H Mural Trail

What are the signs of gentrification? Coffee shops? Direct action? Murals? Community Gardens? Yarn-bombing? Bunting?  We don't know, but we heart wandering around and spotting signs of change. 

This trail will take about 30 minutes to walk this 1.4m trail – and you will be rewarded by official and unofficial street art along the way and a cuppa at the end:

Halmyre Street Mural

11 Halmyre St, Edinburgh EH6 8QA

The mural, coordinated by local art project, Leith Late, features the SS Explorer, the last steam ship to be registered in Leith and now one of the last surviving steam powered trawlers in the world.

Artists include Rabiya Choudhry, Fraser Douglas, DUFI, Fraser Gray, Martin McGuinness and Skint Richie.

Henderson Street Mural

77 Henderson Street, Edinburgh EH6 6ED

Russell Ian Dempster's bold homage to the Leith-born Eduardo Paolozzi on a derelict shop front.

Haven Mural

9 Anchorfield, Edinburgh EH6 4JG

0131 467 7513

havencafe.co.uk

With it's vintage mirrors and comfy armchairs, the Haven Cafe has the feel of a old-fashioned tea room. The real surprise however is Michael Clark's mural on the exterior wall featuring teapot, roses and a gramophone.

Ramsay Cornish lane sale auction

As well as traditional and specialist auctions, Ramsay Cornish hold cash only 'Lane Sales' on Thursdays at 11am. You can view the items from 9.30am on the day of the sale. It's more flea market than antique but that's half the fun.

15-17 Jane Street, Edinburgh EH6 5HE

0131 553 7000

info@ramsaycornish.com

ramsaycornish.com

@CornishRamsay

Queen Charlotte Street Figurehead

63 Queen Charlotte Street, Edinburgh EH6 7EY.

A female figurehead protrudes from the wall of what is now an architect's office.

At the other end of Queen Charlotte Street, where it meets Water Street, look up to the first floor where you will a curious Blue Coupons ghost sign “All wise ladies collect blue coupons”.

Constitution Street

@Constitution_St


What's not to love about a street that tweets?

Look out for the following quirky features in Constitution Street:

7-27 - Dalton Scrapyard – the walls which enclose it are 17th century – look for a lintel inscribed with three anchors.

29 - former Corn Exchange – the building has a frieze showing drunken cherubs loading corn onto ships.

36-42 – 18th century houses – these houses pre-date the building of the road which means...the once ground floor rooms are now in the basement!

58 - Port O Leith Pub – a.k.a. “The Sunshine Bar” in Trainspotting.

63 – at the entrance to this private residence can be seen faded lettering 'C J Turcan & Co' who traded in esparto, a perennial grass of north Africa and southern Europe, used to make paper and cord.

104 - boarded up windows have been brightened up with wooden faces by artist Bernie Reid. You can see examples of Bernie's work in Habitat, i-D Magazine and...Albert Place (see “After hours”)!

Beldam Lascar Packings shop front

In 1876, marine engineer, Asplan Beldam invented a seal (“packing”) to stop the steam escaping on ships in order to make them go faster. He went on to form the Beldam Packing and Rubber Company, London, and continued with his inventions which included including semi-metallic packings, metallic rings for high-pressures, and corrugated metallic valves for air and circulating pumps.

But what of 'Lascar'? It comes from the Arabic 'Al-Ashkar' meaning ‘sailor from East India’ but t was used as shorthand for any non-European serving on a British vessel. The Lascars were the first British Asians, and despite their invaluable role, were treated dreadfully, receiving pitiful wages and and made to endure conditions not unlike slavery.

The Beldam Group expanded and there would have been Beldam branches and agents in all important ports throughout the world including this one, although it has been closed for a very long time.

Judging by the old lettering still visible, this must have been a busy area in the past – look above the shop and you can see the “Restaurant” Ghost Sign. To the left, you can see the Blue Coupons ghost sign and the “50/ Trousers” advert (“Celebrated for 50/- Suits and Trousers" ).



5 Queen Charlotte Street, Edinburgh EH6 6BA