Lauriston

This side street was formerly the entrance to a car park but now it's barricaded with a blue metal fence, as is the entire Quartermile area.

Further east on the south side of Lauriston Place is the old Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. The hospital has been relocated to the suburban area recently called the South East Wedge, specifically Little France. The residents of this tenement will have an excellent view of the transformation from hospital to luxury housing.

Although only a week or two had elapsed since the hospital had been closed, there were already signs of urban decay here. Now the entire complex has a security fence round it.

The same part of the building viewed from a different angle. Some of the modern extensions to the original building have spoilt its appearance and will probably be removed.

The deserted entrance to the former Accident and Emergency wards. My daughter Linda was one of the last people to be treated there after running for a bus after work and getting knocked down by a car. Many Edinburgh citizens will have intense memories of this place, especially those who were sober.

This quaint little building is almost totally obscured by vegetation. Photographed through the railings beside the bus stop near the top of Middle Meadow Walk.

How the site looked on 14 July 2004. Photo taken from the west gate in Lauriston Place looking past Archibald Place and Lauriston Terrace (on the right) towards the rear of Chalmers Street, with the spire of Barclay Church in the distance.

The Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion can be seen over the rubble.

A nice array of potted plants adorns this basement stairway beside a pawnbroker's shop at the corner of Lauriston Street. A 27 bus coming up the hill from Tollcross is heading towards the red sandstone building of the Art College.

Passing by again in May 2015 I took this picture with a new camera holding the camera level so there wouldn't be any converging verticals.

Chalmers Street forms the western boundary of the Royal Infirmary area currently being redeveloped for luxury homes. Being ringfenced hasn't stopped stones being thrown at the windows.

Until the development is complete the scene resembles a scene from Half Life 2.

There's changes at the top of the street at Lauriston Place in April 2010. It very much looks like the shell of this building next to the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion is being preserved.

My doormat was feloniously appropriated along with these other ones from Edinburgh stairs. If your doormat went walkabout, then blame Kevin Harman who has formed this alleged work of art at Edinburgh Art College.

At the end of August 2008 some of the blue barriers have been removed and there's now access to the site. The views from the glassy towers should be better than the views of them. Homes here won't be cheap; that's for sure.

23rd of June 2009. More access now available to browse round - although some areas are off limits. The stunning views referred to wil be over the Meadows park to the south and over the Royal Mile to the north.

Meantime some of the views from street level are more strange than stunning.

Blue skies and the tenements of Lauriston Terrace are reflected in the glass panels of this new building.

An odd assortment of surfaces and textures.

This is a photograph despite having the appearance of being rendered by a computer.

Are employees encouraged to climb on the wallbars for exercise or group-bonding activities? Maybe the bars can be electrified to motivate (or terminate) underperforming individuals...

Hopefully they're not going to rip out the internal stairway and rearrange the windows like they did with the brick building at Fountainbridge.

A closer look at the lower 6 windows. Now that most of the new buildings are completed, it should be possible to renovate the older ones that are being retained as part of the grand design.

A recognisable landmark, it stands in the quadrangle at the NHS building which houses several clinics at 39 Lauriston Place (between the art college and Heriot's school).

Nightingale Way. Pure Gym have their premises in the glass building. Lauriston Place is just up the slope.

The practice of covering up buildings under renovation with huge photographs of themselves is increasing. The end result can look quite strange.

The practice of covering up buildings under renovation with huge photographs of themselves is increasing. The end result can look quite strange.

A close-up view of the top left of the building taken later in 2012.

A few of the homes in Quartermile are occupied but the investors in the project would obviously prefer to see spaces like these teeming with people.

As might be expected, there are 'retail & restaurant opportunities available now' in April 2010.

One day the fences and hoardings will be gone and this will hopefully be a thriving community. Some parts such as Pure Gym and shops and coffee bars at Middle Meadow Walk are already busy. There is still a lot of development work under way.

