|
Granton Square and Granton Eastern Harbour |
Looking down on Granton Square and across to Granton Harbour
© Reproduced with acknowledgement to the Robert Grieves Collection and to Argyll Publishing
|
Granton Square and Granton Eastern Harbour |
|
Transport This photo includes a wealth of information for anybody interested in transport in Edinburgh in the mid-20th century. Perhaps somebody will e-mail me with a few comments about the vehicles and ships in this picture. - Peter Stubbs: November 22, 2006 |
|
Reply 1
Walter Lyle Hume |
|
It didn't take long for the first comments to arrive! Within a few hours, Walter Lyle Hume, Cowes, Isle of Wight, sent the following comments. Walter wrote: |
|
The Closest Ship "The closest vessel in the picture is at Lighthouse Pier. It is the twin screw motor ship 'Pharos VIII', built at Dundee by Caledon Shipyard: [1712 gross tons, 257-ft length, 39-ft beam, 13-ft deep.] Pharos was used: - as a relief tender for North Carr Lightship, Bell Rock, May Island, Bass Rock and Fidra Island - for servicing beacons and buoys on the East Coast. - for conducting the annual Inspection Commissioners cruise around all the Scottish coast. Pharos was sold to Windjammer Cruises, Bahamas in 1988, renamed 'Amazing Grace', and is still in service." |
|
The Distant Ship "The ship berthed at the steam crane on east side of middle pier would have been loading coal, or possibly laid up. The coal conveyor clearly visible at end of middle pier, with trawlers on the west side." |
|
Drilling Rig "The drilling rig was moored in Granton late 50's, having been used by the National Coal Board in the area between Portobello and Port Seton." |
|
Taxi Office "The taxi office and kiosk can be seen on the left, in the middle of the picture" |
|
Walter Lyle Hume, Cowes, Isle of Wight, England: November 23, 2006. |
|
Reply 2
Patrick Hutton |
|
Thank you to Patrick Hutton, Edinburgh, who wrote: |
|
The Railway "An excellent photo. The tramlines have gone, so I'd guess the photo was taken in the late-'50s. I think the locomotive is a J35 or J37.: - The J35 locos were withdrawn by the end of 1962. - The J37 locos lasted right until the end of Scottish steam in 1966-67. If the engine has two windows in the cab side (which is not possible to tell from the web photo), it would be either a J38 (more likely) or a J39 (almost indistinguishable). I've seen a photo of one shedded at Seafield in the early '60s." I've checked the original photo that I scanned, and it's still not possible to tell how many windows are on the cab side. - Peter Stubbs December 2, 2006 |
|
Patrick
Hutton, Edinburgh: November 27 + 30, 2006, and also |
|
Reply 3
Grant King |
|
I was also pleased to receive this reply, from Grant King, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
|
The Two Boys "The two children coming up the steps are: - on the right, Paul Lorimer and - on the left, John Harkness. This I got from a good source - Paul, who I grew up with." |
|
Grant King, Aberdeenshire, now working in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil:: December 13, 2006. |
|
Reply 4
Hughie Grey |
|
Thank you to Hughie Grey, Australia, who wrote: |
|
Post Office and Police Box "On Granton Square there used to be the Post Office, good for sweeties. We used to buy cinnamon sticks to smoke. Yikes! I wonder if the old police box is still there. I've been in it a couple of times. I even remember the Policeman's name. It was 'Big Archie' and he had a big 'back hand'. Many of the old police boxes can still be found in the streets of Edinburgh, some now converted to coffee kiosks, but the one in Granton Square (above the road sign at the left-hand side of this picture) has been removed. - Peter Stubbs. |
|
The Railway We were always getting caught in the railway yards jumping on the wagons. I lived in Granton Medway, top stair. We had great fun as kids. Oor Wullie couldnae dae better, eh!" |
|
