Edinburgh General
This is the story of a remarkable survivor. The building in Edinburgh shown here - three windows wide and of dark coloured stone material - is located on the north east corner of the junction of Market Street and Waverley Bridge. Today it is a ticket office for sightseeing buses. The building was not here originally. It was the southern wing of the 1846 booking office, located by Waverley Bridge, of Edinburgh General station (also known as North Bridge and now Edinburgh Waverley). In 1873 the masonry Waverley Bridge was replaced by one built in metal and the cab rank, portico and centre section of the booking office, which had been located on a bridge over the through lines, were demolished. But the north and south wings survived as they did not stand on the bridge. In the 1877 the southern wing was removed during station remodelling and the replacement of the trainshed. However, it was rebuilt under the instructions of Robert Morham (the City Architect of Edinburgh) at this present location. It was reduced slightly in size and turned through 90 degrees. The northern elevation shows the window design of the booking office in the original form. And what of the northern wing? In the 1890s reconstruction the northern wing - the last remaining part of the booking office still on site - was demolished as contemporary photographs show. The building on the bridge today is a parcel office erected during the 1890s station reconstruction. It may incorporate some stone from the booking office but is of a different design (see image 6394). The former south wing has had additional facades added on its south and west elevations but the north side, in the photograph, is unaltered. The suburban platform is off to the left and the photograph is taken from Waverley Bridge.
Location: Edinburgh General
Original line: North British Railway
Photographer: Ewan Crawford Collection
Contact photographer: Ewan Crawford Collection
Date: 15/05/2021
Image number: 76715
