On this day in history. The Maiden: The first recorded execution by a guillotine-like device occurred on April 3, 1565, and it remained in use until 1710. #scottishhistory #localhistory #themaiden #scottishexecutions #16thcentury #edinburghhistory
Well done to winner, Anna Comrie, for her essay: Ice Skating in Edinburgh, and to runner-up, Jennifer Findlay: John Knox’s Grave Markers, in the William Anderson Memorial Prize competition. Another OEC collaboration with Edinburgh Central Library. #essaycompetition #edinburghhistory
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The latest edition of the Book of the Old Edinburgh Club, our annual journal for members, is out now. Check out what this edition has to offer on our website. #edinburghhistory #annualjournal #oldedinburgh #joinus #localhistory
If you are passionate about heritage, Edinburgh’s history, or have experience in the development sector, I’d love to connect. Let’s bring Gilmerton Cove back!
#GilmertonCove #EdinburghHistory #HeritageRestoration #NewRole #Fundraising #CommunityLed #ScotlandTourism
In the spring edition of the Scottish Local History Forum magazine, you'll find a full story about the OEC Jean Guild Grant programme and the projects and research it has funded. #jeanguildgrants #parliamentsquare #edinburghhistory #history #stgilescathedral #grants #research buff.ly/pT4uzn1
A reminder of a visit to St Triduana's Chapel, Restalrig in 2025, with Jill Harrison for her project, Reviving the Trinity Stones, funded by an OEC Jean Guild Grant. #sttriduanaschapel #restalrig #revivingthetrinitystones #grants #edinburghhistory
Good news from Edinburgh City Council Archives: The Archives search room reopened on 20th January by appointment only, from Tuesday to Thursday, 10am - 4:30 pm. More info on their website buff.ly/mgz7Xl6
#edinburgharchives #edinburghhistory
A new booklet celebrating the history of housing provision for veterans in Edinburgh has been published, funded by a Jean Guild Grant from the Old Edinburgh Club. #veteranshousing #edinburghveterans #salvesen #edinburghhistory
Heriot's at 400: A reminder of our first hybrid talk of 2026 on 21st January. Tickets for non-members are still available on Eventbrite. #georgeheriot #walksandtalks #edinburghhistory #history #augustinechurch
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No matter what century someone has looked out of one of our windows, the view of the Royal Mile at sunset will always be amazing. #edinburgh #royalmile #sunset #history #edinburghhistory #scotland #historicbuilsing #johnknoxhouse
A reminder that the closing date for entries to this competition is 31st December 2025. Read all about it on our website and how to enter. #localhistory #essaycompetition #edinburghhistory #williamanderson
The Old Edinburgh Club continues its collaboration with Edinburgh Central Library with the launch of the William Anderson Memorial Prize. Read all about it and how to enter. #lhistorycompetition #edinburghhistory
oldedinburghclub.org.uk/projects/the...
1/2 Details of the Edinburgh, Lothians & Borders Archaeology Conference on the 15th November and how to book a place. The OEC will again be manning a stall at this event during the breakout times. #edinburgharchaeology #edinburghhistory
www.eastlothian.gov.uk/info/210596/...
This is a black-and-white map titled "To His Sacred Majesty, George III. The Magnificent. This Plan of the New Streets and Squares, intended for His ancient Capital of Liberty has People enjoy, under his mild, and auspicious Government, is with the utmost Humility." At the bottom of the map, a seal featuring a unicorn and lion is shown with the words "Circumspice" written above. The map is a street map that includes Queen Street, George Street, Prince's Street, Frederick Street, Hanover Street, and Castle Street. It also shows St. George's Square, and St. Andrew's Square, along with Clelland's. The map includes Leith Street and Caltous Hill. A note on the right side of the map shows the scale: "George Street is 100 feet in breadth, 177 feet for a Causeway and 80 feet on each side for a Foot Path. Queen Street, Prince Street, Frederick Street, Hanover Street, and Castle Street are 80 feet in breadth 11, 60 Foot for a Causeway, and 10 Feet on race side, for a Foot path." On the bottom right corner it notes that "Patron of Every Polite and Liberal North Britain; One of the happy Consequences of the Peace, Security, and Inscribed By- His Majesty's Most devoted Servant and Subject - James Craig."
🪬🧿 1768 James Craig Map of New Town, Edinburgh, Scotland (First Plan of New Town) #HistoricalMaps #EdinburghHistory #scotland #MapsofScotland #edinburgh
This is a vintage, black-and-white map titled "Plan of Arthur's Seat (The Sanctuary of Holyrood)." The map depicts an area with a prominent, multi-layered hill labeled "Arthur's Seat" at the bottom center, which ascends to "Crow Hill" and finally reaches "Whinny Hill" towards the top. Contour lines densely populate the map, illustrating the topography of the hills and surrounding landscape. Key locations around the central hill include "Holyrood Palace" in the upper-left, adjacent to "Queen's Stables" and a "Cricket Ground." To the right of the palace, the text "Queens Park" is visible. The area marked "Sanctuary of Holyrood" encompasses the majority of the hilly region. At the bottom-right, "Duddingston Loch" is depicted, with the adjacent "Duddingston Church" and the name of the area, "Duddingston." Other notable landmarks include "St. Margaret's Loch," "St. Anthony's Chapel (Ruins)," and "St. Anthony's Well" on the upper part of the hill. The lower-left area features "Park Brewery" and "Arthursley," along with several street names. Text annotations such as "Hunters Bog," "Echoing Rock," and "Nether Hill or Lions Haunch" identify specific locations within the mapped area. The map also illustrates the paths and routes, including "The Queen's Drive" winding around the hill and "St. Leonard's Branch (North British Railway)" indicating transportation routes.