Reflected light and shadows beside the entrance to Pure Gym.

Nightingale Way off Lauriston Place has this partly empty building (June 2010). Pure Gym have their premises here but this section is empty apart from one or two strange objects including a cathode ray tube

The same steps as in Quartermile 03 but seen from the top looking down.

On the east side of Chalmers Street there's renewed activity and much mud. This is the view south towards The Meadows mid-March 2011.

Interesting accomodation near the top end of Chalmers Street. The terraced balconies should be popular with fine views over the Meadows.

Dramatic lighting on the morning of Feburary 1st caused me to take another photograph. When this is occupied local shops should prosper.

Google Earth is wonderful but Google Maps is great fun too. When you zoom in it defaults to this sort of view. It's fascinating to wander around Edinburgh, hovering a few hundred feet up.

July 2013 and it's now apparent that the building pictured above is called Wharton Square. The rubbish skips are immaculate and neatly arranged. They won't always look like this...

These grey panels are popular for new buildings right now.

The ideal spot for attention-seeking toddlers to get an audience.

Looking down Chalmers Street towards The Meadows.

Bendy buildings abound. Pentax K7 with 10-17mm fisheye lens.

When these places are new, they look like they've been rendered by a computer.

A view of Quartermile from Bruntsfield Links. December 2012.

How it looks from The Meadows in winter sunshine. North Meadow Walk runs across the foot of the picture. Its tarmac surface is now smooth and wide!

Zoomed in for a closer look at the workers on their platform.

Just off Middle Meadow Walk, the view west past Peter's Yard.

Looking north towards the old Royal Infirmary clock tower.

Closer up to the building showing reflections.

Porters Walk - and so should cyclists according to the sign.

A fisheye view of one of Quartermile's refurbished buildings.

Crazy plumbing on an old building beside Nightingale Way.

At the corner of Lothian Street and Brighton Street the hanging flower baskets look good despite the paintjob in waiting. The presence of the man on the ladder indicates work in progress.

Some of the flats in this block have tiered verandas or balconies.

At the top of the hill leading up from Tollcross stands this fine old red sandstone building which accomodates the Museum of Fire. The working fire station is in West Tollcross near the foot of Lauriston Place.

Zoomed in here to show some detail of the building.

This commerative plaque states that the building was formally opened by the Lord Provost on 7th June 1900.

Doors Open Day September 2009 gave me the opportunity to grab a few snaps of the Lothian and Borders Fire Brigade Museum.

Not a fire engine obviously but a beatifully preserved vintage Austin car.

This Leyland Light Six vehicle dates from 1936. Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service is the oldest municipal fire brigade in the UK. It was formed in 1824 following a series of disatrous fires. More information available from the official MUSEUM of FIRE guide (download or browse the PDF).

Under the hood of one of the fire engines.

This piece of plumbing really means business. Shiny red paint, polished brass and big hexagonal bolts holding it all together.

The inhabitants of Musselburgh on Edinburgh's eastern edge once depended on this vehicle to bring help.

A second shot of the Musselburgh vehicle showing more detail of the passenger side and gold lettering.

JUMP SHEET - James Braidwood first invented jump sheets during his time in The London Fire Brigade (1832-1861). They were made of canvas and had a minimum of twelve hand holes, one for each fireman. Anyone having to escape a building would, as a last resort, leap into its centre. Fortunately this practice is no longer used because of the dangers involved.

The brass plate tells us that the patent Merryweather Steam Fire Engine was awarded First Grand Prize.

Opposite the fire station at the top of Lady Lawson Street is the Novotel Hotel This is what used to be there before. In the picture it's getting demolished in June 2001.

The concrete monstrosity is flattened leaving a hole in the ground and a temporary view of Edinburgh Castle from Lauriston Place. The green crane was erecting a 'speculative' building which later became the library of Edinburgh College of Art. February 2002.