Edinburgh History

[davemclaren]

43 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 

It was called the 'carnival' iirc. 

[The Real Maroonblood]

1 minute ago, davemclaren said:

It was called the 'carnival' iirc. 

It was.

[ManxandCapeTownJambo]

1 hour ago, davemclaren said:

It was called the 'carnival' iirc. 

👍

[Ricardo Quaresma]

Stumbled upon this guy's pics of the City Centre area; enjoy!

 

 

 EARL GREY STREET, TOLLCROSS c 1990 NG | Earl Grey Street use… | Flickr

[J.T.F.Robertson]

3 hours 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 

My mate and I would stand in front of, and be in stitches at, that laughing policeman/sailor they had in there.

Easily amused, I guess.

[Footballfirst]

12 hours 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 

There were a load of different events on at the Waverley Market, including the carnival.

http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_a_o/0_around_edinburgh_-_waverley_market_history.htm

 

The Edinburgh Photo website has a few photos from some of them.

http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_a_o/0_around_edinburgh_-_waverley_market.htm#carnivals 

 

From 1966

 

The tradesmen's entrance 1969.

 

 

Edited January 8 by Footballfirst

[davemclaren]

1 hour ago, Footballfirst said:

There were a load of different events on at the Waverley Market, including the carnival.

http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_a_o/0_around_edinburgh_-_waverley_market_history.htm

 

The Edinburgh Photo website has a few photos from some of them.

http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_a_o/0_around_edinburgh_-_waverley_market.htm#carnivals 

 

From 1966

 

The tradesmen's entrance 1969.

 

 

I have vague memories of attending the Ideal Home Exhibition and the Carnival there.  

[Footballfirst]

Pics of a Spitfire and Hurricane from an RAF Display on the Meadows in 1965.

From http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_a_l/0_around_edinburgh_-_meadows_raf_display_1965.htm

 

 

[Daktari]

Spitfire was then installed as the gate mascot at RAF Turnhouse....

 

[Footballfirst]

Hamilton Place, Stockbridge c. 1912

 

[Footballfirst]

[Lone Striker]

Latest video from Ed Burns  (Ed Explores), looking at Abbey Strand.

 

 

[Lone Striker]

5 hours ago, Daktari said:

Spitfire was then installed as the gate mascot at RAF Turnhouse....

 

A few websites for RAF wartime enthusiasts say that the Spitfire above is a fibre-glass "replica" .... which would imply that the 2 pictured  in the Meadows were too.

[Daktari]

1 hour ago, Lone Striker said:

A few websites for RAF wartime enthusiasts say that the Spitfire above is a fibre-glass "replica" .... which would imply that the 2 pictured  in the Meadows were too.

This site - 

https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=190949

 

suggests that it’s the real thing. Most were real  originally, but were replaced with replicas when the parts were needed to keep the Battle of Britain flight maintained. The one currently at the entrance to Edinburgh airport is definitely a replica though, and it’s different mark than this late model one. I think the one now at the airport was the replacement for this one at the base, and was moved over when RAF Turnhouse closed.

[Lone Striker]

13 minutes ago, Daktari said:

This site - 

https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=190949

 

suggests that it’s the real thing. Most were real  originally, but were replaced with replicas when the parts were needed to keep the Battle of Britain flight maintained. The one currently at the entrance to Edinburgh airport is definitely a replica though, and it’s different mark than this late model one. I think the one now at the airport was the replacement for this one at the base, and was moved over when RAF Turnhouse closed.

👍

 

I vaguely recall  some find of fly-past by some WW2 aircraft  over Edinburgh (maybe to commemorate 50th anniversary of  Battle of Britain  ?). Lancaster bomber, Hurricane and Spitfire  were in the group.  No idea if it was a  "local " Spitfire though - suspect not.      Isn't there one at the Museum of Flight at East Fortune ?

[Daktari]

Simpler times at Edinburgh Turnhouse airport…..

 

 

 

 

1971, prior to the new terminal which would be built to the right of this photo - 

 

 

 

Finally, surveillance photo taken by the Luftwaffe in 1939 of the old Turnhouse air base.

