A curious passer-by leans over the fence to get a better look through the metal grille covering the building's basement.
The arches below Jeffrey Street are adorned with this graffiti which seems to be depicting a prostitute with a ball and chain. The clue is in the word 'pimp' in 6 feet high letters.
Same subject but viewing more than six arches instead of three. The ball and chain makes me hear Janis Joplin in my head...
Another view of the arches, four years later. Time and peeling paint have faded the graffiti.
A monochrome study of the arches. The perspective effect is diminished by the arches become larger as they recede.
Further west, up the slope, the arches have diminished greatly in height.
On a different day facing the opposite direction. The southern end of North Bridge is visible in the distance.
Jeffrey Street is up above the East Market Street arches. It curves to the left to adjoin the High Street / Canongate at the top of St Mary's Street.
Three more shots of the arches supporting Jeffrey Street on the south side of East Market Street.
Two traffic wardens pause for a chat up on the Jeffrey Street pavement.
The grey painted doors recede into the distance.
These attractive old houses on top of Calton Hill seem to have been built with locally found stones, as well as blocks - possibly from Craigleith Quarry.
The new council offices in the valley have grass rooves and fibreglass cows.
Waverley Valley panoramic view in 2009
Caltongate at a standstill in November 2009.
Not what we really want in Edinburgh city centre, another hole in the ground. There's been a few over the years but this one's bigger.
This brick building at the top of New Street is all that remains on this site. Once upon a time, fellow TV Service Engineers from Grants in Blackfriars Street used to have breakfast here.
2010 November: An interesting mix of architectural styles photographed from Waterloo Place.
The view from the top of Jacob's Ladder. It's perhaps appropriate that the grass topped council offices look over a city centre site abandoned by all but Mother Nature.
A wide angle view of the scene.
Zooming in for a closer look at a mini (unplanned) nature reserve.
Closer still to see two pigeons enjoying the pool of water beside some wire cages containing bricks.
It's a steep, winding descent - not advised after dark - especially if alone.
The bottom is in sight. An archway leads under the railway lines to Calton Road.
Through the arch at the bottom of Jacob's Ladder can be seen a man in a suit waiting at the corner of New Street and Calton Road.
The man in the suit lingers briefly before wandering off.
Sunshine picks out autumn colours in East Market Street near Cranston Street.
Much photographed by me already - but the absence of cars (caused by the road being closed nearer Waverley Station) made the scene look quite different today.
If you approach Calton Hill by Blenheim Place, Royal Terrace and by turning right at Greenside Parish Church then you'll pass this way.
The magnificent entrance to Old St Andrew's House.
The large bronze doors were designed by Walter Gilbert. The right hand door is fractionally out of line with the left one but I've corrected this in the next image.
The central image close up.
April 1937 was when this foundation stone was laid. How many of today's buildings will look so splendid after three quarters of a century, I wonder...
A previous photo showed the right hand side of this building abutted against the rock face. Virgin money has evidently improved its appearance wtih some stone cladding and new windows.
INSERT ART HERE proclaims this message. Behind the fence buildings may one day be inserted.
Further up New Street, opposite the council offices, nature has populated the ground with bushes.
Jeffrey Street curves its way onto the Royal Mile.
The view from the bridge in Waterloo Place, looking over Calton Road and Waverley Station towards Jeffrey Street.
This graffiti may be illegible but it outclasses teenage boys' clumsy scribbles such as 'oe', 'yout' and 'nsa' and so on.
The irridescent, stylised text on the left of the previous picture seems to be emanating from this dude from Dusseldorf.
Quite what the American Shame refers to is rather vague. Certainly, poking two fingers into someone's intestines would be shameful, if that's what's depicted here.
Another shot of the view from the top of Jacob's Ladder, a great place to take photos of the effects of the passage of time in the Caltongate saga.
A magnificent octopus keeps watch on passers-by and people hoping to park their car.
The gate into the empty site has been breached. It's still chained on the left but the top hinge is broken.
This looks like one mean mouse. It's not Dangermouse though.
A wider view showing part of the train tracks that cross over Calton Road.
Travellin' Men have left their mark.
What's behind the fence in September 2013. The back of the Canongate's north side overlooks the troubled site.
From their roof garden and windows the council workers have an excellent view of another, unplanned garden populated with wild bushes and trees.
Another look at the octopus.
On the other side of Calton Hill the little road known as Greenside Row curves round the back of the Omni centre.
