Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵
@threadinburgh.scot
Overlooked tales of Edinburgh, Leith & Scottish local history. Expect the unexpected: people, buildings, transport, maps & occasional attempts to be funny. Stories also published at https://threadinburgh.scot 🐦 ex-Cocteautriplets
Pinned
🗓️ Seeing as we're into the local history societies' talks season, I blew the dust off the Threadinburgh dot Scot events calendar to put my various offerings there.
🤦♂️Somehow I've managed a complete diary car crash of 3 talks in 10 days at the end of this month! threadinburgh.scot/events-calen...
🤦♂️Somehow I've managed a complete diary car crash of 3 talks in 10 days at the end of this month! threadinburgh.scot/events-calen...
Threadinburgh Talks Calendar
Writing about local history inevitably leads to one being invited to talk about local history and I’m fortunate (and always more than a little honour) that local interest and heritage groups …
threadinburgh.scot
🗣️"The Life and Times of Esta Henry: Queen of The High Street". Esta's remarkable story gets an outing again, with updates since last time! ✨
📆 Tuesday 4th Nov
🕡 doors 18:30, start 19:15
⛪ Braid Hall, Morningside Parish Church, 2 Cluny Gardens
🫰 £3 for non-members of Morningside Heritage Association
📆 Tuesday 4th Nov
🕡 doors 18:30, start 19:15
⛪ Braid Hall, Morningside Parish Church, 2 Cluny Gardens
🫰 £3 for non-members of Morningside Heritage Association
Reposted by Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵
It’s important to maintain diversity of architectural styles because Scotland’s social history is caught up in these buildings.
Miles Glendinning described Arygle House as a monument to the Welfare State. That matters.
Miles Glendinning described Arygle House as a monument to the Welfare State. That matters.
November 15, 2025 at 7:00 PM
It’s important to maintain diversity of architectural styles because Scotland’s social history is caught up in these buildings.
Miles Glendinning described Arygle House as a monument to the Welfare State. That matters.
Miles Glendinning described Arygle House as a monument to the Welfare State. That matters.
Reposted by Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵
It’s fine to not love Argyle House.
I cannot stand the Balmoral Hotel, it's a cursed kitsch wedding cake of a building. It doesn’t mean we should knock it down.
I cannot stand the Balmoral Hotel, it's a cursed kitsch wedding cake of a building. It doesn’t mean we should knock it down.
November 15, 2025 at 7:01 PM
It’s fine to not love Argyle House.
I cannot stand the Balmoral Hotel, it's a cursed kitsch wedding cake of a building. It doesn’t mean we should knock it down.
I cannot stand the Balmoral Hotel, it's a cursed kitsch wedding cake of a building. It doesn’t mean we should knock it down.
Reposted by Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵
The thing about architectural conservation is that it’s supposed to transcend the question ‘DO WE LIKE THIS?’.
It’s meant to be about preserving characteristic exemplars of style.
Is there another large exposed aggregate panel building in Scotland? I can’t think of any.
It’s meant to be about preserving characteristic exemplars of style.
Is there another large exposed aggregate panel building in Scotland? I can’t think of any.
In an open letter shared with The Edinburgh Minute, architect Malcolm Fraser, known for his work on the Scottish Poetry Library, Scottish Storytelling Centre, DanceBase and Dovecot Studios, argues against plans to demolish Argyle House: www.edinburghminute.com/three-reason...
November 15, 2025 at 6:57 PM
The thing about architectural conservation is that it’s supposed to transcend the question ‘DO WE LIKE THIS?’.
It’s meant to be about preserving characteristic exemplars of style.
Is there another large exposed aggregate panel building in Scotland? I can’t think of any.
It’s meant to be about preserving characteristic exemplars of style.
Is there another large exposed aggregate panel building in Scotland? I can’t think of any.
Reposted by Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵
In an open letter shared with The Edinburgh Minute, architect Malcolm Fraser, known for his work on the Scottish Poetry Library, Scottish Storytelling Centre, DanceBase and Dovecot Studios, argues against plans to demolish Argyle House: www.edinburghminute.com/three-reason...
November 14, 2025 at 11:34 AM
In an open letter shared with The Edinburgh Minute, architect Malcolm Fraser, known for his work on the Scottish Poetry Library, Scottish Storytelling Centre, DanceBase and Dovecot Studios, argues against plans to demolish Argyle House: www.edinburghminute.com/three-reason...
