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History

History of Fountainbridge and Springside

There have been many chapters in story of Fountainbridge. By the early 19^th Century, Fountainbridge was a densely populated industrial area, benefiting from the excellent transport links provided by the railway and Union Canal. 

 

The eight-acre site, from which Springside is emerging, has always enjoyed a critical role in the industrial development of Edinburgh. William McEwan first established a brewery and bottling plant there in 1856, and by the1880s it had expanded to 12 acres, including the current development site. The brewery became part of Scottish Brewers in 1931, with the subsequent merging to create Scottish & Newcastle Breweries in 1960 instigating a thorough modernisation of the plant, creating much of what remains there today.

 

The north site was put up for sale by S&N during 2003 due to a rationalisation of the bottling and distribution functions. The Springside development started construction in 2007 and now the development is taking shape as a thriving new neighbourhood with high-quality homes at its heart.

 

As Springside flourishes, new walkways have been built to create improved links between the development and neighbouring parts of the city. To celebrate the history of the development’s Fountainbridge location, new street names have been chosen to commemorate some of Edinburgh’s most successful brewers originally based at the former S&N site.

 

Younger Steps, McEwan Square and Melvin Walk provide a pedestrian route between Dundee Street and West Approach Road joining the Haymarket and Fountainbridge communities and allowing for easier access throughout the area.

 

Shaken Not Stirred: Fountainbridge's most famous son

 

In 1930, Sir Sean Connery, Fountainbridge’s most famous son, was born. From his humble beginnings as a milkman, Thomas Sean Connery went on to star as the world’s most famous secret agent, James Bond, but he never forgot his roots.  Connery was born at 176 Fountainbridge on August 25, 1930. The oldest son of Joe and his wife Euphemia MacLean, he famously slept in the bottom drawer of a wardrobe in the two-bedroom top floor flat until the arrival of his brother Neil eight years later.

 

Big Tam, as he was affectionately known, left school at the age of 14 and began delivering milk full-time for St Cuthbert’s Co-operative. He was paid a starting salary of 21 shillings a week in 1944, or £1.05 in today’s money while working for St Cuthbert’s.  His official job title at the time was Corstorphine Dairy barrow worker, according to records at the time.

 

With the extra money, the teenager bought a £56 piano after his parents quashed his dreams of a motorbike. 

 

 

Sir Sean comes home

 

In June 2010, Fountainbridge welcomed back its most famous son at a special event celebrating his legacy to the area.

Sir Sean returned to the street where he was born 80 years ago to unveil a plaque in his honour, and to meet local community organisations and businesses involved in the regeneration of the area.

Speaking at the unveiling of the plaque, he said: “The Fountainbridge of today is a very different area from that which I remember growing up in, many years ago. Then it was an industrial area that left a significant imprint on my life, as well as on the city of Edinburgh.

“Now it is a much more pleasant area in which to live, visit and work with new homes, offices, businesses and open spaces replacing the old factories and tenements. And I am sure that the community spirit I remember will be maintained throughout this transformation.”

 

Industrial heritage of Fountainbridge

Fountainbridge was, once a major industrial area close to the centre of Edinburgh.

• The North British Rubber Works had a large manufacturing plant beside the old canal basin.

• St Cuthbert's Coop had a dairy, with the stabling for their horse-drawn milk deliveries nearby.

• William McEwan's established Fountain Brewery in Fountainbridge in 1856. The company merged with Younger's in 1931, then with Newcastle Breweries in 1960 to form Scottish & Newcastle. S&N opened a new Fountain Brewery at Fountainbridge, on a 22 acre site beside the Union Canal in 1973.  

• The company also retained their older premises on the opposite side of the main road, Fountainbridge. 

In 1995, S&N took over Courage to form Scottish Courage.

The North British Rubber Works closed in the mid-20th century. The land they occupied has now been re-named Edinburgh Quay, and is currently being developed for luxury housing, bars and restaurants. St Cuthbert's coop closed their dairy and ceased their horse-drawn milk deliveries around 1990. They also moved their collection of stage coaches from the building beside their dairy. The whole area has recently been redeveloped as housing.

McEwans can trace its association with Edinburgh and Leith back to 1749 when William Younger established his first brewery in Leith. The company is still operating from Fountain Brewery at Fountainbridge, but not for much longer!