The past couple of centuries have not been particularly kind to the heritage of Scotland's capital.
Edinburgh has lost many fine examples of architecture that exist now only in photos and fading memories.
In a phase of modernisation, the scale of which had not seen since the late 19th century, scores of historic buildings were given the wrecking ball treatment in the 1960s and '70s and replaced with new constructs - many of which failed to meet public approval.
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Civic improvement schemes were all the rage in post-war Britain, and Edinburgh was no different.
The 1949 Civic Survey & Plan for Edinburgh imagined the almost complete destruction of a number of districts of the city. However, by the time of the enactment of these plans over the next couple of decades, it was the likes of Leith and parts of the Southside that witnessed the most seismic changes.
A proposal was also concocted to build an inner ring road around the city centre. Had the scheme gone ahead, vast swathes of the city's oldest buildings would've been toppled.
One bird-brained plan even envisaged the wholesale flattening of Princes Street, including the replacement of iconic landmarks such as Jenners department store. The plan was partially executed, but the Jenners building, among other fine historic structures, luckily managed to survive.
Accidents have also played a part in shaping Edinburgh's cityscape. A huge blaze in 1955 destroyed the stunning C&A Modes store on Princes Street, while a similar fate met the Palace Hotel on the same thoroughfare a generation later.
A great number of buildings have been swept aside in the name of progress. The art deco gem that was Portobello lido was lost due to financial constraints, while, new uses could not be found for magnificent structures such as the Chancelot Mill near Trinity when the original occupiers moved out.
Let's take a closer look at 11 incredible lost Edinburgh buildings we can't believe are no more.
Boots, Princes Street
This splendid-looking building was the home of Edinburgh's flagship Boots store until 1965, when the current block was built. We must admit we much prefer the Jacobean-style over the rather drab, brutalist building that stands there today.
Chancelot Mill, Bonnington
What a building! The old Chancelot Mill in Bonnington was an architectural treasure. Built in 1891, its distinctive clock tower dominated the area for decades. Sadly, a serious fire broke out in the building in the 1960s and it was demolished in 1971. The replacement Chancelot Mill still stands today at Newhaven.
Bowhead House, Lawnmarket
Another victim of the '70s was Bowhead House - though you definitely won't remember it as we're talking about the 1870s.
Jutting out ever more outwards as it rose, this amazing looking Medieval pile resembled an upturned pyramid. It was built in the 1500s and there was said to be great opposition to its demolition in 1878.
New Club & Life Association Building, Princes Street
Seeing as they were next door to each other and demolished around the same time, we've decided to lump these two wonderful buildings together.
Dating from the mid-1800s, both the original New Club and Life Association of Scotland buildings were among the finest ever constructed on Princes Street.
Their destruction was a product of the Princes Street Panel proposal, which envisaged the complete rebuilding of Edinburgh's main thoroughfare.
The Panel's plans were ultimately scrapped and key buildings on Princes Street such as the former Jenners and RW Forsyth stores survived. Sadly, the two magnificent buildings pictured here did not. They were both demolished within months of one another in 1967 and 1968.
North British & Mercantile Insurance Co, Princes Street
An architectural masterpiece, the North British & Mercantile Insurance Company headquarters was built in 1904 and graced our main thoroughfare for a little over 60 years. It deserved many more, but was demolished in 1966 to make way for the former British Home Stores building that we know and don't really love today.
Falcon Hall, Morningside
One of the city's poshest addresses, the Falcon Hall mansion was built in 1780 by wealthy hosier (and latterly Edinburgh Lord Provost) William Coulter.
Occupying a vast stretch of ground in Morningside between Newbattle Terrace and Canaan Lane, the mansion and its gardens were swept away in 1909.
Edinburgh mapmaker John George Bartholomew, who was the last inhabitant of Falcon Hall, saved elements of the neoclassical facade and had them built into his firm's frontage on Duncan Street.
The mansion's old gates were also repurposed and served as the main entrance into Edinburgh Zoo for a time.
Maule & Sons, West End
A West End landmark for decades, the continental-looking Maule & Sons department store wouldn't have looked out of place amongst the finest buildings of Budapest or Vienna.
It was demolished in the 1930s for the art deco-style Binn's department store, which is today the Johnnie Walker Experience whisky hub. One saving grace is that the replacement ain't half bad.
Portobello Bathing Pool
One of Scotland's largest lidos, the giant Portobello Bathing Pool was a masterpiece of art deco architecture and it's hard to believe it was closed and demolished over a 'lack of funds', but that's precisely what happened. The council-owned facility lay empty for around a decade before being razed to the ground in 1988. The site is now home to a leisure centre and the five-a-side pitches.
C&A Modes, Princes Street
A department store of Parisian proportions, the original C&A store on Princes Street exuded elegance and finery. Unfortunately it's good looks did not make it fire-resistant. The entire building was consumed by fire in November 1955.
Parker's, Bristo Street
This Southside landmark was a focal point of the Bristo area until the late 1960s when Edinburgh University pressed ahead with some fairly controversial expansion plans and ripped up much of the old community. The Tudor-fronted Parker's department store was one of the last buildings to go around 1971 and the area is now largely unrecognisable to how it once looked.
Marlborough Mansions, Portobello Promenade
Dating from the 1890s, the Marlborough Mansions were quite arguably the finest tenements in the region. Their demolition in the 1960s for a plan to widen Portobello Promenade is hard to fathom.