Reposted by Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵
The thread about Argyle House; “preposterously large and a potential rival to the Castle rock”
Brutalist buildings are the Marmite of architecture - passionately loved or loathed - and one in Edinburgh was much in the news yesterday when it was announced that plans had been lodged for the…
Brutalist buildings are the Marmite of architecture - passionately loved or loathed - and one in Edinburgh was much in the news yesterday when it was announced that plans had been lodged for the…
The thread about Argyle House; “preposterously large and a potential rival to the Castle rock”
Brutalist buildings are the Marmite of architecture - passionately loved or loathed - and one in Edinburgh was much in the news yesterday when it was announced that plans had been lodged for the demolition and replacement of Argyle House. But while other news sources make much click capital out of it having briefly appeared in some Netflix police show or another, here at Threadinburgh I prefer to get down to the nitty-gritty of the how, why and what of this much critiqued building. And just what it has to do with the Lyceum Theatre, Dalgety Bay and the Water of Leith Walkway...
threadinburgh.scot
November 13, 2025 at 6:46 AM
The thread about Argyle House; “preposterously large and a potential rival to the Castle rock”
Brutalist buildings are the Marmite of architecture - passionately loved or loathed - and one in Edinburgh was much in the news yesterday when it was announced that plans had been lodged for the…
Brutalist buildings are the Marmite of architecture - passionately loved or loathed - and one in Edinburgh was much in the news yesterday when it was announced that plans had been lodged for the…
Reposted by Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵
#Edinburgh Weather Warning: @wolct.bsky.social Water of Leith path is currently flooded out:
• Roseburn Cliff > Coltbridge Viaduct
• Damhead Weir > Dean Village Footbridge
Also, fallen tree balanced over the path at base of Coatbridge Viaduct; pathway useable but take care.
#EdTravCyc
• Roseburn Cliff > Coltbridge Viaduct
• Damhead Weir > Dean Village Footbridge
Also, fallen tree balanced over the path at base of Coatbridge Viaduct; pathway useable but take care.
#EdTravCyc
Quite a spike on the river levels already and plenty more rain due today.
waterlevels.sepa.org.uk/Station/14868
waterlevels.sepa.org.uk/Station/14868
November 13, 2025 at 1:57 PM
#Edinburgh Weather Warning: @wolct.bsky.social Water of Leith path is currently flooded out:
• Roseburn Cliff > Coltbridge Viaduct
• Damhead Weir > Dean Village Footbridge
Also, fallen tree balanced over the path at base of Coatbridge Viaduct; pathway useable but take care.
#EdTravCyc
• Roseburn Cliff > Coltbridge Viaduct
• Damhead Weir > Dean Village Footbridge
Also, fallen tree balanced over the path at base of Coatbridge Viaduct; pathway useable but take care.
#EdTravCyc
Reposted by Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵
After ‘the brew’ moved out, the Castle Terrace section, the not so ugly bit, was used as Edinburgh Sheriff Court annex in the 1980’s for jury trials. I was on court duties and saw the first use of cctv evidence in Scotland. The senior PF made a meal of it and bored the jury into submission. /
November 13, 2025 at 8:50 AM
After ‘the brew’ moved out, the Castle Terrace section, the not so ugly bit, was used as Edinburgh Sheriff Court annex in the 1980’s for jury trials. I was on court duties and saw the first use of cctv evidence in Scotland. The senior PF made a meal of it and bored the jury into submission. /
Reposted by Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵
#architecture #buildings #LocalHistory #Edinburgh #Brutalism #Modernism
Argyle House should be refurbished, not demolished. Think of the embodied carbon. The issue is not what it looks like. It is a question of sustainable resource management.
Argyle House should be refurbished, not demolished. Think of the embodied carbon. The issue is not what it looks like. It is a question of sustainable resource management.
The thread about Argyle House; “preposterously large and a potential rival to the Castle rock”
Brutalist buildings are the Marmite of architecture - passionately loved or loathed - and one in Edinburgh was much in the news yesterday when it was announced that plans had been lodged for the…
Brutalist buildings are the Marmite of architecture - passionately loved or loathed - and one in Edinburgh was much in the news yesterday when it was announced that plans had been lodged for the…
The thread about Argyle House; “preposterously large and a potential rival to the Castle rock”
Brutalist buildings are the Marmite of architecture - passionately loved or loathed - and one in Edinburgh was much in the news yesterday when it was announced that plans had been lodged for the demolition and replacement of Argyle House. But while other news sources make much click capital out of it having briefly appeared in some Netflix police show or another, here at Threadinburgh I prefer to get down to the nitty-gritty of the how, why and what of this much critiqued building. And just what it has to do with the Lyceum Theatre, Dalgety Bay and the Water of Leith Walkway...
threadinburgh.scot
November 13, 2025 at 8:31 AM
#architecture #buildings #LocalHistory #Edinburgh #Brutalism #Modernism
Argyle House should be refurbished, not demolished. Think of the embodied carbon. The issue is not what it looks like. It is a question of sustainable resource management.
Argyle House should be refurbished, not demolished. Think of the embodied carbon. The issue is not what it looks like. It is a question of sustainable resource management.
