Victoria Dock

Lake, Pool, Pond, Freshwater Marsh in Midlothian

Scotland

Victoria Dock

Oakville Terrace, Restalrig/Lochend This is the back street of one of Edinburgh&#039;s 11 &#039;Colonies&#039;. Ten of the Colonies are designated as conservation areas; for some unknown reason the nearest one to this one, at Industrial Road, didn&#039;t pass muster.
They were mostly all built roundabout the middle of the 19th Century, due to overcrowding in Edinburgh city centre, which along with the associated poor sanitation had made Edinburgh the most unhealthy place to live in Britain. They all consist of parallel terraced rows of two-storey properties, with access at one side to a bottom floor residence and at the other side to an upper floor one. This Colony is a bit of an oddball in that most of the rows do not have outdoor steps leading to the upper one; access is by stairs inside. Some are essentially big cul-de-sacs like this one, with a back street of two-storey residences (such as at Shandon) and others lead off main roads and therefore have no back streets (such as at Stockbridge). The other unusual thing about them - particularly relevant to delivery people - is that in the Colonies it isn&#039;t the streets that have a name, it is the buildings. So each &#039;street&#039; is accessed by two separate actual streets/pedestrian lanes. And therefore there are two &#039;streets&#039; on either side of the actual one.
The roofs (which could actually be described as one long roof) of Oakville Terrace are curious, in so far as it is hard to know whether they should be classified as such at all, being almost vertical; yet they are still tiled. The conservation area report describes them as being &#039;mansard&#039; roofs and if this is this the case there must be a more normal, less steep, upper part of the roof higher up, unseen from this camera position.
The same report gives a few theories about the origin of the Colony name. The most plausible one is that it was a slightly humorous reference to the fact that these new developments were built outside proper Edinburgh, but kind of still belonged to it. At that time a lot of the world was painted pink in British atlases, to denote the country&#039;s empire of colonies. — Oakville Terrace, Restalrig/Lochend Credit: Ian Dodds

Victoria Dock is a prominent freshwater body located in Midlothian, Scotland. Spanning an area of approximately 10 acres, it serves as a significant recreational and ecological site within the region. The dock is situated in a picturesque setting, surrounded by lush greenery and offering stunning views of the surrounding landscape.

As a lake, pool, pond, and freshwater marsh, Victoria Dock boasts a diverse ecosystem that supports a wide range of flora and fauna. The water in the dock is sourced from natural springs, ensuring a constant flow of clean freshwater. This pristine environment provides an ideal habitat for various aquatic plants, such as water lilies, reeds, and rushes, which thrive along the edges of the dock.

The dock is home to an array of wildlife, including ducks, geese, swans, and other waterfowl that can be observed gracefully swimming across the calm waters. Additionally, the surrounding vegetation attracts numerous bird species, making it a popular spot for birdwatching enthusiasts. Visitors can often spot kingfishers, herons, and a variety of songbirds in the area.

Apart from its ecological significance, Victoria Dock offers an array of recreational activities for visitors to enjoy. Fishing is a popular pastime, with anglers often seeking out the dock's abundant fish population, which includes species such as perch, pike, and carp. The dock's tranquil atmosphere and scenic beauty also make it an ideal location for leisurely walks, picnics, and photography.

Overall, Victoria Dock in Midlothian is a remarkable freshwater body that combines natural beauty, ecological value, and recreational opportunities, making it a cherished destination for both locals and tourists alike.

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Victoria Dock Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 55.979175/-3.1734075 or Grid Reference NT2676. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Oakville Terrace, Restalrig/Lochend