Calton road branches off Leith Street to the left and then continues under the bridge at Waterloo Place. I've photographed it before but the light was interesting so I did it again.
MP's BISTRO proclaim the signs. I rather doubt the presence of MSPs from Holyrood in this establishment because it's a long walk from there along Calton Road. Climbing Jacob's Ladder for a 'short cut' would likely induce heart attacks in some MSPs.
I paid my £4 to climb even higher up the Nelson Monument. This wider view of the scene looks over north east Edinburgh towards the Firth of Forth.
Zooming in a little reveals assorted visitors enjoying the April sunshine around Scotland's National Monument - which was never finished.
A view across Leith Walk towards Leith Docks. The blue clad scaffolding left of centre is new construction at Shrubhill. The church to its right is at Pilrig.
The balcony at the top of the Nelson Monument affords good views of Princes Street. Cars are banned from Princes Street and delivery vehicles have their time restricted. This means that most of the vehicles visible are buses and taxis.
The long lens appears to foreshorten the perspective, stacking the buses on top of one other.
The three arches of North Bridge slope upwards from Princes Street to the old town. The Governor's Mansion is at bottom left and to its right is the Calton Burial Ground.
Zoomed in on Waverley Gate's roof garden. The building at its rear is the part of the Balmoral Hotel which adjoins North Bridge.
Two double decker buses on North Bridge. Waverley Railway Station below has a new glass roof these days.
Below Edinburgh Castle trains go west vis the tunnel to Haymarket then onto the train lines left of Murrayfield Stadium. On the horizon at the right is the faint outline of the 5 Sisters bing near West Calder.
There seems to be some activity at 'Caltongate' on New Steet's east side.
Zoomed in on the grassy rooves. Jeffrey Street is the curved street at the back.
Zoomed in on 'Caltongate'. New Street is on the right but Calton Road is hidden from view below Regent Road.
At the bottom left corner Jeffrey Street connects to Market Street which passes below North Bridge. In the distance are glimpses of Craiglockhart Hill and the Pentland Hills.
Graffiti at the back of the empty site.
A long lens look at Royal Park Terrace at the north side of Holyrood Park.
Zoomed in on the brick building at the top of New Street. The Arc Café had its premises here.
When you're climbing the steps to the top of the Nelson Monument this neat lettering gives encouragement. I photographed it on the way down.
Also photographed on the way down is this 'Keep going' sign.
The remainder of the views were taken from Calton Hill itself, rather than from the tower. In this view Pilrig Church is on the left and the foot of Leith Walk on the right.
Western Harbour on the shore of the Firth of Forth.
The St James shopping centre is going to be revamped apparently. The trees in the distance are the woods on Corstorphine Hill.
Strange architecture at the start of London Road.
Another roof garden, this time on the Omni Centre at the Picardy Place roundabout. York Place is behind, connecting to Queen Street to the left.
The back of the Playhouse theatre is on the left. To its right is a site cleared for construction.
Terraced houses in Windsor Street.
The main path into the old burial ground.
A striking memorial erected in memory of Scottish-American soldiers.
The resting place for David Hume, an important figure in the Scottish Enlightenment.
The text on this tombstone is all but illegible. The female stone figures are not reminiscent of any Scottish church I know of but look more eastern, maybe Indian.
I don't know if this is a likeness of Alice Barclay, nor do I know if she's holding a bible or some other holy tome.
On the bridge at Waterloo Place, looking down on Calton Road.
Fiona Rutherford played a live accompaniment for the visual presentation at the SWT event.
A wider view of the scene on the roof of the Glasshhouse Hotel..
Outside there were interesting views of the sea at the Firth of Forth.
Twin aliens from another planet stood motionless next to a non-functioning gas-fired barbecue.
Large plastic sculptures of masks decorated the area. Calton Hill is in the background.
It looks like this mask has had its nose dragged through the gravel.
Some of the Scottish Wildlife Trust members outside the hall where the meeting took place.
A look up to the observatory dome on Calton Hill.
A scooter parked on Calton Hill.
The new Cube building beside the steep street Calton Hill.
A large HD view to the Firth of Forth
A large HD view to the Firth of Forth zoomed in a little more.
A long lens look at the foot of Leith Walk
Graffiti in New Street
East Market Street 8 June 2016
Photographed later in April 2016
Photographed later in April 2016
Just off Blenheim Place
Between Calton Hill and Leith Street
A long stairway between Calton Hill and Leith Street.
