The Architectural Ghosts of Old Edinburgh

A look at old Edinburgh and the many buildings that have been lost over the centuries, along with a few that remain. As a World Heritage site, Edinburgh's old buildings are afforded some protection, but sadly, over the years the city has lost many structures. And it's not just individual buildings. Edinburgh has lost whole blocks of buildings going back to the eighteenth century. Whole streets have vanished as the march of progress destroys buildings and communities.
This video looks not just at the Disneyesque face of Scotland's capital city, but at the loss of so much of Edinburgh's heart and soul.

[@andrewsinclair6250]

Hi Ed , I am one of your silent subscribers just wanted to say thankyou . it's so obvious you take the time to research and produce . Best Andrew

[@EdExploresScotland]

Thanks Andrew.

[@peipei6319]

Love those old photos and background music and your description too.🙂 Thanks Ed 💗 Love from Malaysia.

[@AMEENHAI]

excellent report done by a perosn that loves Edinburgh from his deep heart, many thanx dear sir

[@EdExploresScotland]

Thank you.

[@jamesfennessey2523]

Brilliant Ed great to hear the history ❤

[@EdExploresScotland]

Cheers James.

[@07015678]

I grew up in Edinburgh and left in 2008 at the age of 26. My father's side of the family are true Edinburgh folk. Thank you for this video Ed. It makes me very emotional looking back on this, and your video makes me appreciate what a brilliant city Edinburgh is. Quite emotional actually. Great work.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Thanks Nick. Edinburgh's a pretty awesome city.

[@matildamartin2811]

I thoroughly enjoyed this trip down memory Lane. I was born in Edinburgh in 1934 ( Blackfriars Street). When I was not long married and pregnant with my first child we lived in Dundee street. With the smells from the Brewery, the Rubber mill and Mackay’s sweet factory which were all within shouting distance of each other, it was a bit difficult to keep food in my stomach but after a while you got used to the smells. They have all gone now and so much work has gone with them. The Coopers ( barrel makers ) have also gone. I used to watch them as a child roll them across the street at the top of Holyrood Road to the finishing dept.

[@nsholk]

Just another brilliant video. The monologue in closing really struck a chord. Thank you for the candor. I’ll lament the closing of Caledonian Brewery especially if it was the one giving us wafting scents of baking bread in the city. Cheers from New Jersey.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Cheers. 👍

[@Mikey_0007]

@@nsholk I used to love going to the Caledonian Brewery Beer Festivals. Was always a great summer day out, great beer and food!

[@RG-5834]

Eddy, I do believe that this vlog/video is one of your very best. Edinburgh has an amazing culture and history, and you have captured this with both the old & current pictures, as well as the script. A totally enjoyable 30 minutes and well researched and produced. Take care and best regards, Rob.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Cheers Rob. Very difficult not to like Edinburgh. Packed with history.

[@matildamartin2811]

Hello Ed, I hope I am not too late sending this to you. I so enjoyed this video. I am 88 years of age and spent so much of my childhood and pre twenty years in the areas you have covered. My Mother and I had part time jobs in the pub shown in Lindsay place ( the Hole in the wall ) the baker shop next door sold fabulous rolls. My Mother walked to it from Blackfriars Street, every morning, rain hail or shine to buy a dozen straight from the oven. When a young woman I worked in the Royal Infirmary and walked from Surgeon’s Hall, bus terminal along these streets, that are no longer there and passed Parker’s daily. I wonder if any one remembers a Parker’s ménage. You gathered 8people to give you £1 per week for eight weeks. You then registered with the shop and in exchange for the eight pounds were given a voucher for that amount. You took it in turn to-get one. We ran one for the family. The person running it got a free voucher.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Thanks for that Matilda. I've always thought 'menage' was quite a strange word; French, probably. Anyone out there recall the menage at Parker's?

[@matthewd9868]

Lovely stories. My mother remembers the ménage

[@michaelcole3595]

Brilliant again Ed. Wonderful editing and content 👏

[@EdExploresScotland]

Thank you.

