Recollections

3.

Shaeron Averbuch

Edinburgh

Thank you to Shaeron Averbuch for contacting me.  Shaeron is an artist who was based at The Lighthouse, West Harbour Road, Granton, until recently.

She created the 'Cavorting Sailors' sculpture that stood on the land at the corner of Ferry Road and North Junction Street, Leith, for a few years from 2002.

Shaeron wrote:

No. 161 Lower Granton Road

"We moved from The Lighthouse at Granton to No.161 Lower Granton Road a couple of months ago.  We will be participating in Doors Open Day on September 24-25 from our new address.

Question

The Tap

No.161 Lower Granton Road is another of the old properties that I am trying to gather information on. I believe it was formerly know as 'The Tap'.  Does anybody know why it was built originally?"

Reply to Shaeron

If you know anything about the history of 161 Lower Granton Road, please email me, then I'll pass on the information to Shaeron.  Thank you.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  September 19, 2011

Recollections

4.

James Rillay

Silverknowes, Edinburgh

Thank you to Jams Rillay, formerly of 37 Granton Crescent, who replied:

No. 161 Lower Granton Road

"I’m not too sure about 161 being 'The Tap', as the blue door which used to be the front door of 'The Tap' has 160 on it, according to Google street view anyway.

I’m uncertain of it’s origins, but I do know it was my Dad’s local pub for many years during the 1970s and 1980s.  It was one of only three local pubs (excluding the Forth Corinthian Yacht Club) in the area.

They were:

-   TheTap,

-  Wardie Hotel,

-  Anchor Inn.

I would assume it was a busy place in it’s day, given the amount of local industry that surrounded it."

 Return Home

"I used to watch my Dad wonder up the hill (Granton View) from my front window (Granton Crescent), after he had spent a leisurely Sunday afternoon in The Tap.  Some wonderings to longer than others on occasion.

I recall it closed as a pub in the early 1990s, and turned into an office of some description. I think the property has been closed for some time now **."

James Rillay, Silverknowes, Edinburgh:  September 20, 2011

** Doors Open Weekend

The 'Doors Open brochure for 24-25 September  2011 includes  the following paragraphs:

"One of the oldest buildings in Granton, commissioned by the Duke of Buccleuch in Granton's thriving industrial heyday, it was a pub for many years, fairly notorious as many locals would say.

Currently, the building is taking on a new life and is being used by the Granton Improvements Society along with other organizations and individuals operating out of the shared space.

Kenneth Williamson, member of the local bowling club, will talk about the history of the area.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh,  September 20, 2011

Recollections

5.

Peter Stubbs

Edinburgh

After reading James Rillay's comments above, I went down to Lower Granton Road this afternoon to look at the buildings there.

Here's what I found:

Nos 160 and 161

"At the western end of Lower Granton Road, very close to Granton Square, there is a large stone building with four blue doors.  They are (from left to right):

1.  a door into the yard beside the building

2.  a door numbered 160.  This is the door that James mentions above.   It used to be the main door into 'The Tap'.

3.  a door with no number.  The old lettering above the door has been painted over, but is still visible.  It reads:  'Granton Tap Games Room'.

4.  a door numbered 161.  This is the door that to the premises that are to be open for 'Doors Open Weekend' on September 24-25, 2011.

Incidentally, the name of the pub that appears in the Edinburgh & Leith Post Office Directories (at least for the years 1950 to 1970) is not 'Granton Tap':  It is 'Granton Tavern'.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  September 21, 2011

Recollections

6.

David King

Trinity, Edinburgh

Thank you to David King for responding to Shaeron Averbuch's request for more information about the history of 160 Lower Granton Road.

David wrote:

No.161

Granton Hotel

"The premises at No.160 Lower Granton Road were originally part of the Granton Hotel, the main building of which faces Granton Square and is now HMS Claverhouse. 

©

The hotel was built in 1838 and included stables to the rear (east) and a ‘tap room’ (which is where No 160 is) linked to the hotel, but with a courtyard between.  Immediately east was a further courtyard (still there) with stables (now a garage).  This page on the Historic Scotland web site gives more details.

A new building was later built immediately behind the hotel which confuses the picture a bit."

The Granton Tap

"The tap room became a public house, the Granton Tavern, usually known locally as the Granton Tap.  It supposedly had the longest bar in the Edinburgh area, and was popular with the trawler crews when they returned to Granton Harbour from their fishing trips.  When it closed, the Leonard Cheshire Foundation used the premises as an office."

Old Maps

"You will see the buildings on old maps of the area, such as:

-  This 1896 map on my Granton History web site

-  This 1853 map on the National LIbrary of Scotland web site.  You can zoom-in to this map to see more detail."

