Special Collections : Archival Resources

Coll-1167: Archives of the Patrick Geddes Centre for Planning Studies

The Photographs from the Survey of Edinburgh are part of a larger collection formerly held within the Outlook Tower on Castlehill. The collection as whole was catalogued while still at the Outlook Tower, this catalogue published as a 2-volume set Catalogue of the archives of the Patrick Geddes Centre for Planning Studies, the second volume focussed solely on the Edinburgh Survey photographs. It is this volume which has now been revisited, its contents keyed, with minor alterations, into a database, accessible below.

It is hoped to address the rest of the collection in due course. Meanwwhile a full digital copy of the first volume is available in pdf format (9MB file)

/1: Photographs from the Survey of Edinburgh

/A: The Castle and Castlehill

Full reference code	Coll-1167/1/A/1
Title	Castle from Outlook Tower
Original title	Castle from Outlook Tower
Date	c1904-1910
Creator	Sir Patrick Geddes
Scope and content	In this scene (Coll-1167/1/A/1), the Esplanade probably had a gravel surface, hence the visible effects of rain. It was used as a parade ground for the garrison of the Castle, which, until the erection of the Redford Barracks (completed 1915), was the principal military location in the Edinburgh district. Note the tarmacadam road, bounded by the bollards in front, which encircles the ground. Note that this print and the next four, (to Coll-1167/1/A/5), do not show the Scottish National War Memorial, built 1924-27 in the reconstructed North Barracks, ('Buildings of Edinburgh', Gifford, McWilliam and Walker).
Author of original title	Robert Dykes
Negative number	Box 1, 2
Note	There are two prints of this negative (see Coll-1167/1/1/A/2, Box 1, 2); the duplicate shows the Castle in more detail, Cannonball House and adjacent buildings in less.
Related items	Coll-1167/1/A/1 Coll-1167/1/A/5 Coll-1167/1/1/A/2