 

[Lone Striker]

👍  I love seeing these photos again, having spent a fair bit of time at Turnhouse as a boy with my "aircraft spotter" book.  Back then, you could wander almost anywhere in the terminal building    The rugby internationals were a big event - dozens of flights coming in from Paris & Dublin, and Scotland fans departing to London & Cardiff.   

 

The airport had only one  cafeteria and one shop (John Menzies) selling sweets, newspapers,  mags, fags and tartan tat.   As you can see from the photos, spectators could get access to viewing  areas beside the tarmac. 

 

They had to introduce 2  barriers on the Kirkliston Road at the west end of the runway    after an incoming  plane couldn't stop in time and ended up in a field on the other side of the road !!    The barriers came down to stop the traffic whenever a plane was landing from the east.

 

 

[The Real Maroonblood]

1 hour ago, Daktari said:

This site - 

https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=190949

 

suggests that it’s the real thing. Most were real  originally, but were replaced with replicas when the parts were needed to keep the Battle of Britain flight maintained. The one currently at the entrance to Edinburgh airport is definitely a replica though, and it’s different mark than this late model one. I think the one now at the airport was the replacement for this one at the base, and was moved over when RAF Turnhouse closed.

Is that the one that used be on the roundabout on the way to the Gyle?

Or was that a Lightning?

Edited January 8 by The Real Maroonblood

[Footballfirst]

9 minutes ago, The Real Maroonblood said:

Is that the one that used be on the roundabout on the way to the Gyle?

Or was that a Lightning?

It was a Lightning at Bae Systems.

 

It went to Dumfries Air Museum.

Edited January 9 by Footballfirst

[The Real Maroonblood]

7 hours ago, Footballfirst said:

It was a Lightning at Bae Systems.

 

It went to Dumfries Air Museum.

Thanks.

[John Findlay]

10 hours ago, Lone Striker said:

👍  I love seeing these photos again, having spent a fair bit of time at Turnhouse as a boy with my "aircraft spotter" book.  Back then, you could wander almost anywhere in the terminal building    The rugby internationals were a big event - dozens of flights coming in from Paris & Dublin, and Scotland fans departing to London & Cardiff.   

 

The airport had only one  cafeteria and one shop (John Menzies) selling sweets, newspapers,  mags, fags and tartan tat.   As you can see from the photos, spectators could get access to viewing  areas beside the tarmac. 

 

They had to introduce 2  barriers on the Kirkliston Road at the west end of the runway    after an incoming  plane couldn't stop in time and ended up in a field on the other side of the road !!    The barriers came down to stop the traffic whenever a plane was landing from the east.

 

 

I flew from Glasgow when it was still called Abbotsinch.

[Lone Striker]

1 hour ago, John Findlay said:

I flew from Glasgow when it was still called Abbotsinch.

👍   Seems ridiculous today, but BEA (one of the forerunners to the BA conglomerate) ran a service from   Renfrew airport to Turnhouse (+ return) twice a day up till the mid-60s !!   

 

Abbotsinch was then developed not far from Renfrew airport.  Similar to the modern Edinburgh Airport being developed a mile to the south of Turnhouse.

 

 

 

[Footballfirst]

17 minutes ago, Lone Striker said:

👍   Seems ridiculous today, but BEA (one of the forerunners to the BA conglomerate) ran a service from   Renfrew airport to Turnhouse (+ return) twice a day up till the mid-60s !!   

 

Abbotsinch was then developed not far from Renfrew airport.  Similar to the modern Edinburgh Airport being developed a mile to the south of Turnhouse.

 

 

 

Here's a map showing the relative positions of Abbotsinch and Renfrew Airports

Edited January 9 by Footballfirst

[Lone Striker]

18 minutes ago, Footballfirst said:

Here's a map showing the relative positions of Abbotsinch and Renfrew Airports

👍

[Ricardo Quaresma]

On 08/01/2025 at 00:17, Ricardo Quaresma said:

Stumbled upon this guy's pics of the City Centre area; enjoy!

