. (25in to 1 mile).

 

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17.1&lat=55.94543&lon=-3.20787&layers=168&b=1&o=100

 

image.png.d96bdf3555ba6a8fbf7b76fe12340028.png

 

I am fascinated by these two basins Hamilton and Hopetown

My granny used to live in a stair in Fountainbridge, just opposite Semple St above where the Clachan pub used to be

I spent most Saturday teatimes there with aunts/uncles/cousins from late 60s to mid 70s and had no idea then that the canal basins used to be so close by!

 

Also used to deliver milk out of St Cuthberts depot on Morrison Street on Saturdays and school holidays

Get there about 6 ish in the morning and wait around with other wee laddies hoping to get picked to go on a milk round by the two foremen (maybe Harry and Tom - one of them had a pronounced limp)

If you got picked then on to a wagon with it's driver or sometimes a horse-drawn cart which were still in use for some of the central Edinburgh rounds

Looking back it was like something out of a 1930s film-noir - big iron gates, a cobbled yard, misty and smoky the smell of stables in the background and the foremen or overseers clanking down an old metal exterior staircase from the office with your destiny in their hands

Think that depot would have been where Scottish Widows is now

 

Edited by AyrJambo
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Stuart Lyon
9 minutes ago, AyrJambo said:

 

I am fascinated by these two basins Hamilton and Hopetown

My granny used to live in a stair in Fountainbridge, just opposite Semple St above where the Clachan pub used to be

I spent most Saturday teatimes there with aunts/uncles/cousins from late 60s to mid 70s and had no idea then that the canal basins used to be so close by!

 

Also used to deliver milk out of St Cuthberts depot on Morrison Street on Saturdays and school holidays

Get there about 6 ish in the morning and wait around with other wee laddies hoping to get picked to go on a milk round by the two foremen (maybe Harry and Tom - one of them had a pronounced limp)

If you got picked then on to a wagon with it's driver or sometimes a horse-drawn cart which were still in use for some of the central Edinburgh rounds

Looking back it was like something out of a 1930s film-noir - big iron gates, a cobbled yard, misty and smoky the smell of stables in the background and the foremen or overseers clanking down an old metal exterior staircase from the office with your destiny in their hands

Think that depot would have been where Scottish Widows is now

 

I remember when I worked in Lothian House in the late 60s there was huge Ford dealership with a repair shop and parts department on the west side of Semple St.

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15 minutes ago, Stuart Lyon said:

I remember when I worked in Lothian House in the late 60s there was huge Ford dealership with a repair shop and parts department on the west side of Semple St.

Alexander’s I think. 

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AyrJambo

From Lost Edinburgh

 

The difference between 1930s Fountainbridge and today is so striking. Here it is viewed from above the West Approach Road. To get your bearings look at Gardeners Crescent (the curved terrace in the middle left). Behind Gardners Crescent, to the top of the image, is Lothian Road. The huge gap site is the site of Port Houptoun, the canal port which here is filled in awaiting construction of Lothian House in 1936. On the top right portion Tollcross primary sits next to the long shed of the Coliseum Cinema later to become the Palais de Danse. The tenements below the Coliseum are that of Freer Street - a bustling, alive community in itself. The square of the Rosemount Buildings are towards the bottom edge. The St Cuthbert's Dairy (Cooperative) (edit) is just behind Gardners Crescent. The meat market is just below the Port Houptoun gap site by the way. Today it may be more difficult to take this photograph because of the blinding reflection of the ubiquitous shining steel and polished sheets of glass of the work places and the new housing.

 

No photo description available.

 

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Lone Striker
On 05/01/2025 at 11:53, Footballfirst said:

1959

DundasStreet1959(2).thumb.jpg.01c728614e79bebcd503359d2107b2b9.jpg

Hanover Street ?  Quite a slog for that cyclist  !!

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Footballfirst
6 minutes ago, Lone Striker said:

Hanover Street ?  Quite a slog for that cyclist  !!

It is Hanover Street in the distance, but Dundas Street from where the photo was taken (at its junction with Great King Street). 

Edited by Footballfirst
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John Findlay
2 minutes ago, Footballfirst said:

It is Hanover Street in the distance, but Dundas Street from where the photo was taken (at its junction with Great King Street). 

Totally agree with you.

Dundas Street is a cracking street to cycle in both directions.

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Heart of Darkness
3 hours ago, AyrJambo said:

 

I am fascinated by these two basins Hamilton and Hopetown

My granny used to live in a stair in Fountainbridge, just opposite Semple St above where the Clachan pub used to be

I spent most Saturday teatimes there with aunts/uncles/cousins from late 60s to mid 70s and had no idea then that the canal basins used to be so close by!

