900 Stories in Print: Ongoing

We welcome stories submissions from anyone connected to Fountainbridge and the west of Edinburgh, whether they lived, studied or worked here in the past or still do today. A lot of the heritage of this area, connected to the many industries that developed here over the last two hundred years, only exists as oral histories, shared family memories and community tales. We encourage anyone to submit anedoctes passed on to them by older generations and recollections of people who have been linked to this history and are no longer with us. 

We hope for these stories to reveal the industrial past of our location as well as reflect community hopes for the future of these rapidly developing neighbourhoods. 

A story can be a memory or recollection but also a simple description of a daily commute to work, having walked through Fountainbridge on a recent visit to Edinburgh, sharing about a stroll or cycle down the Union Canal or maybe some future plan to take on kayaking or get on a barge for a tranquil journey on its waters.

"I really enjoyed going to the printmakers as I haven't been before also seeing the old building was very interesting as I had no idea how huge it was it was inside. It was a new experience, that I loved and would like to go again. I got along the canal to play football locally quite often and I find it very fun and helpful how near by it is."

"It was my first time going to the printmakers and it was nice to see the rubber factory. I found it intersting to see and be involved in the process of the printmaking. It was a messy experience but so worth it as the results of the prints were so unique and facinating. The working staff were also so polite and helped to ensure the prints turn out as good as possible. I will definitley use the techniques I adopted from this workshop in future circumstances."

"The Printmakers was a great experience. I enjoyed learning the print types and visitng the beautiful building and surrounding area. I was very interested in the historical rubber works building and how it was repurposed into the printmakers."

"I really enjoyed our printmaking session, it was fascinating learning how to do different types of prints. As well as walking through the historical, transformed building, (rubber works). I loved using the old printing press, as it was used so long ago."

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Young Adults Printmakers is a series of monthly meetings with a group of young adults with autism from the Networking Key Services broader network of South East Asian communities.

During these meetings the group engages with the tradition and heritage of printmaking in Scotland and South East Asia, developing new technical creative skills and also gaining and co-producing knowledge about the history of this neighbourhood to develop a new sense of belonging and agency over its history.

During the first meeting we collected memories, feelings and thoughts that we connect to the area of Fountainbridge:

"When I think of connecting to this area, I think of Union Canal, Polwarth Church, and Boroughmuir School."

"I connect Fountain Park cinema, and NKS family to this area."

"The smells of my high school art class remind me of this area."

"The traffic sounds and chatter of people in a room remind me of this place."

"Whenever I smell paint or ink I now think of this building."

"Pizza Hut, Ten Pin activites, and food remind me of Fountainbridge."

"Construction smells make me think of this place."

"EICC is important to me, because I was able to attend Comic Con and meet Marvel actors."

"Places that are important to me near this area are Meadows Park, Brunstfield Church building, the bridge near the Polwarth Church, and the Edinburgh Uni buildings at Tariot Place."

"Kings Building, Odean Cinema, Lothian road, Kings Theatre, Fire Station, Fountain Park, Cameo Cinema, and Old Royal Infirmary are all places that are important to me." 

"Haymarket Station is important to me, as I commute often."

 Learn more about the wonderful work of NKS - Networking Key Serives on their website.

"I used to go swimming at Dalry Baths- but Infirmary Street was where I went to have a bath... long ago very few of the Victorian era flats in Edinburgh had bathrooms of their own- in fact, into the sixties, even seventies, some had shared toilets. The reason I went to Infirmary Street was because I could have a huge bath, all to myself, for 1/- (one shilling). The attendent used to come with her big spanner to turn the tap on, whereas the more modern baths, with their two taps, were self-service and the bath itself was a small, modern one. A bath like that cost 1/6d (one shilling and six pence). I could get a poke of chips for the difference in price!! Usually Mum would give me 2/6d (half-a-crown) - 1/6d for the bath, and two sixpenny bits for bus fares. (We lived at Tolcross then). For the extra 1/6, if I walked both ways instead of taking the bus, I could get a sausage supper, or a poke of chips and a wee bottle of lemonade (aka skoosh/ginger/or fizzy juice, depending on who you were with).

St Cuthbert's Co-op 42 Fountainbridge- the Dividend. My number was 1566, mum's 923."

'Things I associate with this area are: being a student and eating cheap food but also a guide dog I saw once stealing a kid’s ball!' - Anonymous

'I associate pizza hut and cinema trips as a teenager to this area' - Anonymous

'When I think of this area, i think of the canal and the swans sculptures, Harrison Park and going with a friend and her kids.' - Anonymous

'My favourite places to eat in this area are The Fountain Bar where their steak pie is delicious, Masti which always has excellent flavours and Cafe Florentine for breakfast or cakes and coffee' - Anonymous

“I work in the Royal Edinburgh Hospital in the Occupational Therapy for the Acute Adult Mental Health wards. A couple months ago my line manager received an email with this workshops information. I was asked by my supervisors to come along for a session, to see the dynamics.”

- Melina Ridaira

“My memories of Fountainbridge are of the Palais De Dance in the sixties! Every Saturday night was the highlight of my friend’s and my week, going dancing at the Palais. The band was live and called “Fags and Matches”. My friend and work mate Eileen would hopefully meet up with a couple of chaps and meet them again on the Sunday, “Happy Days!”

- Louisa Coyle

“ Years later in the eighties I had a friend whose husband worked in the Brewery at Fountainbridge, yet another connection!”

- Louisa Coyle

“Travelling to the printmakers’ on the no 1 bus, I enjoyed the glimpses of Dalry cemetery, which the bus driven around. Those high walls enclose so many monuments to past burglers, and also a very current drama- the man who has led the gardening group which has worked a transformation of the cemetery is being sued by the inhabitant of the cottage which used to house the keeper. The current inhabitant greets all comers and gardeners with mourners' sirens and other weird noises, and the council can’t stop this. Travelling on the no 1 bus is so exciting!” - Anonymous

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