A crane towers over the site of the Great Mosque being built in Edinburgh, October 1989.A crane towers over the site of the Great Mosque being built in Edinburgh, October 1989.
A crane towers over the site of the Great Mosque being built in Edinburgh, October 1989.

17 photos transporting you back to Edinburgh in 1989

As the 1980s drew to a close, Edinburgh was looking to the new decade – while facing poll tax protest and the perennial traffic problems as well as.
By David McLean
Published 27th May 2021, 12:28 GMT
Updated 10th Jun 2021, 20:45 GMT

Following the completion of Gilmerton junction, 1989 witnessed the finishing touches being applied to Edinburgh’s new ring road: the A720 City Bypass.

In the city centre, fresh developments included a new financial hub, Saltire Court, being constructed at the notorious Castle Terrace gap-site, and the city’s first ever purpose-built mosque in the Southside.

There was sporting success too. Hearts came within a whisker of reaching the UEFA Cup semi finals, narrowly losing out over two legs against German cracks Bayern Munich following an historic one nil victory at Tynecastle.

The city was in jubilant mood on the 5th of November. Nothing to do with Guy Fawkes – Scotland had just qualified for the 1990 World Cup.

But there was sadness towards the end of the year too. In October, the Guthrie Street gas explosion caused the collapse of a tenement and claimed the lives of 21-year-old student Nicola Donnelly and 35-year-old lecturer Peter Small.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

If you haven't already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription at https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/subscriptions.

Bayern goalkeeper R Aumann stretches but can't keep the ball out of the net - Hearts score a goal in the Hearts v Bayern Munich firts leg UEFA Cup qualifier played at Tynecastle in February 1989. Final score 1-0 to Hearts.

1. Hearts v Bayern Munich 1989

Bayern goalkeeper R Aumann stretches but can't keep the ball out of the net - Hearts score a goal in the Hearts v Bayern Munich firts leg UEFA Cup qualifier played at Tynecastle in February 1989. Final score 1-0 to Hearts. Photo: Bill Newton

Photo Sales
The first day of Jenners winter sale in Decemmber 1989 - crowds rush into the famous Edinburgh department store as the doors open at 9.00am.

2. Sale starts at Jenners 1989

The first day of Jenners winter sale in Decemmber 1989 - crowds rush into the famous Edinburgh department store as the doors open at 9.00am. Photo: Albert Jordan

Photo Sales
Exterior of Cinderellas Rockerfellas disco/dance hall in St Stephen Street, in the Stockbridge area of Edinburgh. Picture taken in October 1989, when local residents were asking for it to be closed down.

3. Cinderellas Rockerfellas discoteque 1989

Exterior of Cinderellas Rockerfellas disco/dance hall in St Stephen Street, in the Stockbridge area of Edinburgh. Picture taken in October 1989, when local residents were asking for it to be closed down. Photo: Bill Stout

Photo Sales
Fruit boxes and pallets outside the Chinese market (Tse's fruit market) in Edinburgh's Argyle Place, October 1989. Other businesses were complaining the rubbish was affecting their trade.

4. Rubbish outside Argyle St fruit market 1989

Fruit boxes and pallets outside the Chinese market (Tse's fruit market) in Edinburgh's Argyle Place, October 1989. Other businesses were complaining the rubbish was affecting their trade. Photo: Crauford Tait

Photo Sales
Previous
1 / 5
Next Page
Related topics:Edinburgh

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.