 

Also used to deliver milk out of St Cuthberts depot on Morrison Street on Saturdays and school holidays

Get there about 6 ish in the morning and wait around with other wee laddies hoping to get picked to go on a milk round by the two foremen (maybe Harry and Tom - one of them had a pronounced limp)

If you got picked then on to a wagon with it's driver or sometimes a horse-drawn cart which were still in use for some of the central Edinburgh rounds

Looking back it was like something out of a 1930s film-noir - big iron gates, a cobbled yard, misty and smoky the smell of stables in the background and the foremen or overseers clanking down an old metal exterior staircase from the office with your destiny in their hands

Think that depot would have been where Scottish Widows is now

 

Great story 👍

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Heart of Darkness
19 hours ago, Daktari said:

Image 1.jpeg

What's the story about with the man with wings? Looks like the scene from Silence of the Lambs!

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Radio Ga Ga
3 hours ago, AyrJambo said:

 

I am fascinated by these two basins Hamilton and Hopetown

My granny used to live in a stair in Fountainbridge, just opposite Semple St above where the Clachan pub used to be

I spent most Saturday teatimes there with aunts/uncles/cousins from late 60s to mid 70s and had no idea then that the canal basins used to be so close by!

 

Also used to deliver milk out of St Cuthberts depot on Morrison Street on Saturdays and school holidays

Get there about 6 ish in the morning and wait around with other wee laddies hoping to get picked to go on a milk round by the two foremen (maybe Harry and Tom - one of them had a pronounced limp)

If you got picked then on to a wagon with it's driver or sometimes a horse-drawn cart which were still in use for some of the central Edinburgh rounds

Looking back it was like something out of a 1930s film-noir - big iron gates, a cobbled yard, misty and smoky the smell of stables in the background and the foremen or overseers clanking down an old metal exterior staircase from the office with your destiny in their hands

Think that depot would have been where Scottish Widows is now

 

The Foreman was my Father in Law, Harry Pittman. Just passed away in October. 

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Ricardo Quaresma
7 hours ago, AyrJambo said:

From Lost Edinburgh

 

The difference between 1930s Fountainbridge and today is so striking. Here it is viewed from above the West Approach Road. To get your bearings look at Gardeners Crescent (the curved terrace in the middle left). Behind Gardners Crescent, to the top of the image, is Lothian Road. The huge gap site is the site of Port Houptoun, the canal port which here is filled in awaiting construction of Lothian House in 1936. On the top right portion Tollcross primary sits next to the long shed of the Coliseum Cinema later to become the Palais de Danse. The tenements below the Coliseum are that of Freer Street - a bustling, alive community in itself. The square of the Rosemount Buildings are towards the bottom edge. The St Cuthbert's Dairy (Cooperative) (edit) is just behind Gardners Crescent. The meat market is just below the Port Houptoun gap site by the way. Today it may be more difficult to take this photograph because of the blinding reflection of the ubiquitous shining steel and polished sheets of glass of the work places and the new housing.

 

No photo description available.

 

 

Nice pic!

 

Wonder how long it was left like that before the building of Lothian House began

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AyrJambo
4 hours ago, Radio Ga Ga said:

The Foreman was my Father in Law, Harry Pittman. Just passed away in October. 

 

Sorry to hear that

What a small world it is sometimes

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Footballfirst

There was a Ross garage next to the bingo hall and Alexanders just along the road on the other side (photos dated 1975).

 

Fountainbridge1975(5).jpg.5d0f23d2c68a5086102389b4a21bc541.jpgFountainbridge1975(6).jpg.69115edcfd5537b6ad65fbc3de478a46.jpg

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Angry Haggis
8 hours ago, Footballfirst said:

There was a Ross garage next to the bingo hall and Alexanders just along the road on the other side (photos dated 1975).

 

Fountainbridge1975(5).jpg.5d0f23d2c68a5086102389b4a21bc541.jpgFountainbridge1975(6).jpg.69115edcfd5537b6ad65fbc3de478a46.jpg


The building on the right of the bingo hall (Porters) was that ever a pub @footballfirst ? 
 

seem to recall it around the 80’s but was not old enough be in it. 

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weegranty
22 minutes ago, Angry Haggis said:


The building on the right of the bingo hall (Porters) was that ever a pub @footballfirst ? 
 

seem to recall it around the 80’s but was not old enough be in it. 

It was called The Port Hamilton pub,a guy called Joe Senior ran it.

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davemclaren
1 hour ago, weegranty said:

It was called The Port Hamilton pub,a guy called Joe Senior ran it.

I was never in it but it looked really small, from the outside anyway. 

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ManxandCapeTownJambo

anyone else mind the fairground they used to have at Waverley Market back in the 60’s

Can still remember when Ibwas wee being on the dodgems sitting on my dad’s lap when we got thumped and my face hit the steering wheel and put my teeth through my lip

blood everywhere!

had to go and wait for a bus to get back to Gracemount which took a while 

My old dear wasn’t impressed with the old man when I got home 

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The Real Maroonblood
3 minutes ago, ManxandCapeTownJambo said:

anyone else mind the fairground they used to have at Waverley Market back in the 60’s

Can still remember when Ibwas wee being on the dodgems sitting on my dad’s lap when we got thumped and my face hit the steering wheel and put my teeth through my lip

blood everywhere!

had to go and wait for a bus to get back to Gracemount which took a while 

My old dear wasn’t impressed with the old man when I got home 

👍

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