The thread about Argyle House; “preposterously large and a potential rival to the Castle rock”
Brutalist buildings are the Marmite of architecture - passionately loved or loathed - and one in Edinburgh was much in the news yesterday when it was announced that plans had been lodged for the…
Brutalist buildings are the Marmite of architecture - passionately loved or loathed - and one in Edinburgh was much in the news yesterday when it was announced that plans had been lodged for the…
The thread about Argyle House; “preposterously large and a potential rival to the Castle rock”
Brutalist buildings are the Marmite of architecture - passionately loved or loathed - and one in Edinburgh was much in the news yesterday when it was announced that plans had been lodged for the demolition and replacement of Argyle House. But while other news sources make much click capital out of it having briefly appeared in some Netflix police show or another, here at Threadinburgh I prefer to get down to the nitty-gritty of the how, why and what of this much critiqued building. And just what it has to do with the Lyceum Theatre, Dalgety Bay and the Water of Leith Walkway...
threadinburgh.scot
November 13, 2025 at 6:46 AM
The thread about Argyle House; “preposterously large and a potential rival to the Castle rock”
Brutalist buildings are the Marmite of architecture - passionately loved or loathed - and one in Edinburgh was much in the news yesterday when it was announced that plans had been lodged for the…
Brutalist buildings are the Marmite of architecture - passionately loved or loathed - and one in Edinburgh was much in the news yesterday when it was announced that plans had been lodged for the…
Reposted by Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵
"The women here [Kirkwall] are much addicted to pleasure, which I attribute to the abundance of fish."
Description of the Orkney Islands, 1529
Description of the Orkney Islands, 1529
November 12, 2025 at 3:35 PM
"The women here [Kirkwall] are much addicted to pleasure, which I attribute to the abundance of fish."
Description of the Orkney Islands, 1529
Description of the Orkney Islands, 1529
ESPC bathroom of the day feels like cold baths
November 12, 2025 at 10:04 AM
ESPC bathroom of the day feels like cold baths
Reposted by Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵
Absolutely gone at this story from Harris on FB, the last sentence is pure Atlantic coast magic.
November 12, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Absolutely gone at this story from Harris on FB, the last sentence is pure Atlantic coast magic.
Reposted by Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵
h/t @threadinburgh.scot for flagging up this new release about the medieval coal mine beneath the Forth. One day during some volunteer work at Culross Palace garden, we trudged out at low tide to see what we could see. It's still there, after all these hundreds of years.
November 12, 2025 at 12:33 AM
h/t @threadinburgh.scot for flagging up this new release about the medieval coal mine beneath the Forth. One day during some volunteer work at Culross Palace garden, we trudged out at low tide to see what we could see. It's still there, after all these hundreds of years.
Reposted by Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵
Evening folks, I'd love some help with this pic. Forget the people, can anyone identify the plants?
Is this a potato crop, partially coming into flower on the left? Or are these wild flowers?
Context: this is a coastal plain at the village of Inver, Easter Ross, 1915, south of the Morrich More.
Is this a potato crop, partially coming into flower on the left? Or are these wild flowers?
Context: this is a coastal plain at the village of Inver, Easter Ross, 1915, south of the Morrich More.
November 11, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Evening folks, I'd love some help with this pic. Forget the people, can anyone identify the plants?
Is this a potato crop, partially coming into flower on the left? Or are these wild flowers?
Context: this is a coastal plain at the village of Inver, Easter Ross, 1915, south of the Morrich More.
Is this a potato crop, partially coming into flower on the left? Or are these wild flowers?
Context: this is a coastal plain at the village of Inver, Easter Ross, 1915, south of the Morrich More.
Reposted by Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵
PAN submitted for demolition of Argyle House and mixed-use redevelopment of the site - hotel, residential & office use: bit.ly/4oTnsOV. Project architects are Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM).
November 11, 2025 at 7:38 PM
PAN submitted for demolition of Argyle House and mixed-use redevelopment of the site - hotel, residential & office use: bit.ly/4oTnsOV. Project architects are Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM).
Reposted by Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵
Inchmickery in the middle of Firth of Forth, 9 Nov 2025
November 10, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Inchmickery in the middle of Firth of Forth, 9 Nov 2025
Reposted by Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵
There’s a lot of focus on Richard Burton today, but did you know that the actor and author Alistair MacLean were once involved in a punch-up at the Dorchester? (The Scot won). And that the two men are buried in the same graveyard in Switzerland? www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/past-time...
Alistair MacLean: Meet the Gaelic-speaking Highlander whose Arctic heroics fuelled his books
Alistair MacLean never had any pretensions about his literary talent even though many of his books became international blockbusters. As he said: "I don’t
www.pressandjournal.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 6:08 PM
There’s a lot of focus on Richard Burton today, but did you know that the actor and author Alistair MacLean were once involved in a punch-up at the Dorchester? (The Scot won). And that the two men are buried in the same graveyard in Switzerland? www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/past-time...
