Tamsin Grainger speaking and showing new work as part of the Winter Lecture series of the Scottish Historic Buildings Trust on November 12th 2025 at Ruddles Court, Edinburgh, 6pm.
Engaging with the starting point of Patrick Geddes’ Valley Section – the coast, the junction between land and sea; this session will focus on Edinburgh’s own coastline.
Stretching from the River Almond to the River Esk, Edinburgh’s remarkable coastline runs from one of the few Roman ruins in Scotland to buried quarries and beaches made entirely from the rubble of the city’s demolished buildings. Through docks and ports to beach resort, nature and culture, past and present are brought together in diverse ways.
This part of the city has enjoyed something of a revival of interest over the past few years: esplanade, beach, and shore, making new lungs for the city. How might engaging with this oldest and most ephemeral boundary of the city help us re-imagine it anew?
Descriptions of talks:
Jonathan Gardner’s talk, ‘Washed up on the beach: revisiting the heritage of Edinburgh’s coastline‘, aims to provide an overview of some of the history and heritage of the city’s coastline and its importance for thinking about the city of the future.
Images above from The Granton Burn, a new stitched map - work in progress (details)
Tamsin’s talk, ‘A walk along the Granton Burn, from Hill to Sea’ follows a newly created map that traces the Burn’s journey from Corstorphine Hill Tower to the sea, reflecting May East’s advice not to rely on old maps when navigating changing urban landscapes.