[@robertcramb4654]

Hi Ed. Great work and wonderful photos. Jyst wondered if you had any old photos/stories of Leith

[@EdExploresScotland]

Hi Robert. I did a video about Leith a week or so ago. Enjoy: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6THpnywgNCqeqc

[@ron2143]

Just caught up with this one. Sunday morning having a coffee and just watched your Dunfermline video, then saw I'd missed this. So I've had a 'double-dose' of Ed this morning. What a stunning video. The compilation of history, old photos and contrasting ages and overlays was just amazing. Brought it to life and gave a glimpse of 'real' city life way back when. Really enjoyed it, well done and thanks for sharing it with us.

[@alanmarshall6218]

Loved the old photos. Very enjoyable and inspiring. Must get back to Edinburgh to check out the places visited.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Difficult not to like Edinburgh.

[@vermeerofdelftscotlandwalk3294]

A very interesting video. Love the old photos and the stories behind them.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks!

[@raymondtodman3204]

One of my favourite videos this. Watched it a few times. Love the soundtrack aswell. I'm actually in the Diggers as I write this. Walked past the Caledonian Brewery on the way here. Very sad that we've lost all these old Brewery's and when you think of the amount of jobs lost and that could still be available is unbelievable. So much industry throughout Scotland sadly gone. Anyway, cracking video Eddie. Keep them coming mate 👍🍻

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks. What a great pub Diggers is. Always worth a visit.

[@martinstilton1535]

Great video Ed, really enjoyed this one. I was sad to hear that the Caledonian Brewery is to be closed. When the wind's in the right direction, the smell of brewing is so reminiscent of Edinburgh! Going to miss this.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Cheers Martin. Nothing better than the smell of a brewery. I've always thought I'd like a beer with that smell. Closure of the Caledonian Brewery is a huge loss.

[@martinstilton1535]

@@EdExploresScotland it actually makes me feel hungry, but I'll have a beer to go with that hunger. Take care anyhow, looking forward to the next video (with a pie and a brew review perhaps)!?

[@JuneGrant-l9w]

Thanks Ed so lovely going around Old and New Edinburgh, I’m definitely from the old world, love history. I was born in Edinburgh in 1962 and lived in some of these old places, actually the barracks in Johnston Terrace down from The Castle was a very memorable one for me. We used to play in the esplanade of the Castle and down the Grassmarket Cowgate areas, which was still very old. Live in NZ now since 1988, although it doesn’t really have the history behind it, it’s a beautiful part of the world. God Bless..

[@EdExploresScotland]

Back in probably the 1960s we almost moved to New Zealand. I suspect as a country it was perhaps looking for tradesmen to settle there.

[@lynnthomason6589]

Your hard work shows up in this video. Thanks for doing such a wonderful job of fading between the old and the new views. Your knowledge and ability is over and above expectations! So sad about the brewery. I feel the loss and I’m just an lass with an old spirit and a love of history. Lynn.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Thank you so much!

[@ianlindsay1454]

Hi Ed, Thanks for such a wonderful vlog. We watch all your vlogs and enjoy them all but occasionally you make one that stands head and shoulders above the rest. This is one of them. We shall watch this many times and look forward to your next one. Thanks again Ed, nice work. Ian and Angie.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Thanks guys. It was a bit of a nightmare to edit, and I did wonder if I'd ever finish it, but we got there. Phew!

[@petedaly3543]

Thanks Ed , left for Canada '76 .Thanks for the memories .

[@keithcraig7736]

Jesus Chris ed that was bloody amazing,the history of edinburgh always fascinated me through life,lived in auld reekie my whole life ed and always wounded what was there all those years ago,,,wow blowing me away with some of the photos ed,,,thanking you for your amazing video ed,,bloody fantastic,,,nice one,,,,kc,edin,,,Scotland, ,,respect always ed ,,,,kc👍

[@EdExploresScotland]

Cheers Keith. 👍

[@leslierobertson5397]

Once again Ed a fascinating insight into Auld Edinburgh. Love them !!

[@EdExploresScotland]

Cheers Leslie.

