Hetty's History Walks: Edinburgh Uncovered

23/09/2026

🥳 It's almost time for Doors Open Day weekend! A time when venues across Edinburgh throw their doors open for free so everyone can discover their history, their people, and their work.

Find a complete list on the Cockburn Association website - link in the comments - happy exploring!

There's a huge range of places to choose from. In the past I've visited Trinity House, The Lost Close, Adam Smith's House, Simpson & Brown offices, Raimes Clark & Co Chemists, the Assembly Rooms, and many, many more...

14/09/2026

A fun and informative night at To Kill A Queen by Suzannah Lipscomb and Kate Williams, in the beautiful Music Hall at the Assembly Rooms.

I tend to focus on ordinary people rather than royalty on my tours but I really enjoyed this well presented talk about Mary, Queen of Scots, and her political journey that ended with her ex*****on.

Big thanks to a friend for the tickets 🙌😊

11/09/2026

Whenever I walk through Edinburgh's New Towns I love noticing the different designs on the fanlights. There's so many different variations to spot - though as you can see, I find it almost impossible to take a straight photo! 🤦‍♀️😅

Technically,the windows above doors are called transom windows. Fanlights only refer to those that form a semi-circle creating the shape of a fan (see pic 3) so while all fanlights are transom windows, not all transom windows are fanlights.

In houses built before the invention of gas and electric lighting, transom windows helped bring light into the interior hall. But they weren't just practical they also had a design element.

Located above the exterior door they elongate the door opening, bringing it into line with the top of the windows (see pic 4). This created a more aesthetically pleasing look, providing harmony and balance and making everything a little easier on the eye.

08/09/2026

A fun morning recording another podcast with Angela of yesterday when we chatted all things Calton Hill.

While you wait for this episode to be released checkout the many other podcasts Angela has done exploring Edinburgh's outdoor spaces and the people in them - there's lots to choose from 😀
..and a special thank you to the random guy who very kindly helped us film this little clip 😊

03/09/2026

Thank you for all the guesses and well done to everyone who got it right! 🙌

The answer to yesterday's was George Square 😀

The lamps featured are known as Baillie Lamps. Historically, these were placed outside the houses of Edinburgh's local baillies/councillors/magistrates as well as that of the Lord Provost - hence why they feature the city's Coat of Arms.

02/09/2026

We haven't had a for a while soooo....this beautiful lamp, topped with the city's coat of arms, can be found somewhere in Edinburgh but do you know where?

No prizes, it's just for fun 🤠

Drop a comment below and I'll post the answer tomorrow...

02/09/2026

An opportunity to see some amazing footage of Edinburgh in days gone by followed by a talk by Andy Arthur of Threadinburgh 🤩

THE SINGING STREET | 75 YEARS ON

A very rare chance to see a remarkable piece of Abbeyhill and Edinburgh history.

Seventy-five years ago, the streets of Edinburgh became a film set.

The Singing Street was made by three teachers from Norton Park School with their school pupils as the cast. Filmed on the streets and pavements of Edinburgh, it captures the songs, games, rhymes and everyday life of a childhood that has almost completely disappeared.

For anyone who knows Abbeyhill, this is a particularly special piece of local history — made by people from our community and preserving a glimpse of the Edinburgh that surrounded them.

Now beautifully restored in high definition, this is a rare opportunity to see the film!

The screening will be followed by local historian Andy Arthur of who will explore the story behind the film, its makers and the Edinburgh it so vividly preserves.

SATURDAY 19 & SUNDAY 20 SEPTEMBER | 10–11AM
Abbeyhill Primary School | Abbey Street

🎬 Screening + 30-minute talk
☕ Refreshments from 9.30am
FREE ENTRY • ALL WELCOME

Arrive early — spaces may be limited.

COA2026 • 19–20 September • 11am–6pm
135 + artists • 60+ venues • One brilliant weekend

28/08/2026

✨️ New Exhibition Alert ✨️

Stonemasons – a History of Morningside and its Victorian Builders - tells the story of Morningsides transformation over the 19th century, from a quiet rural village to a bustling extension of Edinburgh, it's streets lined with Victorian tenements.

We're also introduced to James, Simon and Robert Slater, three brothers from Shetland, who were responsible for much of the areas development.

A free exhibition by Jill Powlett-Brown as part of her Morningside Masons and Medieval Stones project, funded by an Old Edinburgh Club Jean Guild Grant and supported by the Morningside Heritage Association.

Morningside Library, 1st-14th September 2026.
Mon-Wed, 10am-8pm and Thu-Sat, 10am-5pm.

20/08/2026

I posted about the Union Canal earlier today and this is what it looked like this evening 🥰