In 1955 two spectacular fires took places in Edinburgh within 24 hours of each other. First a fire at C W Carr warehouse and James Aitman show factory in Jeffrey Street.  
Fire engine and extended ladder pictured at the scene.
In 1955 two spectacular fires took places in Edinburgh within 24 hours of each other. First a fire at C W Carr warehouse and James Aitman show factory in Jeffrey Street.  
Fire engine and extended ladder pictured at the scene.
In 1955 two spectacular fires took places in Edinburgh within 24 hours of each other. First a fire at C W Carr warehouse and James Aitman show factory in Jeffrey Street. Fire engine and extended ladder pictured at the scene.

11 devastating fires that changed the face of Edinburgh forever

Edinburgh has faced countless major fires over the years, but few as destructive as these examples.

From the Great Fire of 1824, which destroyed hundreds of homes and claimed 13 lives around the Old Town, to more recent blazes, such as the inferno that ravaged the Cowgate and South Bridge in 2002, we take a look at 11 devastating fires that changed the face of Edinburgh forever.

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.

Related topics:

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.