Edinburgh, Leith Docks, Imperial Dock, Grain Elevator

NT 27585 76902 A historic building survey was undertaken, May–June 2016, on a category B listed Imperial Grain Warehouse in advance of its demolition. The building was constructed in 1934 using reinforced concrete and included a grain distribution floor and grain supply belts to 70 individual grain silos. A delivery section, with seven individual floors, was accessed by a staircase and passenger lift. In 1957–9 a seven-bay extension was added and the building was extended again in 1968 with the addition of a further 12 bays. During the 1980s investment was made in improving the plant and machinery including a new dust extraction and

delivery system, and in 2004 a programme of concrete repairs was carried out. The warehouse continued in operation until the end of 2006, when the prohibitively expensive cost of upgrading it to meet new health and safety legislation together with uneconomic running costs forced its closure.

The survey has demonstrated that all four external elevations of the warehouse have remained largely unaltered since they were constructed. The largest modification occurred to the fenestration of the Phase 1 (1934) block when all the metal-framed windows were replaced by PVC windows in 1975. Presumably this not only allowed more light into the building but also ensured that the interior working floors were suitably pressurised for more efficient dust extraction. All the operational machinery within the

warehouse has remained untouched since the warehouse closed in 2006.

Archive: NRHE (intended). Reports: Edinburgh Council SMR and NRHE

Funder: Forth Ports Ltd

Michael Cressey – CFA Archaeology Ltd

(Source: DES, Volume 18)

NT 27585 76902 A historic building survey was conducted on a Category B Listed Imperial Grain Warehouse in advance of and during its demolition.

The building was constructed in 1934 using re-enforced concrete. It included a grain distribution floor and grain supply belts to 70 individual grain silos. A delivery section, with seven individual floors, was accessed by a staircase and passenger lift.

In 1957–59 a seven-bay extension was added and the building was extended yet again in 1968 with the addition of a further 12 bays. During the 1980s investment was made in improving the plant and machinery including a new dust extraction and delivery system and in 2004 a programme of concrete repairs was carried out to address rusting, reinforcing bars and spalling concrete. The Imperial Dock Grain Warehouse continued in operation until the end of 2006, when the prohibitively expensive cost of upgrading it to meet new health and safety legislation together with uneconomic running costs forced its closure.

The survey has demonstrated that all four external elevations of the Imperial Grain Warehouse have remained largely unaltered since they were constructed. The largest modification occurred to the fenestration of the Phase 1 (1934) block when all the metal-framed windows were replaced by PVC windows in 1975. Presumably, this not only allowed more light into the building but also ensured that the interior working floors were suitably pressurised for more efficient dust extraction.

The watching brief did not find any features that were previously unknown from the initial building survey; however, it did show the solidness of the building’s construction during its demolition.

Archive: NRHE and Edinburgh City Council HER (intended) Funder: Historic Environment Scotland

Michael Cressey – CFA Archaeology Ltd

(Source: DES Volume 23)

NT 27585 76902 An architectural watching brief was carried out, in December 2018, on the gantry grain conveyor attached to the Imperial Dock Grain Warehouse, Port of Leith (Canmore ID: 238155). This recorded the major architectural features associated with the gantry conveyor before and during its demolition.

Archive: NRHE (intended). Reports: City of Edinburgh Council HER

Funder: Forth Ports Ltd

Mike Cressey - CFA Archaeology Ltd

(Source: DES Vol 20)