Talk:Burns Lane

I've mucked up the formatting again after adding the Former Residents section, and can't seem to fix it.

I like knowing about where historical people lived and think it is a good idea to add such info to the various pages. I wasn't sure what to name the section, but opted for Former because it wouldn't be appropriate to list living people, so Former is always going to be correct.
EM 04:36, 19 October 2009 (MDT)

You have done nothing wrong as far as I can see ;-)....it was me that mucked it up earlier...I should "Fix it later",,well, later has to come soon !!
Thank you for adding and correcting things ! I like the thing about "Former Residents"
And...you have seen all these lanes etc. I'm trying to do something with..I guess that you as a native "Lerwician" easier can locate them than I can ;-))
Cheers, --Oddrun 06:17, 19 October 2009 (MDT)

Lerwician? Interesting term. The usual expression is Lerwegian, though I've never been particularly fond of the word. I'd generally refer to myself as being a "toonie" ;-)

With respect to The Lanes, I have a document somewhere with relevant info. Fedder used to give guided tours similar to those now done by Douglas Sinclair. He wrote his material up at the time and it is extant. I'll try to look it out.
EM 06:57, 19 October 2009 (MDT)

WOW, That would be something ! Hope you find it !
And in the future I shall refer to you as a "toonie", ;-)
Cheers, --Oddrun 07:03, 19 October 2009 (MDT)

What was the original configuration of Burns and Fox Lanes in pre-swimming pool days? I seem to remember seeing a picture on the Museum site of demolitions on the Hillhead in the 50's that seemed to suggest both lanes ran all the way to the Hillhead, and there was also mention of a 'Half Closs' in the vicinity.

Ghostrider 16:28, 19 October 2009 (MDT)

Guess this is the pic you thoght about....

http://photos.shetland-museum.org.uk/index.php?a=wordsearch&s=item&key=WczoxMDoiSGFsZiBDbG9zcyI7&pg=2
Cheers--Oddrun 16:47, 19 October 2009 (MDT)

Yup, pretty sure thats it. I presume, as the ground is more or less flat, that that picture is taken on the Hillhead, roughly around where the entrance to the swimming pool carpark is now. Among the jumble, its impossible to tell whats what as far as where a lane is, and what one it is though, and I was born at least 10+ years too late to have seen in for real.

Ghostrider 17:26, 19 October 2009 (MDT)

I have a repro of an OS map from 1900 which shows a half closs about one third of the way down from the Hillhead, but the above pic makes me think that the rooflight in the top right corner is on the Grand Hotel, so much farther down. I'll ask Wibby Leask, he lives in Fox Lane.
Heimdal 17:50, 19 October 2009 (MDT)

I was blaming the roof window on the nearest end of Gladstone Terrace http://photos.shetland-museum.org.uk/index.php?a=wordsearch&s=item&key=Wczo5OiJHbGFkc3RvbmUiOw==&pg=19 ,but there's so much of one thing bearing over the top of another in that pic, there's not much to go on, so it could well be the Grand, there was a flatish piece there too.

Ghostrider 18:06, 19 October 2009 (MDT)

Just a point emerged from somewhere deep in the memory, someone will maybe correct me if I'm not remembering right.

Would it not be more correct to say "Roy Greenwald had to have the building demolished......" As I seem to recall it, the part through which Burns Lane passed had deteriorated to the point it was unstable and unsafe (hence the ironwork showing above the Burns Lane entrance in the pic of the old building, it was actually holding the building together in that section and stopping it deteriorating further).

I seem to vaguely remember something too that originally the plans were mooted to not have a Burns Lane entrance from the street in the rebuilt building, just block it off at the back of the shop, but it never got approved by planning. That would definitely need veryfying from elsewhere though.

Ghostrider 11:43, 21 October 2009 (MDT)

Going back to the first Museum pic above, their caption is wrong and Ghostrider is correct in saying this is the Hillhead and the rooflight is on a Gladstone Terrace house. It is nowhere near the Half Closs, now gone forever. I had a look today (and counted chimney pots !) and it fits with Gl Ter.
I don't know if Roy 'had' to have the old place demolished but it certainly was a warren of a place, tiny rooms and totally unsuited for a modern shop. He did have problems with planning/building control as I recall. A chimney (false) ended part of a metre higher than the original building and had to be taken down and rebuilt.
Heimdal 14:30, 21 October 2009 (MDT)

Well, it's not the first time we've found funny captions on Museum pics....Even I can manage to see where "Unknown" places are...counting chimneys is very often a sencible thing to do ;-))))
I love the pics you have taken, it makes it much more interesting to see the "inside" of a lane, than just the opening ! I'm hoping for nice weather in Lerwick so you can have walks around with your camera ;-)
Cheers, --Oddrun 14:48, 21 October 2009 (MDT)