[@EdExploresScotland]

On one of the maps of Bristo Street I have accidentally placed the red dot at the wrong location. Apologies. The photo showing Parker's Department Store with the mock Tudor frontage is actually located at the corner junction of Bristo Street and Charles Street.

[@deealex1402]

breathtaking... i wish to visit one day,history and architecture is so fascinating.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Edinburgh's certainly a magical place.

[@petersayers7961]

Hi Ed I just finished watching your video on Edinburgh one of the best . Can you please produce another on East Lothian video as I have arthritis in my knees and not able to Walk the hills. Thank you for all your videos

[@EdExploresScotland]

Cheers. I'll certainly look at East Lothian again; lovely area of the country.

[@Isabel-of4wq]

Thanks for all your work on this Ed - it was just brilliant. I was a student in Edinburgh from 1975 - 1979 and the transformation of Bristo Square happened during that time. I confess I preferred it the old way and feel sad that so many modern buildings just don’t seem to fit in. I also remember the area before the extension to the National Museum and I think Lindsay Place so not sure when that actually came down. Anyway … I hope this video is preserved for future generations to appreciate, YOU are a national treasure.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Thanks Isabel. That's just the sort of comment I need to perk me up at this bleak time of year. I sometimes think certain videos should, as you suggest, be retained for future generations. I'm not sure that the National Library of Scotland retains material in such a format.

[@Isabel-of4wq]

@@EdExploresScotland it’s interesting what gets preserved and taught - I was an Edinburgh university student studying history and political science. Spent a lot of time on medieval and modern history of Europe and a little American history, while right outside our window they were changing Edinburgh with nothing said. My first job was as assistant to an architect (in the new town) so now I continue to educate myself as I grow older! Your video was a joy to find, keep up the great work.

[@thomasks3]

A great video Eddie. Thank you for your hard work creating it 👍

[@EdExploresScotland]

Cheers. 👍

[@johnstuart7244]

Great video. William Chambers and the City Improvement Act of 1866 altered the south side of the Old Town almost beyond recognition. The creation of Chambers St alone involved the demolition of no less than six streets and closes. It created Jeffrey St, Blackfriars St and St Marys St. The latter being named after Abbeys which had once stood on the sites. Apparently in his zeal Chambers wanted to go a lot farther but was restrained form doing so after losing a vote in the City Council on further "improvements".

[@EdExploresScotland]

Cheers John.

[@matthewd9868]

I can remember walking through McEwans Brewery as a child with my father. The smell was magical and seemed to linger long after it ceased operating. The site sat inactive too, and parts of it are still bare yards even now. At least a good school building has come from it

[@MarkWright75]

I have just spent a highly enjoyable few hours of viewing your videos. Thank you so much. Im hoping to walk the Peebles drover road this week.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Thanks Mark. The area around Peebles is superb for walking. Enjoy.

[@MarkWright75]

@@EdExploresScotland Ed, in your Search for Autumn Gold video, 10 minutes in, you are walking through an absolutely beautiful patch of decideous woodland. I commented in that video, but as I posted a link to a hiking route, it might have been deleted.Would you kindly be able to tell me the location of that area? Many thanks!

[@EdExploresScotland]

Hi Mark. Yeh, I've got this channel set up so that all comments with links are sent to a separate folder. It's just for security reasons, but unfortunately some good links don't get through as I'm always a bit wary. At around the ten minute mark in the video 'Search For Autumn Gold' I'm on a woodland track just east of Craigallian Loch. It's a cracking track that runs from above Blanefield, by The Boards, and follows part of the John Muir Way before heading its own way towards a minor road on the edge of Mugdock Country Park. Some of that footage was also shot on the section of the John Muir Way south of the B821 road. It's a lovely area of the country, and a walk I've done many times; a mix of woodland and stunning hilly views. Can be a bit muddy at times.

[@MarkWright75]

@@EdExploresScotland I really appreciate that Ed! I'll have to take a trip out soon. Thank you!

[@stormw5609]

Just brilliant and much enjoyed 😢 I miss Edinburgh so much 😢Lived there for 15 years and my heart is in Edinburgh and the Highlands where I grew up. Very much enjoyed 🎉

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks.

