Today’s council webcast – Edinburgh’s history – Planning application for changes to High Street shop – Mountain Film Festival at Queen’s Hall – Chinese Warrior lanterns
The council is beginning to webcast more of its meetings and today they will be showing the Governance Risk and Best Value committee live from 10am. Councillor Jeremy Balfour is the convener of this committee which oversees decisions made by other parts of the council.
The capital’s history will be shown off from a whole new angle with an exhibition set to open this weekend. If you read our articles about Caltongate yesterday you will have seen the lovely photos that RCAHMS allows us to use from their collections.
Historic Edinburgh from Above will encapsulate the capital’s changing cityscape throughout the early 20th century with a series of stunning photographs.
Designed especially for display at the Museum of Edinburgh by the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), the free-to-enter exhibition consists of aero-photographic images from the body’s archives and will open on 1st February.
Visitors to the museum will be able to zoom in on the dramatic shots, which capture some of the key industrial and social changes to have taken place in Edinburgh, and are accompanied by fascinating facts about the capital’s past.
Amongst the collection are an aerial shot of 1930s Leith, at the time a bustling centre for industry, an image portraying the construction of the iconic Jenners Furniture Depository from above and the west end of Princes Street in 1927, complete with horse-drawn vehicles and trams.
The exhibition, which will run until 26th April, is a local offshoot of RCAHMS’ major UK-wide project Britain from Above, a partnership with the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales and English Heritage to present the Aerofilms collection of aerial photographs from 1919-1953.
Last year, current-day Edinburgh was similarly caught from above when it played host to Britain from the Air, an outdoor street gallery of more than 100 aerial photographs of the British landscape, brought to the city by the Royal Geographical Society in collaboration with street gallery pioneers, Wecommunic8.
Councillor Richard Lewis, Culture Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “Edinburgh’s rich heritage is part of its appeal and is appreciated by residents and visitors the world over, and this exhibition offers a new perspective on the city’s fascinating history.
“We are delighted with the gallery created for us by the Royal Commission, which showcases some of the amazing architecture, landscapes and thriving industry of our past. Historic Edinburgh from Above is a welcome addition to our busy calendar of sporting and cultural events marking the exciting year ahead.”
Lesley Ferguson, Head of Collections, RCAHMS said: “We are delighted to be exhibiting these wonderful images taken by Aerofilms in the Museum of Edinburgh. The ‘bird’s eye’ view provides a tantalising glimpse into this historic city and some of the changes that transformed Edinburgh in the twentieth century.
“The exhibition represents just a small number of the photographs taken by Aerofilms and we hope that visitors will be inspired to discover more online at the project website britainfromabove.org.uk.”
Later this year, the Museum of Edinburgh will also host a Sporting Edinburgh exhibition to coincide with the Commonwealth Games and Scars on the City, commemorating the start of WW1.
***
A planning application has been lodged this week to alter the shopfront at 215 High Street, which was formerly the Luckenbooth.
Now it is to become known as Kiltane and will look a little different if the planners approve the change. All planning papers for this application can be viewed here.
***
Tomorrow and Saturday evenings the Queen’s Hall will screen short films showing adrenaline-packed action from the Banff Mountain Film Festival. Part of the Banff world tour this sounds like the way to kick off your weekend!
If you’re out after dark then you might have a look at the Chinese warrior lanterns in the University Old College Quad.
Larger-than-life lanterns inspired by ancient Chinese warriors will add a burst of colour to the University of Edinburgh for Chinese New Year which is tomorrow.
The Lanterns of Terracotta Warriors outdoor exhibition is on show until 7 February.