Hughie Grey, Australia:: March 5, 2007 |
|
Reply 5
Denis Kelly |
|
Thank you to Denis Kelly, Edinburgh, who started his working life on Edinburgh buses, for writing: |
|
1958 "Just looking at the Granton Square picture. I'd date it 1958. The bus is an Edinburgh Corporation Transport Bristol L6B with Brockhouse body, probably fleet no 764, which was a regular on route 17 between Granton Road and West End." "The Bristol was new in 1950 and placed in service at McDonald Road. It was taken off mainline duties around 1959 and withdrawn in 1960. By 1959 double-deckers had taken over on route 17. Tram rails were lifted in 1957, so a good guess would be 1958 !" Denis Kelly, Edinburgh, August 1+7, 2009 |
|
Reply 5 Comment 1
Lindsay Walls |
|
Thank you to Lindsay Walls who felt that Reply 5 above was not accurate, and wrote: |
|
"The tram overhead wire support poles are visible; the original bus turning circle is in place; the bus is a Bristol and these were replaced by some of the 801 – 817 batch in the early fifties; there are two buddies waiting for a tram outside HMS Claverhouse." Lindsay Walls, Edinburgh Transport Group: 16 July 2018 |
|
Date of the Photo? Lindsay mentions that there are two buddies waiting for a tram outside HMS Claverhouse. This suggests that hat the photo would have been taken a little earlier than the '1958' date suggested above - perhaps around 1956. Tram services ended in Edinburgh was 16 November 1956. Services were withdrawn and replaced by buses throughout 1956. I believe that the last day that trams ran to Granton was 11 September 1956. However, Patrick Hutton says in his Reply 2 above that the tramlines have gone, so perhaps the suggested date of around 1958 is indeed correct. Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: 20 July 2018 |
|
Reply 6
Kim Taylor |
|
Thank you to Kim Traynor, Tollcross who wrote |
|
HMS Claverhouse "The building on the far right with the flag flying was H.M.S. Claverhouse where Sea Cadets were trained until, at least, the late-1960s. My eldest brother served for many years in the Navy and this is what probably encouraged my other older brother to join the Cadets at Granton. The Cadets were taken out on the Forth to learn basic seafaring skills." Kim Traynor: Tollcross, Edinburgh: September 21, 2009 |
|
This building was originally built as a hotel for passengers travelling from Granton Harbour. Peter Stubbs: September 21, 2009 |
|
Reply 7
Jim Woolard |
|
Thank you to Jim Woolard, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia who wrote |
|
Distant Ship at Middle Pier "The ship in the distance, on the east side of Middle Pier is a Liberian tramp steamer registered in Monrovia. It was laid up there for a number of months" Jim Woolard, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: June 26, 2010 |
|
Reply 8
Simon Capaldi |
|
Thank you to Simon Capaldi for noticing yet another feature of this photo. Simon wrote: |
|
Distant Ship at Middle Pier "Any idea what the metal " goalpost " is on top of the building?" Simon Capaldi, Sheriffhall, Midlothian, Scotland |
|
I’ve looked at this photo many times but I had not noticed the ‘goalpost’ until Simon mentioned it. I wonder if it is the top of some high structure projecting up from the coal yard/railway/harbour area behind the HMS Calverhouse building. Perhaps somebody else will come up with an answer! Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: 21 July 2018 |
|
Reply 8 Comment 1
Bob Henderson |
|
Thank you to Bob Henderson who replied: |
|
"Given that HMS Claverhouse was an active naval establishment, it seems reasonable to surmise that the 'goalpost' on the roof of the building was some kind of short-wave aerial." Burdiehouse, Edinburgh: July 22, 2018 |
|
Reply 8 Comment 2
Iain Stewart |
|
Thank you to Iain Stewart who added: |
|
"HMS Claverhouse had two of these 'goalposts' on the roof. Radio antennas were strung between them." Iain Stewart, Edinburgh: July 26, 2018 |