David King, Trinity, Edinburgh:  September 21, 2011

Recollections

7.

Lizzie Stenhouse

Granton, Edinburgh

Lizzie Stenhouse wrote:

No.141a, 141b, 141c

School

Net Making

Boxing Ring

Bingo

Question

"Do you have any information about the building at 141a, 141b and 141c, Lower Granton Road, across the road from the Granton Square bus stop in Lower Granton Road?

It is believed to have been:

-  a school, before Granton Square School was built.

-  a place for net making or repairs.

-  a boxing ring, at one time.

-  a Bingo Hall at one time.

Lizzie Stenhouse, Granton:  July 21, 2014

Reply to Lizzie

If you have any information about 141a, b and c Lower Granton Road that you'd like to pass on to Lizzie, please email me to let me know, then I'll give you her email address.

        Thank you.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  July 24, 2104

Recollections

3.

Shaeron Averbuch

Edinburgh

Thank you to Shaeron Averbuch for contacting me.  Shaeron is an artist who was based at The Lighthouse, West Harbour Road, Granton, until recently.

She created the 'Cavorting Sailors' sculpture that stood on the land at the corner of Ferry Road and North Junction Street, Leith, for a few years from 2002.

Shaeron wrote:

No. 161 Lower Granton Road

"We moved from The Lighthouse at Granton to No.161 Lower Granton Road a couple of months ago.  We will be participating in Doors Open Day on September 24-25 from our new address.

Question

The Tap

No.161 Lower Granton Road is another of the old properties that I am trying to gather information on. I believe it was formerly know as 'The Tap'.  Does anybody know why it was built originally?"

Reply to Shaeron

If you know anything about the history of 161 Lower Granton Road, please email me, then I'll pass on the information to Shaeron.  Thank you.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  September 19, 2011

Recollections

4.

James Rillay

Silverknowes, Edinburgh

Thank you to Jams Rillay, formerly of 37 Granton Crescent, who replied:

No. 161 Lower Granton Road

"I’m not too sure about 161 being 'The Tap', as the blue door which used to be the front door of 'The Tap' has 160 on it, according to Google street view anyway.

I’m uncertain of it’s origins, but I do know it was my Dad’s local pub for many years during the 1970s and 1980s.  It was one of only three local pubs (excluding the Forth Corinthian Yacht Club) in the area.

They were:

-   TheTap,

-  Wardie Hotel,

-  Anchor Inn.

I would assume it was a busy place in it’s day, given the amount of local industry that surrounded it."

 Return Home

"I used to watch my Dad wonder up the hill (Granton View) from my front window (Granton Crescent), after he had spent a leisurely Sunday afternoon in The Tap.  Some wonderings to longer than others on occasion.

I recall it closed as a pub in the early 1990s, and turned into an office of some description. I think the property has been closed for some time now **."

James Rillay, Silverknowes, Edinburgh:  September 20, 2011

** Doors Open Weekend

The 'Doors Open brochure for 24-25 September  2011 includes  the following paragraphs:

"One of the oldest buildings in Granton, commissioned by the Duke of Buccleuch in Granton's thriving industrial heyday, it was a pub for many years, fairly notorious as many locals would say.

Currently, the building is taking on a new life and is being used by the Granton Improvements Society along with other organizations and individuals operating out of the shared space.

Kenneth Williamson, member of the local bowling club, will talk about the history of the area.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh,  September 20, 2011

Recollections

5.

Peter Stubbs

Edinburgh

After reading James Rillay's comments above, I went down to Lower Granton Road this afternoon to look at the buildings there.

Here's what I found:

Nos 160 and 161

"At the western end of Lower Granton Road, very close to Granton Square, there is a large stone building with four blue doors.  They are (from left to right):

1.  a door into the yard beside the building

2.  a door numbered 160.  This is the door that James mentions above.   It used to be the main door into 'The Tap'.

3.  a door with no number.  The old lettering above the door has been painted over, but is still visible.  It reads:  'Granton Tap Games Room'.

4.  a door numbered 161.  This is the door that to the premises that are to be open for 'Doors Open Weekend' on September 24-25, 2011.

Incidentally, the name of the pub that appears in the Edinburgh & Leith Post Office Directories (at least for the years 1950 to 1970) is not 'Granton Tap':  It is 'Granton Tavern'.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  September 21, 2011

Recollections

8.

'MadSailor'

Thank you to 'Mad Sailor' who wrote:

The Granton Tap

"The Granton Tap was a pub that made a fortune from trawlermen during the 1950s and early-1960s."

'MadSailor':  12 September 2015