2nd shot of the long stairway between Calton Hill and Leith Street.
The Omni Centre address is Greenside Row but that really refers to the seldom visited lane at the back, at the foot of Calton Hill. This infrared photograph shows 2 rather long stairways.
A normal colour picture taken from the foot of the stairs pictured previously.
The other stairway.
Graffiti in New Street
Graffiti in New Street
Graffiti in New Street
Graffiti in New Street
Graffiti in New Street
Graffiti in New Street
Graffiti in New Street
February 26 2016
February 26 2016
Corner of New Street and Canongate
Corner of New Street and Canongate
Corner of New Street and Canongate
Not a dedicated, elevated cycle track. Greenside Row passes below.
Picturesque houses at Calton Hill.
So much character.
'Beware of the dog' says the sign on the gate at number 20.
'Caltongate' at the start of August 2016.
3 shots of the graffiti down on the fence at Calton Road.
Zoomed in on the face done with runny paint.
If this doesn't say 'ouch' then I don't know what it says.
I expect the dark brown metal is reinforcement for concrete.
The old Royal High School on Regent Road needs some attention.
Looking down on the urban landscape beside Calton Road.
Also in Regent Road is this neatly written graffiti with its precise message.
In nearby Regent Terrace defensive bollards protect the American Embassy.
Rain was sweeping in from the west, obscuring Corstorphine Hill. Sunshine on Fettes school and the old Martello Court flats.
Rain hadn't yet reached the remnants of Granton gasworks. Botanic Gardens in the middle distance.
Rustic looking in the city centre
That strange architecture again
previously photographed but good light for another shot
The other steps facing the opposite direction
Long lens shot (600m equivalent) of the foot of Leith Walk from Calton Hill.
The first of two shots of the corner of New Street and Canongate. March 2017
The second of two shots of the corner of New Street and Canongate. March 2017
The view from the corner of the council building. The Canongate Venture is now Apple Apartments.
New in March 2017 is this area at New Waverley.
Looking through the new arch to an older one (St John's Street) at the othe side of Canongate.
The red car passing St John's Street is reflected making it seem like part of the white car.
The old Royal High School on Regent Road is high up at the back. In front is Terry Gilliam's Words on the Street.
A wider view of the scene at the top of New Street.
Another wide view of the scene at the top of New Street.
Cubes and cuboids at the east side of New Street.
Take-away food stalls
Council offices, St Andrew's House and the Nelson Monument on Calton Hill.
Doubtless these concrete cuboids will serve as tables and chairs for the take-away customers.
Looking back towards New Street. Part of North Bridge can be seen along East Market Street.
Peeking through the hole in the fence towards the railway tunnels at the back of Calton Road.
Sneak peek
Looking over the graffiti towards the railway tunnels leading to Abbeyhill and all points south.
Through the door lies a secret tunnel to the Nelson Monument. (or not)
Jeffrey Street with Market Street and The Arches in front.
The City of Edinburgh Council
Graffiti in New Street.
Graffiti in New Street.
Graffiti in New Street.
The Arches as seen from North Bridge
Edited version of a 360º Image - LED pavement lights
Edited version of a 360º Image - LED pavement lights
I read ( May 2017) that Studio 24 is to close.
Studio 24
Studio 24
Studio 24
Studio 24
Studio 24
Studio 24
This 'former school building next to Edinburgh’s Royal Mile is to be converted into a spectacular boutique hotel and restaurant'.
A new fence in New Street may be a blank canvas for graffiti artists.
Grafitti in Jacob's Ladder, the stairway leading up from Calton Road to Regent Road.
Jacob's Ladder's bottom entrance is opposite the foot of New Street.
Higher up Jacob's Ladder
Those Hibs fans get everywhere.
The view from part way up Jacob's Ladder.
The view from the top of Jacob's Ladder at Regent Road.
Piledriver driving piles next to New Street.
Zoomed in closer on the piledriver.
Changes here have been a long time coming since I first photographed the area in 2003.
Odd architecture at Blenheim Place at the foot of Calton Hill
Descending Jacob's Ladder - a sequence of 8 photos
Jacob's Ladder is the stairway behind the wall.
Jacob's Ladder closed for repairs at Regent Road.
Jacob's Ladder entrance closed at Calton Road.
Author: DaveHenniker
Retired computer technician. Interests: photography, skating, nature, countryside and coastal walking . View all posts by DaveHenniker