Jack Gillon

Edinburgh Old Town is the ancient centre of the city of Edinburgh. Many historic buildings still stand in the Old Town, on the Royal Mile which runs from Holyrood Palace to the Castle and in the surrounding area, alongside newer construction. Edinburgh Old Town Through Time explores the rich history and vibrant culture of Edinburgh’s Old Town through a collection of then-and-now images which reveal how the area has evolved, showcasing its historic architecture, bustling streets, and the lives of its inhabitants. Discover the stories behind famous landmarks, hidden gems, and the everyday scenes that shaped this unique place. Whether you’re a history buff, a lover of architecture, or simply curious about Edinburgh, this visual exploration connects the past and present of the Old Town. In spite of the many changes that have occurred in Edinburgh Old Town, the area has retained its identity, with historical buildings alongside the new. This fascinating selection of old and new images of Edinburgh Old Town will be essential reading for all those who know the area.

Edinburgh has always been a city of unusual characters and its own often peculiar history. Quirky Edinburgh delves into lesser known but fascinating tales from Edinburgh’s past. In it readers will find stories of the sedan chairs that transported the gentry around the city in the eighteenth century, horse racing on Leith Sands, the open air Royal Patent Gymnasium that delighted its Victorian visitors with rides on the Great Sea Serpent and Giant See-Saw, an exploding post box, the 80-foot spiral of kinetic art placed on a roundabout, the original Mrs Doubtfire and much, much more. Quirky Edinburgh celebrates the unusual and often strange history of Edinburgh and its characters over the years. This fascinating insight into Edinburgh will be of interest to all those who want to know more about the city’s quirky history.

The 1960s, 1970s and 1980s were decades of great change. Many towns and cities were redeveloped with projects that dramatically affected the character of the place. People’s shopping habits were altered as supermarkets took over from traditional stores and corner shops. Leisure habits were changing too, as cheap air travel led to the arrival of the foreign package holiday and a new range of leisure facilities were developed at home. Fashions, as ever, were changing in this period, reflecting radical changes in society and the ways in which we viewed ourselves. Transport also evolved, with a move away from the railway and buses, creating a strain on the roads and leading to new road schemes. These changes in people’s habits and lifestyles were keenly felt in Scotland’s capital as the city grew in size. Old and dilapidated housing was demolished, to be replaced by new housing estates; other areas were redeveloped and new shopping centres were built, universities were expanding and many long-established pastimes and activities, cultural centres and places of leisure were evolving. Local author Jack Gillon recaptures it all in this fascinating portrayal of the city and its people over the course of these most nostalgic decades.

Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city, has a dramatic cityscape and its wealth of historic streets and buildings make up the UNESCO Old and New Towns World Heritage Site. The city has also been subject to a myriad of changes through the years. This book features several landmark buildings but concentrates attention on areas which have been subject to change through redevelopment. Edinburgh Reflections features a collection of historic and modern pictures that are individually merged to reveal how the area has changed over the decades. Each of the 180 pictures in this book combines a recent colour view of Edinburgh with the matching sepia archive scene. Through the split-image effect, readers can see how streets, buildings and everyday life have been transformed with the passing of time. This book will be of interest to residents, visitors, local historians, and all those with links to Edinburgh.

The historic county of Fife is a natural peninsula on the east coast of Scotland, bordered by the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Tay. Alongside its three largest settlements of Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes it is also home to the ancient city of St Andrews, with its world-famous golf course and university. The often turbulent history of Fife is reflected in its royal palaces, castles and other ruins, such as Ravenscraig Castle and Dunfermline Abbey. Fife’s picturesque coast draws visitors to places like Crail Harbour and Pittenweem. Fife’s cultural and industrial heritage are also celebrated, including the Fife Folk Museum, the Anstruther Fisheries Museum and the Fife Heritage Railway. 50 Gems of Fife explores the many places and their history that make this part of Scotland so special, including natural features, towns and villages, buildings and places of historical interest. Alongside justly famous attractions, others will be relatively unknown, but all have an interesting story to tell.

