The National Museum of Scotland's whale skeleton being cleaned by Mr W Stirling and Mr S Gonigal in April 1960.The National Museum of Scotland's whale skeleton being cleaned by Mr W Stirling and Mr S Gonigal in April 1960.
The National Museum of Scotland's whale skeleton being cleaned by Mr W Stirling and Mr S Gonigal in April 1960.

Edinburgh's Chambers Street: 18 pictures from the 1950s and 1960s of the Capital street that's home to the National Museum of Scotland

The Old Town street is home to a range of important buildings, including the National Museum of Scotland – and there was plenty going on there over half a century ago.

Chambers Street is named after William Chambers of Glenormiston, a former Lord Provost of Edinburgh who was instrumental in the creation of Edinburgh Improvement Act (1867).

It was this legislation that led to the creation of the thoroughfare linking George IV Bridge and South Bridge in 1870 on the site of North College Street and three 18th century residential squares – Adam Square, Argyle Square and Brown Square.

The street is home to a number of important buildings, including the National Museum of Scotland, built in 1888 and added to in 1998, as well as Edinburgh Sheriff Court, which was completed in 1994.

These are also a number of university buildings on the street including the the University of Edinburgh’ Old College, which predates the street having been completed in 1927, the 19th century Minto House which was the home of Lord Dunsinane before becoming the university’s Department of Architecture, and Adam House.

Chambers Street was also the former location of the Edinburgh Dental Hospital and School.

Here are 18 pictures to take you back to life on Chambers Street in the 1950s and 1960s.

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