 

 

 EARL GREY STREET, TOLLCROSS c 1990 NG | Earl Grey Street use… | Flickr

 

Sorry, this is not the right one, some decent pics, but loads of Mini cars and other notable cars, plus pics of cyprus & tunisia lol

 

 

I thought it had this one on it 👇 The EICC getting built

 

 

 

 

 

 

👆 This Section now 2-Way, reckon it's permanent and they've put a pelican crossing at the junction with Dewar Place Lane

[Ricardo Quaresma]

Another 'relevant' pic 🫠

 

 

[Tazio]

7 minutes ago, Ricardo Quaresma said:

Another 'relevant' pic 🫠

 

 

I wish the 21 still went that way then I wouldn’t have to get 2 buses to matches. 

[Ricardo Quaresma]

Just now, Tazio said:

I wish the 21 still went that way then I wouldn’t have to get 2 buses to matches. 

 

I'm all confused with the buses now, I can walk to games since moving here

 

 

Was that the 21 which changed to a 1 at terminus, used to be 1 & 6?

[Daktari]

[jambo east anglia]

12 hours ago, Ricardo Quaresma said:

 

Sorry, this is not the right one, some decent pics, but loads of Mini cars and other notable cars, plus pics of cyprus & tunisia lol

 

 

I thought it had this one on it 👇 The EICC getting built

 

 

 

 

 

 

👆 This Section now 2-Way, reckon it's permanent and they've put a pelican crossing at the junction with Dewar Place Lane

First picture in this sequence looks like the old Ladyfield Bar in Morrison Street.

[Ricardo Quaresma]

1 hour ago, jambo east anglia said:

First picture in this sequence looks like the old Ladyfield Bar in Morrison Street.

 

It is, mate, yes

 

I found a lot of old pics of the area before the EICC & Scottish Widows was put up, but I can't find them at the moment

 

I'll keep looking and I might have to find them on the web again 👍

[Footballfirst]

1974

 

1977

Edited January 10 by Footballfirst

[Footballfirst]

1968 Carrick Knowe?

 

 

Late 1930s

Edited January 10 by Footballfirst

[Daktari]

[Janbo1874]

[superjack]

1 hour ago, Janbo1874 said:

I vaguely remember my mother taking me to play in that park a lot when we lived in wheatfield place.

[Carl Fredrickson]

12 hours ago, Janbo1874 said:

 

I remember being taken to games pre-segregation when I was wee and wanted to go to the park rather than the game. 1970s Hearts werent as appealing to a young me than a swing roundabout and a witches hat. I also remember a "Bishops Move" van that used to park in the road above the park. Hadnt seen one of their vans for years but saw one yesterday. 

[AyrJambo]

 

Edited January 11 by AyrJambo

[Lone Striker]

By the wonders of YouTube's user interests algorithm, this one popped up - quite interesting research by this chap into the location of one of Edinburgh's oldest churches.

 

 

 

[Fxxx the SPFL]

22 hours ago, superjack said:

I vaguely remember my mother taking me to play in that park a lot when we lived in wheatfield place.

Yep me as well and we were Wheatfield Place No5 Derek O’Conner lived two stairs down from us. 1957-1978

[John Findlay]

11 hours ago, Lone Striker said:

By the wonders of YouTube's user interests algorithm, this one popped up - quite interesting research by this chap into the location of one of Edinburgh's oldest churches.

 

 

 

Waverley station was born from Three train stations, one of which was called Canal Street station.

[Tazio]

[N Lincs Jambo]

On 10/01/2025 at 14:35, Footballfirst said:

1968 Carrick Knowe?

 

 

Late 1930s

 

Correct with the top photo FF. The houses on the right are on Carrick Knowe Road and the ones in the distance are in Broomhall (I think?).

[Footballfirst]

[John Findlay]

38 minutes ago, Footballfirst said:

I'm not convinced this is Granton Road.

[Footballfirst]

17 minutes ago, John Findlay said:

I'm not convinced this is Granton Road.

 

It's close to the Ferry Road end. Note the round finial on the apex of the roof.

Edited January 12 by Footballfirst

[John Findlay]

6 minutes ago, Footballfirst said:

 

It's close to the Ferry Road end. Note the round finial on the apex of the roof.

I see that, but still a possibly for me.

[Footballfirst]

4 minutes ago, John Findlay said:

I see that, but still a possibly for me.

Does the balustrade and the double window in the apex help?

[Tazio]

Definitely Granton Road. 

[FWJ]

I think this has been posted before - here is (for good or ill) a ‘colorized’ version.