For those interested in how the Victorian (and later) city dealt with its refuse, this thread is pure rubbish: 🗑️ threadinburgh.scot/2022/09/02/t...
November 10, 2025 at 9:20 AM
For those interested in how the Victorian (and later) city dealt with its refuse, this thread is pure rubbish: 🗑️ threadinburgh.scot/2022/09/02/t...
Reposted by Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵
21 November 1971 - the Lord Provost of Edinburgh is off to Powderhall to open the city's new Waste Disposal Works. The site had operated since 1893 - incineration ceased in c.1985 & bulk transfer of waste continued until closure in 2016. @threadinburgh.scot has written about it.
↘️ flic.kr/p/2mJrZ44
↘️ flic.kr/p/2mJrZ44
November 10, 2025 at 9:01 AM
21 November 1971 - the Lord Provost of Edinburgh is off to Powderhall to open the city's new Waste Disposal Works. The site had operated since 1893 - incineration ceased in c.1985 & bulk transfer of waste continued until closure in 2016. @threadinburgh.scot has written about it.
↘️ flic.kr/p/2mJrZ44
↘️ flic.kr/p/2mJrZ44
We've been allowed out to the playground! Hurrah! At least it's stopped raining
At the school Halloween disco. Parental attendance with children is obligatory. The options open for grownups pose a bit of a conundrum:
🅰️ Assembly hall. Dark. Loud Music. Full of shrieking children.
🅱️ Dinner hall. Bright. Smells of a century of school dinners. Full of shrieking children.
🅰️ Assembly hall. Dark. Loud Music. Full of shrieking children.
🅱️ Dinner hall. Bright. Smells of a century of school dinners. Full of shrieking children.
November 7, 2025 at 7:02 PM
We've been allowed out to the playground! Hurrah! At least it's stopped raining
At the school Halloween disco. Parental attendance with children is obligatory. The options open for grownups pose a bit of a conundrum:
🅰️ Assembly hall. Dark. Loud Music. Full of shrieking children.
🅱️ Dinner hall. Bright. Smells of a century of school dinners. Full of shrieking children.
🅰️ Assembly hall. Dark. Loud Music. Full of shrieking children.
🅱️ Dinner hall. Bright. Smells of a century of school dinners. Full of shrieking children.
November 7, 2025 at 6:53 PM
At the school Halloween disco. Parental attendance with children is obligatory. The options open for grownups pose a bit of a conundrum:
🅰️ Assembly hall. Dark. Loud Music. Full of shrieking children.
🅱️ Dinner hall. Bright. Smells of a century of school dinners. Full of shrieking children.
🅰️ Assembly hall. Dark. Loud Music. Full of shrieking children.
🅱️ Dinner hall. Bright. Smells of a century of school dinners. Full of shrieking children.
Reposted by Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵
This is why you don't follow those "animal pic every hour" "old historical photos" "on this day" "earth pics" accounts. Scrapers, bots, bad faith actors, misinformation hose.
mmmm my favorite mcdonald’s food, Dore, Caprer, and a side of Cchinges
November 6, 2025 at 7:53 AM
This is why you don't follow those "animal pic every hour" "old historical photos" "on this day" "earth pics" accounts. Scrapers, bots, bad faith actors, misinformation hose.
Jeezo. ChatGPO
I think they let it do the text too. Parenthesis not closed, "shifts availant", "Organized", "Flexible and adaptably" "lifting up to rikg".
I think they let it do the text too. Parenthesis not closed, "shifts availant", "Organized", "Flexible and adaptably" "lifting up to rikg".
November 6, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Jeezo. ChatGPO
I think they let it do the text too. Parenthesis not closed, "shifts availant", "Organized", "Flexible and adaptably" "lifting up to rikg".
I think they let it do the text too. Parenthesis not closed, "shifts availant", "Organized", "Flexible and adaptably" "lifting up to rikg".
Does anyone @spokes.org.uk @edi.bike know if there's some better point of escalation for bad (read, dangerously) placed Voi bike locations than the very generic support@voi.com email address?
November 6, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Does anyone @spokes.org.uk @edi.bike know if there's some better point of escalation for bad (read, dangerously) placed Voi bike locations than the very generic support@voi.com email address?
I see the Greater Granton and Pilton fireworks control zones are working out as anticipated
a close up of a brown and white surface with a circle in the middle
ALT: a close up of a brown and white surface with a circle in the middle
media.tenor.com
November 5, 2025 at 6:57 PM
I see the Greater Granton and Pilton fireworks control zones are working out as anticipated