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Charles Laing & Sons Ltd Brass & Iron Founders Powderhall, Edinburgh |
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Beaverbank Place Laing's Foundry is one of the few remaining small industries still operating in the Powderhall district of Edinburgh. The company believes it is the last jobbing foundry in Britain to use the traditional green sand process The company was established by Charles Laing on the west side of Beaverbank Place in 1920. There was more industry in the area then. Just 'up the road' on the east side of the street, close to the junction with Broughton Road, was Miller's, a small electro-plating company that remained in business until the 1990s. Laings moved across the road to its present premises on the east side of Beaverbank Place, Powderhall, Edinburgh, in 1942. The business is now in the hands of the third generation of the Laing Family. Its Managing Director is Andrew Laing. |
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Early Work In the early 1990s, when many of the photos above were taken the company was being run by Andrew's father, Alistair Laing, the third son of the founder, Charles Laing. In early days, much of the work was in brass, supporting the shipping industry in nearby Leith. |
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Work Today Work now includes bronze trophies, commemorative plaques, cast iron street lamps and other street furniture. A recent project, in partnership with Heritage Engineering, was to build an authentic replica bandstand for Cardiff Parks Department, to replace the one demolished in the 1920s. The company produces a wide range of railings and finials. Many examples of their work can be found in Edinburgh New Town. |