[@ZenoWatson]

So well produced and packed with info. Thank you Ed!

[@EdExploresScotland]

Cheers Zeno.

[@chippychick6261]

Lovely. I must check on the address of my great great grandfathers confectionary shop established in the early 1880’s

[@lilacchocolate]

Loved the juxtaposition of the old photos with your modern footage. An amazingly well-produced video, I found it very informative! Went to Edinburgh University a decade ago now and I still miss it!!! Cherished memories! 🏰🥰

[@EdExploresScotland]

Thank you.

[@Contessa6363]

Thanks Ed I really enjoyed your video! I was able to stay in Edinburgh for 10 days during the 1996 -1997 holiday season . I really enjoyed it. So historical. I hope to come back and visit again soon. ❤❤❤

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks. Edinburgh's always worth a visit.

[@markmacdonald3260]

I had seen a painting of a part of Edinburgh with Parkers and could only think it had been somewhere in that strange area near the university where the road changes for s short time before returning to buccleuch street. Thank you for showing me what was there. An interesting point is that those changes you highlighted were being made as a result of the university . Jock's lodge Pub is getting knocked down for student accommodation.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Sad to see the loss of another pub.

[@lilmispryss1]

So glad I found your page. This video is spectacular. Enjoyed in the bath with a glass of wine. I’m hooked!

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks.

[@raymondtodman3204]

Great video. Really is a shame about the brewery's. My dad worked down that way at Ferranti's on Robertson Avenue. When you think of the amount of jobs places like these created and then were lost. Great seeing these old photos and the music is fantastic Eddy. Really enjoying your videos.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks Raymond. I also worked at Ferranti for a short spell in the mid 70s. Part of the job was to create the lines and numbers on meter-dials using a great brass Heath-Robinsonish gizmo. It had a great canteen, and great puddings. Oh the memories. Take care.

[@duneideann9241]

Very interesting indeed , thanks for taking the time to produce

[@marcushill78]

Hi Ed thanks for making this video, I really enjoyed it. I love old Edinburgh history, it never ceases to fascinate me.

[@mejase5959]

best videos of edinburgh. past and present

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks.

[@kramer4196]

This is a lovely video thanks you for making it

[@EdExploresScotland]

Thank you.

[@ApexLight7]

Great video. Who is the artist and song for the music in the video?

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks. The music is my own. Created using Cubase Elements software. A few folk have made a similar comment. Often, when you make music, you're never too sure how it will turn out in the end, but it looks like on this occasion I've just been lucky and come up with something half decent.

[@ToniLouttit]

Eddie , your music was always good , I’m going back a good few yrs .The 70s

[@mojogaucho]

I loved this video. One of the best that you've done. Of course it helped that a lot of the places you highlighted I've been to. Keep 'em coming Ed!

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks. It's difficult not to love Edinburgh.

[@taniaakishan]

We enjoyed it! Thank you!

[@eddiemuise4791]

I lived in Scotland in 1977 I worked at the Abc Cinema on Lothian Road and Princess Street I would like to see pictures of the ABC Cinema now I miss Scotland it was so beautiful I'm back in Toronto

[@EdExploresScotland]

Google street view on Google maps is a good way to see how things look today. Another good Edinburgh online source is Capital Collections. The following page gives two photos of the ABC; you can click and enlarge each image. Take care. www.capitalcollections.org.uk/quick-search?q=abc+cinema&WINID=1700574782173

[@therealdizzl8085]

Your some man good sir! Hope all is well thanks for the upload! 👏

[@MrMaharg65]

Really good video. Interesting, well made , easy to watch & learn stuff. My daughter is a student in Edinburgh & there’s a strong smell from a brewery near her.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Thanks. Edinburgh probably has a few breweries, but it was McEwan's and Youngers and the Caledonian Brewery that were among the big breweries of their day.

[@andyboyle3536]

Hi Ed, Nice one enjoyed all of the vlog,Edinburgh has always been a favourite of mine. Your work is appreciated all the best and keep safe.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks Andy. This was a difficult one to make, but we got there in the end. I think. Take care.

