Cairngorm House and Grampian House under construction, 1962

Cairngorm House and Grampian House

Location

Thank you to Drew, Shortel for allowing me to reproduce the photograph above of Cairngorm House and Grampian House, together known as Leith Fort Towers. This photo was taken in 1962 when the towers were under construction.

Cairngorm House and Grampian House were situated in Lindsay Road, across the road from Caledonian Railway's Leith North Station, about half a mile to the east of Newhaven Harbour.

This view is taken from the south, looking towards the towers, with Leith Harbour beyond. Cairngorm House is on the right.

1962-1997

The towers, were each 59 meters high with 22 floors, were completed in 1962-63 and used until the residents were re-housed in the early 1990s. The towers were demolished in 1997 and have now been replaced by apartments, 7 storeys high.

Drew tells me that he used the same camera to photograph the towers being built and being demolished!

1962-1997

Here is a later view of Cairngorm House and Grampian House.

This photo was taken from the top floor of Fort House. I don' know the year of the photo:

Cairngorm House and Grampian House

Recollections

Miles Cumming, who used to live in Cairngorm House, tells me he heard that Cairngorm House and Grampian House were meant to be facing onto the main road, i.e. that the front rooms were supposed to be facing north towards the Firth of Forth, but construction was already underway before somebody twigged!

Miles does not know whether this was just a local story or whether it is true!

Miles Cumming, Edinburgh: May 27, 2007