Boswall Drive, photographed soon after the houses were built in the early 1920s

Boswall Drive

Two Views

The two views look to the north along Boswall Drive from a point close to the railway bridge. In both views there is little traffic to be seen.

In the top picture, houses can be seen along the western side of Boswell Drive and the bowling club clubhouse can be seen in the distance on the right. All these buildings are still standing but most are now hidden behind trees.

In the foreground on the left is the junction with Boswall Avenue. The houses closest on the left in both photos are 14 and 16 Boswall Drive.
Nos 10 and 12 are actually on the corner of the street but out of the picture.

History

The Boswall estate was built at the start of the 1920s. Boswall Drive and most other roads on the estate were given their names in November 1921. [History and Derivation of Edinburgh Street Names: Edinburgh Corporation City Engineers Dept, 1975]

This photo seems likely to have been taken shortly after the houses were built. At first glance it appears that none of the houses on the right-hand side of the road have yet been built, but they are well set back from the road, so perhaps some have been built and are out of the picture.

This scene looks rather bare. The trees and hedges that now line the road have still to be planted and the road is covered in slushy snow, but there seem to be plenty of people willing to pose for the photographer.

The attractive gas lamp posts were replaced many years ago by taller lamp posts for electric lights, and a not-very-attractive 'box on pole' for use as storage by postmen was installed near the Boswall Avenue corner more recently.

The Postcard

The publisher of this postcard and the photographer are not named, and the card has not been sent through the post. There were also other cards in and around the district in this series, including one of Fraser Avenue:

Fraser Avenue