[@zeinno]

it was sad to hear the Caley brewery is going. Love the smell as you passed on the train. I work at Wellpark as a tour guide, you need to come on down and have a look round!

[@EdExploresScotland]

Tennent's, even with any number of takeovers, has managed to remain something of a staple in the big bad world of business. I'll definitely pop down some time.

[@elorach9671]

Another great video- thanks for this! I often wonder when looking at these old photos if the people in them ever saw them.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks.

[@scottjock]

Another very interesting video Ed. Id like to see a tour of some of the many statues. Some are obvious but there are many others that I have no idea about

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks. Statues on buildings is an interesting subject.

[@jonathanlandau-litewski7405]

The loss of the North British and Mercantile building and the original Boots building on Princes Street is such a tragedy. I think modern developers should be instructed to build whatever they want on Princes Street, provided it has an authentic 19th century facade. Lots of places in Europe are doing this, Poland for example- rebuilding grand buildings destroyed in WWII as they were in the past and they look incredible. Princes Street really looks shocking considering its location and importance.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Yes, I would tend to agree.

[@jonathanlandau-litewski7405]

@@EdExploresScotland apparently statues from the original Boots building are in storage but whether that's true or not is up for debate. I cannot remember building it is but if you sit upstairs on a bus going along Princes Street and look up, you can see a sliver of an absolutely beautiful building long gone sandwiched between an older and a newer building. I have photos somewhere but would have to look them out- I remember it's in the first half half of Princes Street if coming from Haymarket way. We really do have a beautiful city, I just wish our newer developments weren't the typical cut and paste modern boring architecture that you can find in any European city. There is a great website that features unbuilt Edinburgh buildings and monuments- those are fascinating to see.

[@annemackie685]

Great video thanks. Love old Edinburgh

[@EdExploresScotland]

Thanks Anne.

[@PaganAbroad]

Thanks!

[@EdExploresScotland]

Thank you.

[@PaganAbroad]

@@EdExploresScotland np mate - sent you another tenner - the first time was on my phone and didnt allow me to send more than 2 quid for some reason - great vids and narration, please keep it coming!!!

[@Lauraculauraculauracu]

Hola Eddie, amé tu vídeo. Excelente trabajo 👏👏👏

[@EdExploresScotland]

Gracias.

[@caroldave4037]

After huntly house as you fade out old pic in archway it looks like a modern pedestian is viewing😳 ghosts disappearing very spooky ...brill vid...

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks. There was actually someone smoking in the arch, which I didn't initially spot. Had me wondering for a moment.

[@traceykramer9339]

I’m so sorry, iv only just found your channel, and Im hooked I grew up in and around Edinburgh and Comrie. Coming from the family of Mcgregors, my auntie and uncles, often played at the Edinburgh military tattoo, met princess Anne, on a few occasions, but, other than that, sadly now estranged from my family, for many years, and always loved history, and learning about scotlands past, maybe find something. Thankyou

[@EdExploresScotland]

Cheers Tracey. 👍

[@mattpieroni3994]

Great video Ed! I'm a structural engineer so loved finding out about the architecture of it all and the history too, love the pictures of it! Can I ask what the intro music is? It was really good

[@EdExploresScotland]

Thanks Matt. I generally make the music for the videos myself, so it's just something I made up that I thought fitted in.

[@mattpieroni3994]

@@EdExploresScotland very welcome Ed and that's amazing, the music sounds really good! Could easily listen to it while working!

[@bobhill9845]

@@EdExploresScotland WHAT!? It sounds good pleeease make a full release

[@roderickdewar1064]

I'm fascinated by the people depicted in these old photos. Who were they? What were their names? What did they do? Like the woman leaning out of the window at 11.49. It was presumably just a fleeting moment of her life, captured here for ever. But maybe she looked out of that window every day at the world going by, thinking of her son or daughter who had emigrated to Canada, who'll she'll never see again. So many silent stories. Ed, thank you for your work.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Hi Roderick. Yes, that photo of the woman sitting on the window ledge is captivating. Apart from anything, it's a really good glimpse of clothing of the period.

