There is to be an open day this weekend at the Lochrin Basin when archaeologists and whisky enthusiasts might mix it up at the site of a former Edinburgh distillery.
The City of Edinburgh Council and AOC Archaeology will host the event.
This Saturday 9 May, visitors can drop in to explore the foundations on the rocks of the Lochrin Basin, which is the last surviving port at the Edinburgh end of the Union Canal.
The excavation will provide new information on the construction of the port and life in Edinburgh during the 19th Century when the basin formed part of Lochrin Distillery – the largest distillery in Scotland at the time.
Experts will be on hand to identify parts of the site, which was built to allow distillers to access the canal network. This will be the last chance for visitors to see the site before the construction of a new development by Knightsbridge Student Housing gets underway later this year.
Councillor Richard Lewis, Culture & Sport Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “Brewers were originally attracted to Fountainbridge and Tollcross because of the large quantities of pure water trapped under the ground and it didn’t take long for distillers to catch on.
“The footprints of Edinburgh’s industrial path can still be seen and the Lochrin Basin Open Day will be a chance for people to gain an insight into the type of construction undertaken by Scottish drinks companies of the early 19th Century. Stop by and take a look and chat to archaeologists to discover a piece of local history.”
Map – White 1931 National Library of Scotland
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