CAN YOU PUT GROCERY IN THE PICTURE?

Submitted by Editor on Fri, 10/09/2010 - 15:37

Bellevue resident Fiona Manson has contacted Spurtle in search of local photographs.

Her grandfather, Robert Bruce, ran a grocery for many years until c.1969 at the corner of No. 32 Rodney Street and Heriot Hill Terrace (currently Ravenstone Property, pictured). Now Fiona is looking for images of it.

Her trawl through the archives has so far thrown up a black-and-white photograph of a Heriot Hill coronation street party in 1953 (at www.edinphoto), and a fascinating film of the construction, fitting out and staffing of the Ritz Cinema (which stood opposite the grocery) in 1929 (see http://ssa.nls.uk). Further still images are at http://www.scottishcinemas.org.uk.

Infuriatingly, though, Fiona's grandfather's shop remains just out of shot in each case. Do any readers – sensible readers more seduced by fruit and veg than the spurious glitz of Hollywood-on-Forth – have photos of the area at that time? Let us know and we'll put you in touch.

Historical note: The Ritz Cinema opened on 8 September 1929 with Al Jolson in The Singing Fool. It could seat nearly 2,000 people and remained open until 1981. It was demolished in 1983.