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Edinburgh in the 1950s: Ten Years that Changed a City Paperback – Illustrated, 15 April 2014

by Jack Gillon (Author), David McLean (Author), Fraser Parkinson (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars 54 ratings
on any 4 Qualifying items | Terms
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EDINBURGH in the 1950s was a very different place. After the ravages of war, the International Festival and Military Tattoo was introduced as an antidote to post-war austerity, the new Civic Survey and Plan put forward grandiose recommendations for change, and a new young Queen visited the city. This was a time when slum housing was a blight on many people's lives, but there was a real sense of community that was ultimately lost in the move to sparkling, modern homes in the new housing estates. People continued to use the trams to travel to work in the many factories or make trips to Portobello for a day of fun, but they were slowly usurped by the car. It was a glory period for the local football teams, and nights spent dancing or at the pictures were a weekly event. There was still the horse-drawn milk float and children played in streets that were lit by gas. Beautifully illustrated with many previously unpublished photographs, Edinburgh in the 1950s provides an exceptional insight into a time now acknowledged as the end of an era in Edinburgh - for good and for bad.
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  1. Print length
    96 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Amberley Publishing
  4. Publication date
    15 April 2014
  5. Dimensions
    16.51 x 0.76 x 23.39 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    1445637553
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1445637556
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Product description

About the Author

Jack Gillon is a long term resident of Edinburgh and has worked as a Town Planner involved in the conservation of the city’s heritage of historic buildings for around thirty years and has an extensive knowledge of the city's history and architecture. He writes extensively on the historical heritage of Scotland and has had several books published by Amberley.

David McLean along with Fraser Parkinson run the hugely popular 'Lost Edinburgh' Facebook page which has over 80,000 followers.

Fraser Parkinson is a local author who runs the hugely popular 'Spirit of Leithers' page on Facebook which traces the social and architectural history of Leith through old images.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Amberley Publishing; Illustrated edition (15 April 2014)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 96 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1445637553
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1445637556
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 16.51 x 0.76 x 23.39 cm
  • Customer reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 54 ratings

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
54 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy the nostalgic photos and images in this book. They find it a pleasant journey through the past, with pictures that capture the essence of 1950s life in Edinburgh.

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5 customers mention ‘Nostalgia’5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the nostalgia in the book. They find the pictures capture the essence of the period and are a great snapshot of 1950s life in Edinburgh.

"...appealing chapter is that devoted to childhood - an enjoyable jaunt through days gone by, when it was normal to play out in the street for hours on..." Read more

"...The book also incorporates a great set of pictures which capture the essence of the period, but for the slums I would have liked to have been around..." Read more

"...This wee book brought many memories flooding back in wave upon wave. Pure nostalgia...." Read more

"...Grew up in South side in 50s and 60s, so brings back great memories of that time." Read more

4 customers mention ‘Pictures’4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the pictures in the book. They find them great and delightful, with images of Princes Street decorated for an early festival.

"...to live in the city during this decade, and the book is richly illustrated with archive photographs, many of which are published for the first time...." Read more

"Bought as a gift for the mother in law. And she loved is. Sure rare unique photos she'd.not seen" Read more

"...The book also incorporates a great set of pictures which capture the essence of the period, but for the slums I would have liked to have been around..." Read more

"a great book well written great pictures would love a hard back copy of this lovely book thank you" Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • ashes
    5.0 out of 5 stars My mother got plenty of gifts but this she loved.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 January 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This is a book filled with all the places in Edinburgh that you might have forgotten. My mum and dad both really enjoyed this Xmas present.
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  • Rab Currie
    4.0 out of 5 stars great read untill the sports page " bauld the greatest ...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 January 2016
    Verified Purchase
    great read untill the sports page " bauld the greatest player to play for hibernian" he played for hearts, poor editing or research
    One person found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars This is an enjoyable and evocative read, sure to appeal to anyone with an interest in Edinburgh's fascinating past within living
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 June 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Review from Celebrate Scotland web site: "Edinburgh in the 1950s was a very different place to the city we know today. This was an era when slum housing was still a blight on the city, trams were in everyday use for work or pleasure trips, and nights spent at the pictures or a dance were a weekly treat.

