The year 2022 saw a double commemoration in the history of canals in Edinburgh. It marked the bicentenary of the opening of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Union Canal, with its eastern terminus at Port Hopetoun on Lothian Road, and also the centenary of the closure of Port Hopetoun – this existed for exactly a century. Events were held in remembrance of these two occasions, organised by the present writer, including lectures (both public and private), and several guided walks, two being for members of the Old Edinburgh Club.
Further study seemed warranted. In addition to the normal sources likely to yield information, two promised to be especially useful. One was the Post Office Directories belonging to the century-long period to be studied. I had used these and the earlier independent directories many times for projects big and small and was familiar with their format. They have indeed proved highly useful and have allowed a fairly comprehensive picture of the commercial composition of Port Hopetoun to be compiled.
The other rich source is a four-volume set of bound press cuttings relating to the Union Canal held by Edinburgh Central Library, the drawback being that the great majority date from after Port Hopetoun’s closure. Being written for a general readership, they do not normally identify the sources upon which they are based, thereby denying historians the opportunity to verify the accuracy of the information cited, but it is nonetheless of interest to have this record of several first-hand impressions of Port Hopetoun during its working life.
One aspect of the study has proved unexpectedly fruitful, and that is Port Hopetoun in art. Quite a number of items have emerged which illustrate its erstwhile appearance. These range from paintings and engravings to photographs and ceramics. Of particular interest and also of striking visual impact are representations of the great warehouse which sat within the Inner Basin itself, remarkable for its wings protruding from either side, cantilevered over the water, to assist in the loading of the freight barges, known as scows, which plied the Union Canal. There is also the Port Hopetoun memorial frieze sculpted by Pilkington Jackson, which graces the façade of Lothian House (the successor building which currently occupies the site).
With much information gathered, a suitable outlet for this is the Book of the Old Edinburgh Club. Indeed, the Editor has shown a desire to include such an article in the next issue, though the size (double that of a normal offering) means that it is rather impractical to be included in its current form. The solution which has been arrived at is to split the study into two parts, with the History of Port Hopetoun appearing in Volume 20 of the Book and the Art section held back for the following issue.
I am grateful that the Jean Guild Grant has permitted me to engage in some extensive research, enabling the production of a work which I hope will be of interest to all those with an attachment to Edinburgh’s history.
