Enlargement of GW Wilson stereo card - Waverley Bridge and Old Town from Princes Street, including the arches of Waverley Bridge

Waverley Bridge, Canal Street Station and Edinburgh Old Town from Princes Street

Waverley Bridge and Edinburgh Old Town from Princes Street

Looking South-East

Both the views above look in almost the same direction, to the south-east from one of the upper floors in the buildings on the north side of Princes Street, almost opposite the Scott Monument.

The low building in the centre of the picture is beside the ramp that leads down from Waverley Bridge to Waverley Railway Station.

The Old Town of Edinburgh is in the background. On a clear day, Arthur's Seat in Holyrood Park would be visible beyond the Old Town.

Comparison of Views 1 and 2

These views, both numbered 118 in G W Wilson's stereo series, are taken from different negatives.

View 1 appears to be the earlier negative, probably around 1860.

View 2 is possibly a year or two later. I have arrived at these dates by looking beyond Waverley Bridge.

In these views:

- the area at the southern end of Waverley Bridge (beyond the 2 arches) has been cleared to allow building work to commence on the new Lord Cockburn Street (now known as Cockburn Street.) The building of this street commenced around 1859.

- the street was to swing round to the left and head up the hill towards the Tron Kirk in the Edinburgh Royal Mile, seen on the skyline of both views.

- three buildings on the route that Lord Cockburn Street was to take appear to be still standing in View 1 but to have been demolished in View 2. They are the tall building with the white gable-end and the buildings on either side of it.

The Edinburgh & Leith Post Office Directories give an indication of the progress of Lord Cockburn Street

Edinburgh & Leith Post Office Directories
Edition	Street Name	Directory lists ...
1860-61	Lord Cockburn Street	1 building (not numbered) Cumming, Thos & Son
1861-62	Lord Cockburn Street	8 buildings (not numbered)
1862-63	Lord Cockburn Street	26 buildings (one numbered 28)
1863-64	Cockburn Street	48 buildings (all numbered)

Question

If you have any more accurate information or comments on the dating of the stereo views above, please e-mail me. Thank you.

Reply

Thank you to Patrick Hutton, Edinburgh, for sending me the following comments.