Granton Road

Carriage Pass

Front of the Pass

Pass from the Duke of Buccleuch, allowing a carriage to pass along Granton Road
©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to Miles Cumming, Edinburgh

Back of the Pass

Pass from the Duke of Buccleuch, allowing a carriage to pass along Granton Road

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to Miles Cumming, Edinburgh

 

Carriage Pass

Thank you to Miles Cumming for sending the photos above to me.

Miles wrote:

Granton Road

"Here is an item that I've recently acquired.  It would be great to see it on your site.  Perhaps that would spark someone to provide info about it's background.

I know that the road was constructed around 1836 to reach Granton harbour, and this is all tied up with the Duke of Buccleuch.

Here is a link to a plan dated 1836, showing Granton Road passing through The Duke of Buccleuch's land."

The Plan

This  'Plan comes from the  from the National Library of Scotland Map Room's 'Town Plans / Views Collection, 1580-1919'

It is dated 28 November 1836.  It was drawn  by Robert Stevenson & Son, Civil Engineers.

The plan can be enlarged, by scrolling the mouse wheel, to show some interesting details:

1. It refers to the road as being under construction

2. It mentions that the Duke of Buccleuch is to make application to Parliament 'during the next session' for the taking and levying of Tolls, Rates and Duties on the road.

2. It includes a 'longitudinal section of the road, showing gradients of:

-  'one in 30' from the entrance to Granton Harbour where it passes over Wardie Burn Culvert, now the junction with Boswall Road where Royal Forth Yacht Club clubhouse was built THEN

-   'one in 62' to a point near Wardie Primary School, THEN

-   'one in 108' to Ferry Road.

3.  It shows that the road passes through land owned by:

-  The Duke of Buccleuch (Granton Harbour to Boswall Road).

-  J D Boswall Esq. of Wardie (Boswall Road to Ferry Road).

4.  The plan also shows:

-  Firth of Forth Coast from Granton Castle to Newhaven.

-  Granton Pier, Trinity Pier, Newhaven Pier and Village.

-  Golden Acres and Canon Mills and loch.

-  Inverleith House now part of Royal Botanic Garden.

-  Comely Bank and Stockbridge and Water of Leith.

-  Edinburgh New Town.

However most of the land covered by this plan appears to be open and not yet built upon.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  December 4, 2013

"The item came into my possession from London.  It's a funny thought that it was in the car tonight as I drove past the junction of Granton Road and Ferry Road.   I wonder how many years have passed since it was back 'home' in Edinburgh!"

Mile Cumming, Edinburgh:  December 3, 2013

Hi Miles

The Pass

It was good to see that pass again.  In fact, I got myself a copy of the same pass (or perhaps it was a similar one for Middle Pier, Granton Harbour) around the 1970s when I was looking into the history of Granton Harbour.   I had it on display in the back window of my car for a while.

I got mine from the Historical Search Room at the National Archives of Scotland, so I expect the original is still somewhere in their collection.

Granton Harbour

Work on building Granton Harbour for the Duke of Buccleuch commenced in 1835.  The Pier that was later known as Middle Pier was originally named Victoria Jetty, after Queen Victoria.  It was partially completed and opened on her Coronation Day, 28 June 1838.

Perhaps the Pass for travel along Granton Road might date from some time around the 1840s.

Peter Stubbs:  December 5, 2013

 

Granton Harbour History

Transport

 Ephemera

 

 

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