[@jono3697]

Cracking video, well presented pal.

[@rawveganguru8381]

Wonderful information and insights! I love your genuine 👌 efforts. Awesome channel 😊 P.S. Can you list what the music is? It's phenomenal

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks. I generally make music for the videos myself using Cubase Elements on the computer. So the music here is just something I made up at home; a bit like a cake I suppose. 👍

[@rawveganguru8381]

@@EdExploresScotland wow, amazing video and great music. Thanks again!!! TAKE CARE!

[@stephenfrench1060]

What a wonderful vid thank you

[@EdExploresScotland]

Thanks Stephen.

[@kelvingates3195]

Hi Ed, i am a big fan of your chanel and i love your work.. please i would like to know where i can find those musical beats in this video please

[@EdExploresScotland]

Hi Kelvin. The music accompanying this video was just something I made up at home. It's not available anywhere other than on the video. I use Cubase Elements software on the computer to make the music.

[@kelvingates3195]

I wish I could get it..

[@kelvingates3195]

But I like your videos. They make me feel like I was born In the 18s... I miss that feeling..🥺..

[@kelvingates3195]

@@EdExploresScotland one-day I will travel to Scotland

[@lenaolivetti9366]

Thank you 🇺🇸

[@vickithomson4470]

Great video, if you like breweries you should get along to the Caley brewery at Shandon before it shuts.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Thanks. Sad news that it is to close.

[@fabianmckenna8197]

You have to love Edinburgh for its castle, old buildings, etc which survived into the modern city. Such a difference from Glasgow where the powers that be decided to remove any old buildings before throwing up monstrous multi storey blocks of steel as well as a road which ate the heart of the city. Only when stone blasting became popular did we find that there was beauty in the stone beneath the soot and grime which unfortunately ended up in landfill.

[@vacuumlover1]

I did not expect the music to go that hard at 0:45

[@EdExploresScotland]

Surprise surprise!

[@ShenaClidera]

Whats the title of the music sir Ed?

[@EdExploresScotland]

It's just a bit of music I made for the video; often I don't give them titles. At home I use Cubase Elements software to create the music.

[@TracyD2]

Thank you kind sir

[@slydermartin6008]

Catching up on some of your past videos. Edinburgh has a soft spot in my heart ( although a Mail Man from Glasgow that I met in 2012 in Mexico thought the soft spot was in my brain...a story for another time ). Just a Public Service Announcement.... Touch Not The "Bobbie's" Nose.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Yes, that small statue's nose has been rubbed raw.

[@raycroal]

i was just looking at potterrow now gone, and 2 minutes later this came on, strange,, anyway i hope you can still get youngers tartan special i used to love the odd pint of that.

[@EdExploresScotland]

I'm sure you can get it somewhere; I'm just not sure where it's brewed.

[@GeorgeKemp]

The sadest part about Fountainbridge is it has had it's heart ripped out, indeed the whole area (including the blue plague where Sean Connery lived is gone) has been ripped down and rebuilt as primarily student accomodation. There is no doubt in my mind that this was done for profit by property developers (Bank of Scotland was heavily invested in this are area prior to the 2009 banking crash) because there is no reason why the old tenements couldn't have been refurbished. While i understood that the old breweries needed redevolpment after they closed, i simply will never understand why the entire area of Fountainbridge had to be torn down.

[@EdExploresScotland]

I would agree with you George.

[@GeorgeNicola]

Amazing

[@nataliakomarova7008]

It is the city I love !!! Let it be forever !!!

[@Paratus7]

If Edinburgh is a world heritage site, then Edinburgh City Council should be fined for vandalism.

[@johnstuart7244]

The Fortress of Edyn. Stronghold of the Votadini since the bronze age. Now that's history.

