Fort housing estate, Leith/Trinity

FORT House has a colourful history.

It was built in the early 1960s on the site of the former 18th Century Leith Fort, whose boundary wall still stands around the development today.

The original fort was designed by architect James Craig, who was responsible for Edinburgh's New Town, and built in 1779 to defend the port.

During the Napoleonic Wars, prisoners were housed at the site and throughout the Second World War it was an army base.

Fort House incorporates the original army guardhouse and office (see photo), now used by concierge staff. It is understood that the black cannons which feature at the entrance to the site were added at a later date.

The housing estate has a notorious past, receiving much negative publicity for its problems with drug abuse and crime over the years.

But many residents believe conditions have improved over the last two years since the police stepped up patrols in the area, installed more CCTV cameras and banned well-known trouble makers.

However, these improvements have not been enough to save the 1960's flats, which have been emptied and are now due for demolition.

Which idiotic planner decided to build a housing estate in a historic fort, i want to know!

Off to the theatre tonight to see David Essex in 'All the fun at the fair' at the Playhouse.