The Historic Evolution and Modern Transformation of Edinburgh Police Boxes
On 25 May 1933, Bailie Rutherford Fortune formally inaugurated Edinburgh’s police box system by speaking directly to headquarters through a loudspeaker at one of the newly installed street structures. This historic event, attended by Chief Constable Roderick Ross and Post Office Secretary F J Milne, marked the official launch of a pioneering civic infrastructure network designed to reshape public safety and community communications across the capital.
The architectural foundation of the network rests on the work of Edinburgh City Architect Ebenezer MacRae, who designed the structures before passing away in 1951. A total of 142 cast-iron boxes were manufactured by the Carron Ironworks in Falkirk and placed systematically across the city’s police divisions. Each unit was originally equipped with a siren on the roof and served as a localized communication hub where police officers on the beat could regularly telephone their stations to log their coordinates and receive operational instructions.
The utility of these street fixtures shifted significantly over the subsequent decades as technology evolved. In 1993, the Edinburgh Evening News reported a plan to refurbish 11 police boxes for the upcoming tourist season to house specialized bilingual tourist police officers. The eventual decommissioning of the network led to large-scale public asset sales coordinated by law enforcement and local government to prevent urban decay. The Lothian and Borders Police placed 22 boxes up for sale in 2012, spanning prime locations such as the Lawnmarket, Princes Street, Cowgate, Hunter Square, and Drumsheugh Gardens. This commercial transition expanded on 28 August 2014, when the Scottish Police Authority, with assistance from the City of Edinburgh Council, marketed an additional batch of 23 police boxes for public acquisition, including the site at Whitehouse Loan near Thirlestane Road.
Private ownership has since sparked unique local preservation efforts and highly unconventional community transformations. A prominent example is the police box located at Braid Hills Road near the road to the clubhouse. This specific structure was purchased by Gail Smith and underwent a complete renovation by joiner Angus Self, who is the great-grandson of original Chief Constable Roderick Ross. Today, this structure serves a functional purpose as a localized police museum and a unique home for a family known as the Swimeasys, who document their daily lives through online videos. The transition of these 142 original cast-iron landmarks from vital security outposts to private cultural properties highlights their enduring impact on Edinburgh’s urban landscape.
