Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    New Myths and Legends of Edinburgh Volume 1
    New Myths and Legends of Edinburgh Volume 1
    New Myths and Legends of Edinburgh Volume 1
    Ebook47 pages30 minutes

    New Myths and Legends of Edinburgh Volume 1

    By Noel Chidwick

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    There are many tales told of Edinburgh. William Burke and William Hare; Greyfriar’s Bobby; and Major Weir: these are just some names from the catalogue of legend and myth of Edinburgh’s dark past. The stories are famous the world over, and are the inspiration for many books and films. Think of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Strange Case of Jeckyll and Hyde, inspired by the double life of Deacon Brodie.

    I’ve lived in Edinburgh for over 25 years, and these stories fascinate me. Imagine my pleasure as, over the years, I have unearthed new tales of this old city, the home of the Scottish Enlightenment.

    New Myths and Legends of Edinburgh is collection of tales never before revealed. These include: the Mysterious Lollipop Man who entices innocent cyclists to their peril; watch out for the the enterprising nesting skills of Michael Garrett; read about the Man Who Waited; and discover the origin of the sinister rock beside the Water of Leith in Craiglockhart Dell.

    How have I found these stories? Conversations enjoyed and overheard in the pubs and bars of Edinburgh are one such source; a special mention must go to Cloisters, a favourite pub where I have enjoyed a pint or two over the years. And there is the annual book fair for Christian Aid, held in the fine setting of St Andrew’s and St George’s Church in George Street. A rummage amongst the books at this fine feast has proved particularly fruitful. Wandering around the streets of the Old Town and the New Town also provides many clues, watching the folk of Edinburgh go about their business. Or maybe I just make the stories up.

    But who is Professor MacIntyre?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherThe New Curiosity Shop
    Release dateMay 8, 2011
    ISBN9781458093110
    New Myths and Legends of Edinburgh Volume 1

    Related to New Myths and Legends of Edinburgh Volume 1

    Related ebooks

    Short Stories For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      City of Culture

      Oct 15, 2021

      City of Culture
      6 min read

    • Article

      When I Find Hidden Gems, I Destroy Them

      Jul 28, 2021

      Three people may keep a secret if two of them are dead, said Benjamin Franklin. The sickening truth about travel writers is that they reveal secret locations in exchange for a free trip. It’s a Faustian pact and I must admit I bear some guilt in this

      3 min read

    • Article

      Good to SHARE

      Jul 8, 2020

      Good to SHARE
      4 min read

    • Article

      Letters To The Editor

      Oct 27, 2021

      TERENCE RATTIGAN’S The Winslow Boy (Masterpiece, October 6) has passed into our cultural heritage: an emblematic portrayal of a national aspiration towards fair play and justice. The fate of George Archer-Shee (right), the naval cadet cleared of stea

      2 min read

    • Article

      Your Letters

      Aug 7, 2020

      Your Letters
      5 min read

    • Article

      It Happened To Me…

      Oct 6, 2022

      It Happened To Me…
      6 min read

    • Article

      Postcards From The Edge

      May 18, 2021

      Postcards From The Edge
      6 min read

    • Article

      Readers’ Platform

      Feb 27, 2023

      ■ LAST month’s front cover featured an image of ’Scotsman’ from 1928, colourised by Ian MacCabe of The Gresley Society, but the original black & white image should have been credited to Brian Stephenson and the excellent Rail Archive Stephenson colle

      8 min read

    • Article

      Meet The TREASURE SEEKERS

      Dec 13, 2023

      Meet The TREASURE SEEKERS
      11 min read

    • Article

      Readers’ Page

      Nov 25, 2022

      Postal address The Editor, The Great Outdoors, Kelsey Publishing Ltd, The Granary, Downs Court, Yalding Hill, Yalding, Kent ME18 6AL. Please include a phone number and postal address. In the November issue of The Great Outdoors, Stefan Durkacz and Da

      3 min read

    • Article

      A Beachcomber’s Bounty

      May 28, 2020

      A Beachcomber’s Bounty
      4 min read

    • Article

      Town & Country

      Jan 4, 2023

      Town & Country
      5 min read

    • Article

      Perimeter

      Mar 6, 2020

      Perimeter
      2 min read

    • Article

      Good News Week

      Jan 24, 2024

      Good News Week
      6 min read

    • Article

      Letters

      Dec 14, 2021

      Letters
      6 min read

    • Article

      Much More Than A Rider

      May 4, 2022

      TO any follower of the sport of eventing, the names Anneli Drummond-Hay and her best-known horse, Merely-A-Monarch, evoke a heroic era of hairy fences, flamboyant riders, scary flights and dashing corinthian spirit, although few involved now are old

