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Edinburgh
Street Furniture |
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Thank you to Frank Ferri who encouraged me to add this
page to the web site when he wrote:
"Here
few nostalgic items
that survived right up to the late-1950s:
A.
Public Drinking Fountains
B. Horse Troughs
C. Public Gents'
Urinals" |
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A.
Public Drinking
Fountains |
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Frank Ferri wrote:
"I remember these:
1. On the corner of Mill Lane and
Great Junction Street, Leith. It was a
cast iron pillar in design, about 4 feet high with a half bowl protrusion
at its base for dogs.
2. On the corner of Waverley Bridge
and Princes Street.
3. At St Margaret’s Well, at the base
of Salisbury Crags, opposite Holyrood Palace. It had cast iron
drinking cups attached to a chain. I remember using this as a kid.
4. At Hunter's Bog in Queen's Park, on the path up the slope,
there used to be a lead pipe protruding from a rock at ground level with
flowing fresh water, I assume draining of water, from Arthur’s Seat or
maybe Dunsappie Loch
These would not be
very hygienic methods of drinking water
by today’s standards. I can't
think of any more in the city."
*
Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh: March 26, 2010 |
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*
I expect others may well think of more drinking
fountains that were around the city in the 1950s: e.g. Inverleith
Park and other parks, Greyfriars' Bobby, one or more of the streets
leading to the north from Princes Street.
Peter Stubbs: April 3,
2010 |
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Update 1
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Thank you to
Bob Sinclair who added:
5.
Princes Street, on the East
side of the Art Gallery
Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia: April 4, 2010
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Update
2
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Thank you to
Dave McDougall who added:
"I recall there being a drinking fountain on
the corner of Princes Street and one of the streets leading to George
Street. I'm pretty certain it wasn't
Castle Street ,so was either Frederick or
Hanover Street (I think Frederick).
It was there until
some time into the 1970s
as I remember it as a young boy. (I was
born in '1966). It was one of those
drinking fountains where you hold down a button
and a jet of water sqooshes into the air.
(It was a terrible faux pas to put your mouth anywhere near the
nozzle!)"
Dave McDougall: September 23, 2010 |
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B.
Horse Troughs |
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Frank Ferri wrote:
"I remember these:
1. Opposite Elm Row, ,
next to the park at Gayfield Square.
2. Dock Place, Leith.
These
were sited
throughout the city for working Clydesdale horses. As kids, we would
sail paper boats in the troughs."
Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:
March 26, 2010 |
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C.
Victorian Gents'
Urinals |
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These were
cast iron structures. I remember them at:
1. Yardheads, Leith, in the section
behind Tiso Mini Market on Great Junction Street. This was when
Yardheads used to link up with King Street.
2. St Andrew Street at the corner of
Henderson Street, Leith.
3. Underground urinal in the centre of
the street near the Leith Walk end of Albert Street.
4. Opposite Elm Row, at Gayfield Square.
Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:
March 26, 2010 |
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Comment
I also remember large
underground urinals in front of Register House, lit partly by glazed
panels on the pavement. Their entrance was near the corner of
Register Street and Princes Street.
Peter Stubbs: April 3,
2010 |
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Updates
Thank you to
those who have provided updates to this list:
5.
Grassmarket
A
6.
Tollcross
A
7.
Foot of the Mound, opposite the Art Gallery
These were very convenient for tram and bus drivers, conductors and
inspectors.
B
**
6.
Orchard Brae, Comely Bank,
outside Flora Stevenson School
B
**
**
These were gents toilets, but not Victorian, cast iron, so far as I
know. There were many toilets for use by tram and bus drivers /
conductors / inspectors throughout Edinburgh, often near the tram and bus
termini.
Peter Stubbs: April 5, 2010 |
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Acknowledgements
A
=
Terry McGuire, Coventry, Warwickshire, England: April
3, 2010
B
=
Bib Sinclair, Queensland, Australia: April 4, 2010 |
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D.
Railings |
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Bob
Sinclair added:
"Another type of
street furniture that might be
considered is Railings.
Unfortunately, I
think bits were removed for the war effort, but still some people may have
interesting photos or knowledge of the same.
Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia: April 5, 2010 |
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Comment
Despite all
the railings that were removed for the war effort, there are still many
railings in place, particularly around Edinburgh New Town.
Some
railings have been reinstated in recent years. e.g. around the Art
Galleries at the Foot of the Mound.
I think, as
Bob suggests, if we were to include 'Railings' on this page it might be
best to confine the list to give only some of the more prominent railings,
particularly those that have been lost - ideally with photos of the
railings.
Peter Stubbs: April 5,
2010 |
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