The 19th and 20th centuries saw far more facilities provided for leisure activities in South East Scotland. Many of these were aimed at the aspirational middle class, but others were open to all. As working conditions eased over the modern period and holidays became protected in law, most levels of society had greater opportunities to undertake activities focused on entertainment and recreation.
The 19th and 20th centuries saw a large number of theatres established in Edinburgh, as Presbyterian condemnation of acting and performance became less entrenched in society. At the beginning of the 20th century cinema arrived in the region, with the first purpose-built cinema in Edinburgh being the Haymarket Cinema, which opened in 1912 and closed in the 1960s. This building was demolished in the 2010s, with standing building recording taking place before work commenced and archaeological evaluation being undertaken after the ground was cleared. There has been a community history project to identify all of Scotland’s historic theatres and cinemas. This lists a large number of sites in the region, with Edinburgh unsurprisingly having a particular concentration. It is striking that the vast majority of early cinemas and theatres are no longer places of entertainment. Yet in many cases the buildings do still survive. More standing building recording of older cinemas and theatres in the region would be desirable.
The 19th and early 20th centuries saw a major growth in facilities for sports. This period of course saw the development of large stadia and grounds for football and rugby, with Murrayfield opening for rugby in the 1920s. Many of these larger sports facilities have been profoundly altered – although fragments of older structures do sometimes survive, like the war memorial arch in front of the stadium at Murrayfield. In contrast, some smaller sporting venues can preserve older pavilions and other facilities. Surveys of the remains of extant 19th and early 20th-century sporting facilities could be of interest.
The 19th and early 20th centuries saw a major expansion in the provision of urban parks and gardens. This was partly driven by a growing focus on the importance of leisure, although it also reflected the fact that cities and towns had grown to such a large size that it was now difficult for urban residents to walk out to the countryside. The City of Edinburgh’s Survey of Gardens and Designed Landscapes has highlighted the capital’s wide variety of public and private parks and gardens (McGowan et al 2009). However, more recording of these sites and associated features could be undertaken. It should perhaps be noted that some of the features in public parks can be at risk of vandalism or suffer from poor maintenance, and therefore more recording of their current state would be helpful.
During the 19th century, Edinburgh also saw the establishment of Scotland’ first formal zoo. In the 1840s a zoo was established at Broughton Park in the Bellevue area.
This zoo ultimately failed and the modern Edinburgh Zoo was eventually established shortly before the First World War. More research into Edinburgh’s early zoos and the wider evidence for ownership of exotic animals in the region should perhaps be undertaken.
Leisure and Entertainment Research Questions
- How did mass tourism affect South East Scotland during the modern period?
- What can we learn about historic hotels in the region?
- How did the design, location, and significance of inns and pubs change during the modern period?
- How did the design of theatres, dance halls, cinemas, and other places of entertainment evolve during the modern period?
- What can we learn about musical instruments and performance spaces?
- How did public parks and gardens change during the modern period? What can we learn about their facilities (e.g. bandstands, playgrounds, bowling greens, ponds)?
- How does the design and purpose of botanical gardens change during the modern period?
- What can we discover about sports played in South East Scotland during the modern period? How did sporting facilities and equipment develop over the 19th and 20th centuries?
- How did the use and design of venues for spectator sports evolve during the modern period?
- What can we learn about swimming (both in open water and in purpose-built pools)? What infrastructure was associated with swimming / bathing? How did this change over time?
- What can we learn about piers, promenades, shelters, and other recreational structures by the sea?
- What can we find out about the development of recreational rowing, sailing, and other water sports in the region?
- What can we discover about curling, skating, and other winter sports in the region?
- What can we discover about the evolution of menageries and zoos in the region?
- How did the treatment of pets change during the modern period? What types of animals were kept as pets and in what conditions?
- What can we learn about cockfighting in South East Scotland during the 19th century?
- What can we discover about hunting, shooting, fishing, and other bloodsports in the region? What impact have these sports had on the environment? How have they affected surrounding communities?
- How did men’s and women’s recreational activities compare? To what extent was recreation segregated by gender?
- What can we discover about children’s play and how it changed over the modern period?