Stirlingshire is central to Scotland and its history. Spanning the boundary between the Highlands and Lowlands, and standing at the heart of Scotland, the town of Stirling was ‘the key of the Highlands’. Granted city status in 2002 as part of the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations, it is a thriving city with a proud and distinctive identity, which retains much of its ancient character and a wealth of fine heritage buildings. Cattle were driven from all over Scotland to the great trysts at Falkirk and local foundries fuelled the Industrial Revolution. The military heritage of Stirlingshire is also in evidence in the numerous battlefields and memorials in the area. The greater part of the western section of the area includes vast swathes of great natural beauty, which are most clearly represented by the outstanding scenery of the Trossachs and Loch Lomond. The Millennium Link project and the monumental Kelpie statues are two of the more recent additions to the gems of the area. 50 Gems of Stirling District explores the many places and their history that make this part of Scotland so special, including natural features, towns and villages, buildings, and places of historical interest. The selection includes some of the major landmarks in the area and several possibly lesser-known and more uncommon places.

Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, has been central to Scottish life and its history over the centuries. It is the seat of the Scottish government, the Scottish parliament, the supreme courts of Scotland, many national institutions, and a major educational, medical and financial centre. The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official residence of the monarch in Scotland. The Old Town retains much of its medieval character and the Georgian New Town, with its regular facades and major neoclassical buildings by architects of the stature of Robert Adam, is one of the world’s most extensive examples of neoclassical towns. Numerous festivals attract visitors from all over the world and its eminent scientists, engineers, philosophers and writers are internationally renowned. In this book, author Jack Gillon brings together a superbly evocative collection of old postcards of Edinburgh. The 180 featured postcards celebrate the city’s achievements and distinctive character in the form of its public buildings, principal streets, and historic landmarks. Edinburgh: The Postcard Collection provides an invaluable visual record of the city’s past and a fascinating insight into the world of our ancestors.

Having been granted city status during the Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2002, Stirling is Scotland’s smallest city, but has an enthralling wealth of architectural and historic heritage that would be the envy of much larger places in the country. Stirling’s heritage dates from the thirteenth century, when it was granted a royal charter and became a significant medieval settlement. Its strategic importance as the ‘Gateway to the Highlands’ also made it the much-fought over ‘Cockpit of Scotland’ and it has been witness to many of the most significant battles in Scottish history. Today, Stirling is a bustling and charming historic city that retains much of its ancient character and architectural quality. Using old postcards, Stirling The Postcard Collection shows how the city has changed and evolved over the years. These postcards are an invaluable visual record of a place’s past and provide a fascinating insight into the world of our ancestors. The old postcards of Stirling celebrate the town’s civic achievements and distinctive character in the form of public buildings, principal streets, parks, railway stations and historic landmarks.

In 1560, Mary of Guise moved the Scottish Court to Leith, a site that is now Parliament Street, off Coalhill. Serving Edinburgh’s shipbuilding and repair facilities, in subsequent centuries Leith’s port saw the opening of a new Wet Dock, the first of its kind in Scotland. Leith has played a long and prominent role in Scottish history. As the major port serving Edinburgh, it has been the stage on which many significant events have taken place. From housing the Scottish Court to seeing civil war, being the port of call for royal arrivals and becoming its own burgh, Leith has seen it all. Leith Reflections features an exciting collection of historic and modern pictures that are individually merged to reveal how the area has changed over the decades. Each of the 180 pictures in this book combines a recent colour view of Leith with the matching sepia archive scene. Through the split-image effect, readers can see how streets, buildings, the docks and everyday life have transformed with the passing of time. Local authors Jack Gillon and Fraser Parkinson present this fascinating visual chronicle that ingeniously reflects past and present glimpses of Leith. This book will be of interest to residents, visitors, local historians and all those with links to the area.

Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, has much to celebrate. The city has been central to Scottish life and its history for many centuries. Its festivals attract visitors from all over the world, the quality of its architecture has been awarded the highest accolade of World Heritage status, and nature also gifted Edinburgh with the most stunning of settings. Its eminent scientists, engineers, philosophers and men of letters are internationally renowned. It is this combination of factors that make Edinburgh the United Kingdom’s second most popular tourist destination. In Celebrating Edinburgh, local authors Jack Gillon and Fraser Parkinson highlight some of the significant aspects of the city’s history and identity: its notable individuals, achievements, events and culture. Chapters focus on different themes such as its literary prominence – Edinburgh was UNESCO’s first City of Literature in 2004 – and the authors, past and present, who have lived here, from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Robert Burns to Ian Rankin and JK Rowling. Here too are the world-famous Fringe Festival, Military Tattoo and Hogmanay celebrations. The city’s exceptional architecture and its place as the birthplace of the Scottish Enlightenment in the eighteenth century are also highlighted, together with its natural heritage and fringe of villages including Leith and Portobello. Illustrated throughout, this book will appeal to residents, visitors and all those with links to this marvellous city.

The ‘Fair City of Perth’ is aptly named. Situated on the banks of the Tay, Scotland’s longest river, Perth and its surrounding area boast some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. The city’s position on the River Tay ensured that it became a busy trading port, exporting salmon and wool and importing claret from Bordeaux. Its bustling harbour remains in use, the only inland harbour in Britain. Perth was once the capital of Scotland and there are many interesting historical sights to visit. The jewel in the crown is undoubtedly Scone Palace on the outskirts of town. Scone was the home of the Stone of Destiny for nearly 500 years, and the site where every Scottish king was crowned. Today, Perth is a major tourist centre and important staging post on the route north to the Highlands of Scotland. As such, it boasts many shops, bars and restaurants, as well as a thriving arts and cultural scene. In this book, author Jack Gillon takes the reader on an evocative journey into Perth’s past through a superb selection of old postcards. This fascinating window into the city’s history will appeal to residents and visitors alike.

The historic county of Lothian lies along the south side of the broad estuary of the Forth. Its strategic location and political and economic importance, with Edinburgh at its centre, has made the county witness to some of the most significant events in Scottish history. This is reflected in the remarkable wealth of architectural heritage spanning thousands of years. Castles, royal palaces, churches and industrial buildings of national importance abound in the county. Author Jack Gillon seeks out some of the favourite landmarks, lesser-known locations and hidden treasures of the region. He takes the reader from Edinburgh, with its castle, the Scottish Parliament and the Palace of Holyrood House, to the East Lothian village of Athelstaneford, the birthplace of the Saltire, Traprain Law and the historic Hailes Castle. Among the gems of Midlothian are the glorious Rosslyn Chapel, which was the setting for the finale of The Da Vinci Code and described by its author, Dan Brown, as ‘the most mysterious and magical chapel on earth’. This book also explores the highlights of West Lothian including the Bo’ness &Kinneil Railway, Linlithgow Palace (birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots) and the impressive Hopetoun House, near Queensferry. 50 Gems of The Lothians will appeal to residents as well as visitors to the area.

Discover the rich history and architectural treasures of Stirling in this fascinating exploration of its buildings from across the centuries.

Leith has played a long and prominent role in Scottish history. As the major port serving Edinburgh, it has been the stage on which many significant events in the nation’s past have taken place, from housing the Scottish court to witnessing civil war, acting as the port of call for royal arrivals and becoming its own burgh until the amalgamation with Edinburgh in 1920. The 1950s brought the final days of the old and ancient thoroughfares in the heart of Leith: the Kirkgate, St Andrew Street, Tolbooth Wynd, Bridge Street and many more would disappear in the coming decade. However, the town retains a passionate sense of individuality and its people a proud sense of identity. Leith has seen it all. In Secret Leith, local author and historian Jack Gillon delves into the town’s past and offers an insight into some of the lesser-known aspects of its long and distinguished history.