      5 min read

    • Article

      Good to SHARE

      Feb 12, 2020

      Good to SHARE
      2 min read

    • Article

      Portraits Of Another World

      Jul 30, 2023

      Portraits Of Another World
      5 min read

    • Article

      Your Countryside

      Feb 10, 2022

      Share your views and opinions by writing to us at: Have your say: BBC Countryfile Magazine, Eagle House, Bristol BS1 4ST; or email editor@countryfile.com, tweet us @CountryfileMag or via Facebook facebook.com/countryfilemagazine *We reserve the right

      4 min read

    • Article

      Time Out

      Aug 30, 2019

      E.F Knight’s Cruise of the Alerte is one of those sailing books that has all the classic ingredients for a ripping yarn. A cruise in a small boat to an exotic location, a few rows along the way and a fruitless hunt for treasure at the end of it. Knig

      5 min read

    • Article

      Close-by Adventures

      Oct 15, 2020

      Close-by Adventures
      6 min read

    • Article

      Haunted London Tour Guide

      Oct 1, 2020

      HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INTO GIVING GHOST TOURS IN LONDON? As a child, I was an avid reader of ghost stories so I have always had an interest in them. I moved to London from Stoke-on-Trent in the late 1970s and ended up working as a postman in the cit

      3 min read

    • Article

      Putting Man On The Map

      Mar 29, 2023

      Putting Man On The Map
      5 min read

    • Article

      The Upper Echelon NOCCUNDRA HOTEL

      Sep 17, 2020

      The Upper Echelon NOCCUNDRA HOTEL
      6 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for New Myths and Legends of Edinburgh Volume 1

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      New Myths and Legends of Edinburgh Volume 1 - Noel Chidwick

      New Myths and Legends of Edinburgh

      Volume 1

      Noel Chidwick

      Published by The New Curiosity Shop

      Smashwords Edition

      Copyright Noel Chidwick 2011

      Noel Chidwick has asserted his rights under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

      www.noelchidwick.com

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Cover Design: Noel Chidwick

      For Jane

      Table of Contents

      Introduction

      Revenge of the Lollipop Man

      The Union Canal Bore

      The Man Who Waited

      The Diary of Michael Garrett

      Sam Brown’s Secret

      When I’m Cleaning Winders

      Professor MacIntyre is Missing!

      The Session in the Wall

      The Devil’s Testicle

      Afterword

      Acknowledgements

      About the Author

      Introduction

      "The Old Town shuffle and the New Town stride."

      —Rod Paterson

      There are many tales told of Edinburgh. William Burke and William Hare; Greyfriar’s Bobby; and Major Weir: these are just some names from the catalogue of legend and myth from Edinburgh’s past. The stories are famous the world over, and are the inspiration for many books and films. Think of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Strange Case of Jeckyll and Hyde, inspired by the double life of Deacon Brodie.

      I’ve lived in Edinburgh for over 25 years, and these stories fascinate me. Imagine my pleasure as, over the years, I have unearthed new tales of Edinburgh, hidden from common sight, but worthy of dusting off and presenting to the world. How have I found these stories? Conversations enjoyed and overheard in the pubs and bars of Edinburgh are one such source; a special mention must go to Cloisters, where I have enjoyed a pint or two over the years. And there is the annual book fair for Christian Aid, held in the fine setting of St Andrew’s and St George’s Church in George Street. A rummage amongst the books at this fine feast has proved particularly fruitful. Wandering around the streets of the Old Town, the New Town also provides clues: look up, above the line that marks the boundary between ground floor and first floor: that is the key.

      And, looking through my notes gathered over the years, one name keeps re-occurring: Professor MacInytre. He lived in Edinburgh sometime in the 19th Century, and seemed to be associated with the University in some way that I am yet to discover. Was he a philosopher, a scientist? It is not clear. What is clear, is that he had a nose, an intuition for seeking out the unusual in Edinburgh. It was often hidden in plain view—or, as my Dad used to say: can’t see for looking.

      It was with a stroke of luck that I came across his notes. I bought a

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1