'We're losing more and more of Princes Street': Locals mourn loss of 'beautiful' landmark after major fire
Residents say they hope the historic building can be restored, amid fears Princes Street is being eroded bit by bit
Locals have expressed their shock at the major fire which devastated a 150-year-old former department store on Edinburgh’s Princes Street.
Over the last 48 hours, hundreds of shoppers and residents have stopped at the site, watching in horror as emergency services work to secure what remains of the historic building - now a blackened, fire-ravaged shell in the middle of the city’s most famous shopping street.
Many described feeling horrified but not surprised as the news of the fire spread on social media on Thursday, saying it felt reminiscent of the blaze that engulfed the former Jenners building in 2023.
Stewart Dickson, who lives in the New Town, said: “I was quite shocked when I heard what happened, but to be honest it didn’t come as a huge surprise. It’s a legacy building on Princes Street with renovation work going on.
“You would think given the history and beauty of these buildings that there’d be someone there 24/7, at least someone on hand to alert people.”
The 66-year-old said he is concerned about the loss of another historic building, especially one that occupies such a prominent spot in Edinburgh’s city centre.
“Whatever they put in its place now will not replace it,” he said. “We’re beginning to lose more and more of Princes Street. To see a big chunk taken out of it like that is just horrible.”
“I’d like to see as much of it restored as possible, even if it’s just the façade.”
Marta Martynowska, from Livingston, said she also hopes the structure can be restored to preserve the incredible history of the building.
The 46-year-old runs tours for the Polish community in Edinburgh, and was in the city centre on Tuesday preparing for a tour about the history of Princes Street.
“I was taking photos and reading about the history of each of the buildings, including the one where the fire happened,” she said.
“So I couldn’t believe it when I saw the news two days later. All that history. It’s a real shame.
“The old buildings on the street are beautiful, much nicer than the ugly buildings put up in the 60s and 70s.
“I hope they try and restore at least part of it, but I guess it depends on the state of the building.”
Footage of the fire-engulfed building was shared rapidly across social media on Thursday morning, horrifying locals both young and old.
Lilas Hayou, a 17-year-old who is working as an intern in Edinburgh this summer, said she felt “sadness and emptiness” in her stomach when she saw the scale of the destruction.
“It’s such a historic, nice building,” she said. “I don’t understand how it happened. They need to sort out how they’re looking after the old buildings.”
Seven-year-old Brooklyn Lawrence, who saw videos of the fire on his mum’s Facebook, was also among those intrigued to see the destroyed building for himself.
His dad, Denny, works as a plasterer and has experience working in several of the centuries-old buildings in the area.
“I know the layout of them, and they don’t have the best structures. So when I saw the pictures, I thought ‘wow’ but I wasn’t that surprised.”
The 29-year-old Leith resident doesn’t drive and relies on the bus and trams through Princes Street to get to work.
“It’s been really disruptive the last couple of days,” he said. “My dad even had to come and pick me up this morning to go to a job.”
“Who knows how long it will be closed for, but I hope everything gets back to normal soon.”
For Anies Iqbal, the sight of the burnt-out building, which had been vacant for several years, is a symbol of the decline of Princes Street over the last two decades.
The 53-year-old said: “There’s so many old abandoned buildings on Princes Street now. The whole street is just not what it used to be.
“Growing up I used to walk the whole way up and down the street, everything was here.
“It’s tacky now. Every second building has scaffolding up. The fire probably means more scaffolding, who knows for how long.
“It just doesn’t look nice.”