This is the back street of one of Edinburgh's 11 'Colonies'. Ten of the Colonies are designated as conservation areas; for some unknown reason the nearest one to this one, at Industrial Road, didn't pass muster. They were mostly all built roundabout the middle of the 19th Century, due to overcrowding in Edinburgh city centre, which along with the associated poor sanitation had made Edinburgh the most unhealthy place to live in Britain. They all consist of parallel terraced rows of two-storey properties, with access at one side to a bottom floor residence and at the other side to an upper floor one. This Colony is a bit of an oddball in that most of the rows do not have outdoor steps leading to the upper one; access is by stairs inside. Some are essentially big cul-de-sacs like this one, with a back street of two-storey residences (such as at Shandon) and others lead off main roads and therefore have no back streets (such as at Stockbridge). The other unusual thing about them - particularly relevant to delivery people - is that in the Colonies it isn't the streets that have a name, it is the buildings. So each 'street' is accessed by two separate actual streets/pedestrian lanes. And therefore there are two 'streets' on either side of the actual one. The roofs (which could actually be described as one long roof) of Oakville Terrace are curious, in so far as it is hard to know whether they should be classified as such at all, being almost vertical; yet they are still tiled. The conservation area report describes them as being 'mansard' roofs and if this is this the case there must be a more normal, less steep, upper part of the roof higher up, unseen from this camera position. The same report gives a few theories about the origin of the Colony name. The most plausible one is that it was a slightly humorous reference to the fact that these new developments were built outside proper Edinburgh, but kind of still belonged to it. At that time a lot of the world was painted pink in British atlases, to denote the country's empire of colonies.

Ian Dodds

Flats on Powederhall Road

This block is Powderhall Rigg. Modern tenement blocks, looking north to St Mark's Park.

M J Richardson

Powderhall Brae

Apartment block on Powderhall Road. They look relatively new, but are at least 10 years old.

M J Richardson

The Water of Leith

Looking downstream from the footbridge into St Marks' Park. Flats of Powderhall Rigg are on the right, and ahead the Powderhall waste management plant.

M J Richardson

Water of Leith

Looking upstream to St Mark's Bridge from the footpath bridge at Powderhall.

M J Richardson

Codlins and Cream by the Water of Leith

A good common name for the Great Willowherb [Epilobium hirsutum] - codlins [young apples] from the pink petals and the self-explanatory cream from the central stamens and stigma.

M J Richardson

Tunnel on Trinity Path

Clive Nicholson

Seven Petrel docked in Leith

Anthony Parkes

Memorial stone, Warriston Cemetery

Detail view of a memorial stone at Warriston Cemetery. See also Geograph image NT2575 : Weeping woman sculpture, Warriston Cemetery

William Starkey

Memorial stone, Warriston Cemetery

Detail view of a memorial stone at Warriston Cemetery. See also Geograph image NT2575 : Weeping woman sculpture, Warriston Cemetery

William Starkey

Autumn leaves, Warriston Cemetery

The leaves of a lime tree, backlit by the sun and viewed on an October afternoon.

William Starkey

Warriston Cemetery

The cemetery at Warriston, designated as a category A listed building and also a Local Nature Conservation Site. Visited quite by accident due to the closure of the nearby Botanic Gardens in high winds.

William Starkey

Autumn leaves, Warriston cemetery

Horse-chestnut leaves above the graves at Warriston Cemetery.

William Starkey

Seven Navica moored at Albert Dock

One of three Subsea 7 vessels in Leith Docks on the day. This one is a 108 x 22m pipe layer, capable of laying both flexible and rigid pipes. It later joined the other two vessels in the Western Harbour.

M J Richardson

FPV Jura at Leith

Moored at Ocean Terminal and loading supplies. It left later that afternoon and by early next morning was heading south off Bridlington, en route to Hull.

M J Richardson

Western Harbour, Leith

With new housing across the water and the FPV Jura moored; the black/yellow 'flag' on the side is an indication that it is a Fishery Protection Vessel [it looks black, but should be dark blue].

M J Richardson

Three Subsea 7 ships at Leith

Seven Petrel on the left and Seven Navica on the right, eclipsing Seven Discovery behind.

M J Richardson

Seven Petrel and Seven Discovery at Leith

Two of the Subsea 7 fleet of oil supply and service ships in harbour.

M J Richardson

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Victoria Dock is located at Grid Ref: NT2676 (Lat: 55.979175, Lng: -3.1734075)

Unitary Authority: City of Edinburgh

Police Authority: Edinburgh

What 3 Words

///winner.goats.palms. Near Edinburgh

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Located within 500m of 55.979175,-3.1734075

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Lat/Long: 55.97627/-3.1696316

Victoria Dock

Lake, Pool, Pond, Freshwater Marsh in Midlothian

Scotland

Victoria Dock

Victoria Dock Images

What 3 Words

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