[@GeorgeKemp]

Fwiw, 15:32 I went to Heriot's in the 1970's and there is no way that Heriot's was anywhere near Chambers Street, for a start Greyfriars Kirkyard is between Heriot's and Chambers Street so there is no way that is the gable end of the museum and Heriot's school. It certainly look likes the gable end of the Museum at the George IV bridge end before it was later extended in the 1990's(?), it was certainly never near George Heriots School unless the school predated the kirkyard and Geo IV Bridge, which it almost certainly did not.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Hi George. I think there may be a little confusion as to what Heriot's I am referring to. It was a while ago that I made that video, but if my memory serves me well I was talking about the Lindsay Place/Chambers Street area. There was a small building in Chambers Street, beside the museum, called Heriot School. This is very different from George Heriot's School, which is I think the school you are referring to. The web-link below will take you to a plan dating to 1898, in Edinburgh's Capital Collections. As you can see the small building known as Heriot School is clearly shown, and is clearly right beside the museum in Edinburgh's Chambers Street. You can enlarge the image to make things clearer. www.capitalcollections.org.uk/view-item?key=SXsiUCI6eyJ2YWx1ZSI6ImNoYW1iZXJzIHN0cmVldCIsIm9wZXJhdG9yIjoxLCJmdXp6eVByZWZpeExlbmd0aCI6MywiZnV6enlNaW5TaW1pbGFyaXR5IjowLjcsIm1heFN1Z2dlc3Rpb25zIjozLCJhbHdheXNTdWdnZXN0IjpudWxsfX0&pg=30&WINID=1697550504328&fullPage=1#yMEyNWM-l2wAAAGLPeUNQg/30261

[@lilmispryss1]

Did Caledonian Brewery stay open? Looks like they have their hours still listed

[@EdExploresScotland]

To be honest, I don't know. I think the news was announced in May 2022 re its closure. I can't see anything on the web to suggest that the decision has been overturned, so I can only presume that closure is still planned, but perhaps not yet actioned.

[@deeppurple883]

If you think about it, looking at past and present photo's and telling them apart is done by the clothes their wearing. Everything else more or less stays the same. 👊☘️

[@williaminavanbottle9297]

75 grass market. A hostel for working men. Late one evening, my girlfriend and I were walking past 75 in1968...on the South side heading west when I got a whiff of urine... A split second later we were both soaked with urine! One of the men in the hostel had emptied the bucket used by the men to piss in during the day. I could have had a very romantic night, but being in love with the girl of my Dreams, Instead of staying the night, (I respected her completely) home I went. Unfortunately, she thought I rejected her. She later married, lived happily ever after. But not a day has passed I don't think of her. Anyway, 75 is still there, and the Irish navies are long gone, but if I was you, every time you pass 75 grass market, it would be wise to pause and look up to the top floor windows....Just in case!

[@ClearConscience.]

Thank You for sharing❤

[@FrederickBowdler]

Unfortunately Edinburgh is just another Majorca soon the residents will realise possibly too lay.😅

[@joeconway7244]

Although the building and the interior of the diggers is much the same as was 40 50 years ago the pub its self is nothing like it was then Go in on a Tuesday night you could hardly get through the door The 80 bob coming out of the beer engine tall fonts was pure nectar Then the brewery bought them out and it was a down ward slide

[@tracyfryer8153]

❤

[@BigRedJed]

Diggers is a gid pub.

[@EdExploresScotland]

It certainly is.

[@Mikey_0007]

Hi Ed. My dad worked for Scottish and Newcastle at their Holyrood HQ for many years. He actually lived opposite it too in the grey 1960's buildings that are still opposite the new parliament. Great memories of Holyrood being a brewery mecca. Sadly, like Calton Road, it's almost unrecognisable now. He also worked at Fountainbridge (great kids Xmas parties at The Tartan Club!) and over at Croft an Righ (amongst many other places!). Great videos you've made. My dad (also Ed!) would have absolutely loved watching these ❤😊👍

[@Mikey_0007]

I also had my 18th birthday party at the old Tolbooth Tavern in the Canongate. What a great bar it used to be, full of characters.... All now long gone. Still a very nice bar though and well worth a visit.

[@PaganAbroad]

Thanks!

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks.

[@elizabethfrance3237]

Thanks!

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks Elizabeth.