Carte de Visite

Kyles & Law

Kyles & Law

Photograph

1860s

Studio

Kyles & Law had a studio at 206 High Street, Portobello (1863-67 - see below) and also at Bath Street, Portobello (1866-67).

©

Studio Portraits

Most cartes de visite, including many by Kyles & Law, were studio portraits (as below), but the one at the top of this page is an outdoor scene.

  ©

Question

Question

Where is it?

Do you recognise where this photo might have been taken?  If so, please email me, then I'll pass on the news to Archie Foley, Joppa Edinburgh, who sent the photo to me.  This gate post looks quite distinctive.  Maybe it is still standing.

Archie believes that the photographers would probably not have moved far from base, so the photo may well be the back entrance to one of the large houses in Portobello, photographed in the mid-1860s.

©

Thank you .    -  Peter Stubbs:  June 7, 2009

Reply

1.

Archie Young

Moredun, Edinburgh

Thank you to Archie Young who wrote:

Where is it?

   ©

"I'm sure there may be a name on the gate pillar.  I have tried to edit it and read it, using Paint Shop Pro, but failed.

I've racked my brains out to think where this photo might have been taken, if it was in the Portobello area.  I was brought up at Joppa and know Portobello pretty well.  The gradient is not very steep is not very steep.

The photo may have been taken on the north side of Portobello on the left travelling along from King's Road to Joppa, or on the opposite side from Fishwives causeway towards Joppa.

Maybe, if Archie Foley could scan it at a higher resolution it may become possible to read the name."  *

Archie Young, Moredun, Edinburgh:  September 15, 2010

*   Archie  Young did well to spot this possible name on the pillar.  It can just be seen on the photo, about a third of the way down the pillar, towards the left-hand side of the pillar.

I've passed on his request to Archie Young, and will update this page again if the location of this photo is discovered.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  September 21, 2010

Archie Young added:

The Pillars

"At the top of the pillar, you can see a rod.  This would end up at the top as a basket.  It was in fact a beacon.  It probably had wood soaked in pitch to keep it alight at night.  All the gate pillars would have had these."

Archie Young, Moredun, Edinburgh:  September 15, 2010

Reply

2.

John Gray

Stenhouse, Edinburgh

Thank you to John Gray who wrote:

Where is it?

   ©

Possibly near the Old Bandstand

"I wonder if this photo was taken at the bottom of John Street, at the entrance to the  old bandstand area, later the paddling pool site.  It would certainly fit the mild gradient in the picture.

To the left, there seems to be a circle of grass and looking at an old map of Porty there seems to have been a circle of grass evident in that area when the bandstand was in situ.

Also, at the rooftop level of the building to the left, there seem to be chimneys in the distance.  These buildings could be the large promenade flats  beside the prom extension."

John Gray, Stenhouse, Edinburgh:  September 22, 2010

Reply

3.

Archie Foley

Joppa, Edinburgh

Thank you to Archie Foley, who sent me this photo

©

for responding to 'Reply 1' and 'Reply 2' above.

Archie wrote:

"I wish this location could be identified without a doubt."

Response to 'Reply 2' above

"Archie Young suggested that there might be a name on the gate post. I did scan at a high resolution and enlarged the image but there are no incised letters, just a rough surface."

Response to 'Reply 2' above

"The lie of the land certainly fits the foot of John Street, but after studying street plans from mid-19th century onwards I think it has to be rejected as the location.

There is a gateway in the correct spot, but it does not give onto a yard with outbuildings at the rear of what seem to be substantial dwellings.

I incline to the view that the shot was taken in west Portobello but with evidence to support it."

Archie Foley, Joppa, Edinburgh:  October 10, 2010

Kyles & Law