🪬🧿 Oh, I love these old maps of Edinburgh! #edinburgh #scotland #map #oldmap #history #edinburghhistory
Did you know Burke and Hare weren’t actually grave robbers? They murdered people and sold the bodies. But here’s the part history usually skips: their wives knew more than they let on.
That eerie gap is where my novel began.
Mrs Burke and Mrs Hare is out now
#Edinburghhistory #BurkeandHare
Do you know any history of pierrots in Portobello, popular seaside entertainers from Edwardian times to WWII? We've published some of what we know and would love to find out more. #LostEdinburgh #EdinburghPastandPresent #EdinburghLiveNostalgia #EdinburghHistory #Ed900
Lauriston Castle Series
The Reids did love artworks.
Long and quiet — like it remembers everyone who ever walked through.
Time doesn’t echo here. It lingers.
#lauristoncastle #anarisvisuals #historichomes #visualpoetry #storyinstone #edinbrugh #edinburghhistory
"Unexpected consequences when Kings hunt" is the theme of a new blog on our website by John Amoore, with brilliant images!
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#edinburghlibraries #edinburgharchives #canongate #edinburghhistory #mercatcross #holyrood #holycross #coatofarms #KingDavid #patronsaint #saintgiles
Another wonderful update from Robert Sproul-Cran on the progress of his project with the aid of a Jean Guild Grant from the OEC. #scottishparliament #parliamentsquare #parliamenthall #edinburghhistory #stgiles #edinburghluckenbooths #edinburghmaps
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Announcing another one of our great projects available now online! We've made it easier to find content in the #BookoftheOldEdinburghClub & have released over 60 articles never published online before.#booksandresearch #edinresearch #edinburghhistory #edinburghclubs Check it out at buff.ly/1O5UPVa
Our Bibliography of Edinburgh History has recently been updated adding 156 new entries, featuring for the first time Archaeological reports, from GUARD & others. #edinburghhistory #bibliography #archaeology #societyofantiquaries. Check out our website to see the full catalogue. buff.ly/fVC6aFh
News from the City Archives of a closure period this year. Last day for public visits will be 27th June and then closed thereafter for all of 2025. News item posted from Facebook. #edinburgharchives #edinburghhistory #edinburghresearch
A warm-toned courtyard view of Riddle’s Court in Edinburgh, showcasing its historic architecture. A gently curved, wooden external staircase leads to a second-floor doorway under a small overhang. The building’s textured sandstone walls, green-framed windows, and exposed piping add to its character and preserved medieval charm. The sunlight highlights the earthy colors and architectural details, while shadows create depth and mood in this tucked-away gem of Edinburgh’s Old Town.
Riddle’s Court, Edinburgh
#edinburgh #EdinburghHistory #scotland #scotlandtravel #scotlandexplore #adventuretravel 🪬🧿
A dramatic view of the rear entrance to St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland. The arched stone doorway is framed by intricate Gothic architecture and shadowed stone steps leading up to a large wooden door adorned with ornate black wrought iron designs. Above the arch, a carved stone relief adds detail to the weathered sandstone facade, partially illuminated by soft daylight and framed by shadows.
Backdoors of St Giles Cathedral
#StGilesCathedral #EdinburghHistory #GothicArchitecture #ScotlandExplored #Edinburgh #HistoricScotland #Stonework #Scotland #MedievalVibes #UrbanWanderer #ArchitectureLovers #Travel #MysteriousDoors #CityOfStories 🪬🧿
One of our newest Jean Guild Grant Awardee, Morningside Heritage Association wants to tell everyone about their project - so here it is: MORNINGSIDE MASONS AND MEDIEVAL STONES. OEC are delighted to support this project. #morningside #masons #medievalbuildings #edinburghhistory
A historical black-and-white engraving depicting Nor Loch in Edinburgh before it was drained. The scene features a vast body of water stretching beneath a stone bridge, with Calton Hill and its monuments visible in the background. In the foreground, people are engaged in daily activities—washing clothes, tending to livestock, and transporting goods with horse-drawn carts. The image captures the bustling, yet rough and industrial, life of Edinburgh in earlier centuries.
Edinburgh Nor Loch🪬🧿
#EdinburghHistory #scotland #ScottishHistory #LostEdinburgh #HistoricScotland #EdinburghCastle #WitchTrials #ScotlandPast #edinburgh
A historical engraving depicting the execution of the Marquis of Montrose in 1650, showing a scaffold in Edinburgh’s High Street, with Montrose surrounded by soldiers, clergy, and onlookers.
The execution of James Graham, 1st Marquis of Montrose, in Edinburgh’s High Street, 1650.
#ScottishHistory #MarquisOfMontrose #EdinburghHistory #scotland #HistoricScotland #edinburgh 🪬🧿
A 1955 color photograph of Princes Street in Edinburgh, featuring classic cars, tram tracks, and pedestrians crossing the cobbled street. In the background, Calton Hill and the National Monument stand against the skyline.
End of Princes Street, 1955
#EdinburghHistory #PrincesStreet #edinburgh #OldEdinburgh #HistoricScotland #VintagePhotography 🪬🧿
A scenic shot of the ruins of Cammo Estate in Edinburgh, showing a weathered stone doorway standing alone amidst lush greenery. The sky is a mix of blue and clouds, adding to the serene yet mysterious atmosphere.
One of my favorite places to take a walk – the ruins of Cammo Estate. Peaceful, eerie, and full of history.
#CammoEstate #EdinburghHistory #LostPlaces #HiddenScotland #Urban #NatureWalks #edinburgh #Ruins 🪬🧿
