A NEW SITE FOR WALLACE'S ARTHOUSE SCOTLAND

I have been working with a new site (for me ) called "About Scotland". I had an enjoyable visit from one of the partners John Boyd-Brent. He does all the photography for the site. ( Not this photo here.)

Anyway, John studied Fine Art and Photography while living in South Africa and, judging by his work in my place, he knows his onions !!

I am very pleased with the page he has produced and hope his efforts result in attracting more guests to my place.

Have a wee look at the site for About Scotland. It is crammed full of useful information for prospective visitors to Scotland. My page will be posted very soon.

Edinburgh's Modern Athenians

These drawings which I have used in my website and brochure come from a book which was published in Edinburgh as a limited edition in 1882 and is called "Modern Athenians". At this time, Edinburgh saw itself as "The Athens of the North". I think that idea only lasted until the honourable citizens ran out of funds when they were building a replica of the Parthenon on Calton Hill - eventually called "The Disgrace of Scotland" as they only managed to build the front row of columns !!

The drawings were made and etched by a miniature painter, Benjamin W. Crombie. The plates were destroyed after a run of 1040 copies. In all there are about 100 drawings but I only chose a few for my needs. here is what the editors of the book had to tell us about these august guys.

These were drawn around the same period as The Leith Assemlby Rooms were being built in a Greek style.

The Reverend Paul Clason graduated at Glasgow University. He was a son of the manse and became Moderator of the Free Church of Scotland on two separate occasions.Here he is wearing the Moderator's antique court dress. I love the choice of the dusty pink umbrella ! soo a la mode !! He lived finally in 22 George Street and died in 1868.

The man on the left of this pair was born in Edinburgh. His mother was a certain

Marion Shaw so maybe we are related !! He became minister at the Edinburgh Tron Church. He married in 1817 and died in 1866 with not much of note having happened in his life - sic transit Gloria and the Rev. John Hunter !!

The man on the right is Professor Alexander Brunton, a professor of Hebrew and was also chaplain of the Loyal Edinburgh Spearmen. He was quite a learned man and had a speciality for Oriental languages. He was a great source for exotic quotes on tombstones and monumental tablets. He married Mary Balfour, author of such inspiring titles as "Self Control" - "Discipline" and "Emeline". The Rev died in Perthshire at the age of 81. Possibly from boredom with reading his wife's writings !!

This is Robert Hadley who was first listed as a coach proprietor and then as hotel keeper at 10 South St Andrew's Street. It was known as The English Hotel. He is certainly

sportily dressed and was reportedly very good natured. That, however is all there is recorded about Robert.

Here is John Jeffrey Esquire. This man passed the early years of his adult life in New York. He was married there but his wife died soon so that may be why he returned to Edinburgh where he acquired a competancy - whatever that may be ! He also acquired another wife, the daughter of the Professor of Logic at St Andrew's University. This guy was a member of the Friday club - a Whig society for young advocates. He certainly had a kind of flash address at No 2 Charlotte Square !

Places around Leith

This was the place where the casks were made for the lucrative

wine and whisky trade that was here in Leith. In fact, in Leith,

the first blended whisky was invented.

Leith was celebrated as the main port for Edinburgh.

This building is now in domestic use but is still called 'The Cooperage'.

Continuing the idea of trading, this was a store for all kinds of goods being imported. Now it is a wonderful Spanish eaterie called TAPA. It is on the opposite side of the Water of Leith

.

All the trading led to the creation of my building the Leith Exchange and Assembly Rooms as a centre for trading, business meetings and social life and, around the corner, The Bank of Leith was instituted in this attractive bulding. The bank issued its own currency.

This is now a delightful bistro type bar and eating place but previously, I am told, it was a down and dirty drinking den !!

Its is now called 'The Roseleaf'.

At the other end of the scale was this church which was one of the oldest kirks in the Edinburgh area. It is now domestic housing and still a beautiful building beside the Water of Leith.

The Corn Exchange – built in 1861

There is a little ghost story attached to this building which is just across the street from me.
Apparently this place has been through several incarnations. First it was a marketing hall but, at one time was a bar. The owner/publican was a nasty guy who tortured small children. He went broke because the locals protested with a boycott since he was discovered to be keeping a three year old locked in a cupboard. The man hanged himself in the room over the bar.
Nowadays the lights often flicker and a child has been heard crying while the publican’s ghost appears to try to nudge people away from the cupboard and the room where he commited suicide !!