    'Edinburgh in the 1950s' explores what it was like to live in the city during this decade, and the book is richly illustrated with archive photographs, many of which are published for the first time. We see locals enjoying the delights of Portobello Pool, where the young Sean Connery did shifts as a lifeguard. And this decade saw the beginnings of Edinburgh's reputation as a festival venue, with delightful images of Princes Street decorated for an early festival, and early memorabilia from the Edinburgh Tattoo.

    Whether you grew up in Edinburgh, or enjoyed visits over the years, there's sure to be something to interest you here. The themed chapters cover topics including childhood, transport, days out, shopping and markets. Although Edinburgh is now a huge and thriving city, it's not really so long ago that its fishing heritage was very apparent; the sight of Newhaven fishwives walking to sell their fish at market was a common one; and Edinburgh's last 'fish wife' finally gave up her creel as late as 1976, at the age of eighty.

    Perhaps the most appealing chapter is that devoted to childhood - an enjoyable jaunt through days gone by, when it was normal to play out in the street for hours on end, with little risk from traffic. There were even specially designated playstreets, where children could enjoy their games uninterrupted by traffic, which was banned from 4pm until sunset. Also recalled is the old tradition of building bonfires in the streets of the Old Town on 25 May and 5 November. Any unwanted chairs, tables or waste wood was piled high in anticipation of the big day, until such revels were banned by the Corporation in 1961.

    This is an enjoyable and evocative read, sure to appeal to anyone with an interest in Edinburgh's fascinating past within living memory."

    https://www.celebrate-scotland.co.uk/News-and-Features/1473-3/Book_Reviews/Book_review_-_Edinburgh_in_the_1950s_Ten_Years_That_Changed_a_City/
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Jordan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent present
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 January 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Bought as a gift for the mother in law. And she loved is. Sure rare unique photos she'd.not seen
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  • Daniel Scullion
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great snapshot of 50s life in Edinburgh
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 October 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Found this book a great read and learned about the social and economic conditions of the Edinburgh of the 1950s.

    The book also incorporates a great set of pictures which capture the essence of the period, but for the slums I would have liked to have been around then to soak up the atmosphere.

    Highly recommend this as a purchase.
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  • C. Pitbladdo
    3.0 out of 5 stars A quick, easy read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 February 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Lots of interesting facts are to be found in this book. Although, with almost every paragraph, I was left wanting to know more. The book also lacked first-hand testimony from the people who lived and breathed what was a time of huge change for the city. That left it feeling like a rather cold read.
    I paid less than a fiver for the kindle version, and I felt that represented good value. The £11 asking price for the print edition is, I feel, a little steep.
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  • Fife Flyer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Seems like a different world now
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 June 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Have not quite finished it yet but it brought to mind a lot of forgotten stuff, like standing with the rest of our school at the foot of the Mound after the coronation to see the queen go past .We stood for hours but at least got a good view. There was also an air raid shelter in the back green that we used to dare each other to go in a by that time it was dark and damp and liable to collapse.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Ronnie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Easily recommended to lovers of this ancient town
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 June 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I am an Edinburgh "lad", now in his 60's and living in southern England. This wee book brought many memories flooding back in wave upon wave. Pure nostalgia. Also, some wee nuggets I hadn't known about my much loved hometown. Near the end of it, I was filled with such homesickness, or to quote from Muriel Spark's novel, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, ..."and I was filled with such a longing".
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Gwynne Hayton
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on 30 May 2015
    Verified Purchase
    excellent
    Report
  • Isabel King
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great remember so Much! Trip down memory lane for sure
    Reviewed in Australia on 15 July 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I really did Enjoy it A Great Deal happened in that 10 yrs and I was part of It !
    Report