When Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 CE, Pompeii was not the only casualty. 

Herculaneum – nine miles to the north – was likewise engulfed, a pyroclastic surge burying the town and smothering many of its inhabitants in a thick shroud of volcanic ash.

Emanuel Maurice, Prince d’Elbeuf, began excavating here in 1719, and it was from his posthumous estate that the Edinburgh diarist and lawyer James Boswell acquired ‘not cheap’ the plaster cast of a young female cat (shown foot of page) during his Grand Tour of Italy, Corsica, and France in 1764/66.

As you read this, only a very few Spurtles are dispersing across the barony, maintaining a 6ft distance between each other at all times and accessible to readers from behind a plexi-glass safety screen. 

Should you be lucky enough to encounter a copy, you will find on Page 1 news of flood, foam, and festive fatigue, and an unwelcome visitor to Broughton and all parts beyond.

Yesterday we came across guidance for over-70s and vulnerable others on receiving deliveries. 
 
It comes from Dr Richard Simpson, an Honorary Professor of Health Sciences & Sport at Stirling University; Visiting Hon. Professor at St Andrews University; retired MSP; former GP; psychiatrist; Community Union member.
 
We trust his advice, and repeat it unedited below.

1839–43 

SOUP-KITCHEN.—We understand that a soup-kitchen was opened on Saturday at Greenside Row, which will be a great boon to the poor of that densely populated parish, among whom for some time back there has been much sickness, and many very distressing cases of fever. We learn that it is under the management of the excellent minister of the parish and his session.

Scotsman, 16 January 1839

*****

Drum (Steads Place Ltd) and CAMVO 123 Ltd have this week submitted a proposal of application notice for the demolition of industrial units at 106–162 Leith Walk (even numbers).

1837–38

Fire.—On Thursday night, about seven o’clock, the premises in East Thistle Street Lane, in which Messrs M’Crie & Co. carry on the business of paper-staining, caught fire, which, however, by the prompt attendance of the firemen, was soon got under with an engine, and with comparatively little damage.

UPDATED 10 APRIL 2020

Residents associations across Edinburgh are rallying to support vulnerable locals who may need their help. 

We reproduce a list of those ones in Spurtle's area of operation, with thanks to Simon Holledge who compiled it. 

If you become aware of a constituted body offering similar help anywhere across Spurtleshire, let us know and we'll add details as soon as we have them.

Updates

Introduction 

Ever since the publication in 1886 of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, we have been accustomed to thinking of Edinburgh as a city divided. Its clefts are notionally between outward respectability and private vice, between modern Enlightenment and historic superstition, cerebral advancement and bestial instinct. 

The Broughton Spurtle is a member of the Independent Community News Network. This lunchtime, its Director, Emma Meese, issued the following open letter.

We reproduce it unedited and in full. 

As you can imagine these are very worrying times for our members. 

 

As an organisation, we are now extremely concerned. 

 

This is a time when our members are crucial in ensuring public information reaches communities across the UK to inform and advise about public health. 

 

Police Scotland issued a press release today. We reproduce it, unedited and in full, below. 

Police Scotland is advising the public to be cautious of strangers offering bogus services during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Social distancing and self-isolation mean more people than usual are in their homes at the moment. This presents an ideal opportunity for criminals to take advantage of elderly and vulnerable people, in particular.