Aberdeen, Scotland's third largest city, has been a place of economic importance since the development of the shipbuilding and fishing industries, and has been synonymous with oil ever since the discovery of North Sea reserves in the 1970s. Nicknamed the 'Granite City' due to the locally quarried grey granite that was used in many of the city's most important buildings, Aberdeen has a proud and distinctive identity with an extraordinary history embodied in the many fine buildings that have shaped the city. Aberdeen in 50 Buildings explores the history of this rich and vibrant city through a selection of its greatest architectural assets, from notable buildings such as the Music Hall, the Trinity Hall, the new Town House and, of course, Alexander Marshall Mackenzie's extension to Marischal College, the second largest granite building in the world, to more recent additions such as the Maggie’s Centre and the Sir Duncan Rice Library. Aberdeen in 50 Buildingsguides the reader on a tour of Aberdeen’s historic buildings and modern architectural marvels to celebrate the city's architectural heritage in a new and accessible way.

Falkirk is a small town with a big history. Its strategic location, at the crossroads of lowland Scotland, contributed to its key role in Scotland’s history. The Romans were the first to make a significant mark on the district, William Wallace and Bonnie Prince Charlie fought the English nearby, cattle were driven from all over Scotland to the great trysts in the area, central Scotland’s canals came together at Camelon, and local foundries fuelled the Industrial Revolution. Secret Falkirk delves into the town’s past and offers an insight into aspects of its fascinating history that may not be familiar to many Falkirk Bairns.

The first reference to the historic port of Leith dates from 1140, and the town constantly features in the power struggles that took place in Scotland. In the 1960s the face of Leith changed forever: the brimming tenements, shops, pubs and small workshops along the old and ancient thoroughfares in the heart of the town were destined for redevelopment. The Kirkgate, St Andrew Street, Tolbooth Wynd, Bridge Street and many more would disappear during the decade. Today, Leith is a thriving port and cruise line destination with many excellent hotels, restaurants and bars.Leith History Touris a unique insight into the illustrious history of this old port and shows just how much it has changed during the course of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Readers are invited to follow local authors Jack Gillon and Fraser Parkinson as they guide them through its streets and alleyways, pointing out the well-known and lesser-known landmarks along the way.

Edinburgh’s South Side has contributed much to the rich story of the city. In 1766, Edinburgh made its first ambitious expansion beyond the city walls with the planned development of George Square. The construction of the North and South Bridge, linking the New Town, Old Town and South Side, was a further boost to development in the area. Nineteenth-century industrialisation resulted in tenement housing, workshops and factories filling most of the available space between elegant Georgian buildings. In the 1950s, the collapse of the Dumbiedykes’ ‘Penny Tenement’ focused attention on Edinburgh’s slums, and the removal of a whole community as part of a major slum clearance drive followed. In the face of a public outcry, modern tower blocks also replaced the historic Georgian buildings on George Square with the loss of the fondly remembered Parker’s Store building in the Bristo area. In 1975, the South Side was declared a conservation area. This reversed the wave of demolition and resulted in the regeneration of the area and the retention of its historic identity. The mix of communities make it one of the most colourful areas of Edinburgh, and it holds a special place in the hearts of current and past residents. Edinburgh South Side Through Time takes you on this journey, with old and new images to illustrate how this part of the city has changed over the years.

This fascinating selection of photographs shows the many ways in which Perth has changed and developed over the last century.

The Festival and King’s Theatres are two of Scotland’s most historic theatrical venues and both have their own engrossing stories to tell. This book highlights their milestone moments and recollects the innumerable celebrated performers that created the legacies of the theatres. The King’s Theatre, the ‘Grand Old Lady of Leven Street’, first opened its magnificent art nouveau doors to welcome the public into its sumptuously decorated auditorium in December 1906. The opening-night show was a festive production of the pantomime Cinderella, and the panto tradition has continued at the King’s ever since. The glass frontage of the Festival Theatre forms a glowing night-time landmark on Nicolson Street, and encloses a magnificent auditorium which dates back to 1928. It stands on Edinburgh’s longest continuous theatre site, dating as far back as 1830. This book traces the history of the site from its earliest days, through its time as the Empire Palace, its reconstruction as the Empire and its final transformation into the Festival Theatre.