David Booth

@caleydave

Hobby Scottish Cold War Researcher. Occasional Volunteer. Old Police Box botherer. Based in Edinburgh, Scotland. All views are my own.

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David Booth@caleydave· 17d

There is a reason the file is named "Scottish Police Boxes": #EdinburghPoliceBox 71 + a extra call Lamp #GlasgowPoliceBox - 7 #DundeePoliceBox - 1 (I have been keeping that one under wraps)

David Booth@caleydave· 17d

Slowly making progress in 5 minute chunks in between life and work. I Made good progress on the Basics embedded in a web page using Leaflet, now to find the time improve on the basics. #EdinburghPoliceBox #SirenSaturday

David Booth@caleydave· 17d

As we watch parts of the Country Burn with increasing frequency is it worth the lament that there was once a supply of Pumps kept in reserve &, going back further still, Trained Volunteers to Operate them? With climate change & war fears accelerating when do we expand our underfunded Fire Brigades?

A page from a 1960's Civil Defence recruiting booklet.
It reads:
"Auxiliary Fire Service"
"saving lives and homes from fire is humane work. In the nuclear age, it is also a scientific job, because fire-fighting is a science, a highly skilled one. In the A.F.S. you are taught to fight fires by the most modern methods, and with the most modern equipment, some of it designed especially for nuclear war."

The Cover of this Red Booklet dating from the early 1950's reads:
"Auxiliary Fire Service
CD
Civil Defence
Men and Women are needed now in
the
A.F.S."

David Booth@caleydave· Jul 11

And for those wondering where they are, Have a map! #EdinburghPoliceBox Orwell Terrace is an original Box, Morningside Road is not original and has been moved here, & Drumsheugh Gardens, Also mentioned in the article but closed, has been relocated by there was one nearby at Randolph Crescent.

Map showing the location of "Pour Boy" in the Police Box on Orwell Terrace at the Telfor Subway.

Map showing the location of "Step One Coffee" in the Police Box on the corner of Morningside Park and Morningside Road outside the Marks and Spencer.

David Booth@caleydave· Jul 11

I made Reference to the Carrier control Points, which controlled the Sirens, connecting back to a Royal Observer Corps Group Headquarters. So lets plot them on the Map! There were 31 Groups in total, 2 types of standard buildings, 4 groups in reused buildings and 2 groups closed. #SirenSaturday

Map Showing the Royal observer Corps Groups in Scotland (6), Northern Ireland (1) and Northern England (2 on this page).

In Numerical Order these are:
<List continued from other Map Image>
22 Carlisle
23 Durham
24 Edinburgh
25 Ayr
26 Is not Shown. This was Glasgow but was closed.
27 Oban
28 Dundee
29 Aberdeen
30 inverness
31 Belfast

Background Map Data: OpenStreetMaps
Icons and Placement: David Booth

Map Showing the Royal observer Corps Groups in Wales (2), and England bar Northern Counties (18 on this page).

In Numerical Order these are:
1 Maidstone
2 Horsham
3 Oxford
4 Colchester
5 Watford
6 Norwich
7 Bedford
8 Coventry
9 Yeovil
10 Exeter
11 Truro
12 Bristol
13 Carmarthen
14 Winchester
15 Lincoln
16 Shrewsbury
17 Wrexham
18 Leeds
19 Is not Shown. This was Manchester but was closed.
20 York
21 Leeds
<List continues under other Map Image>

Background Map Data: OpenStreetMaps
Icons and Placement: David Booth

David Booth@caleydave· Jul 5

Looks a bit different now but it is still there! (November 2025)

Edinburgh Police Box at The Mound.
It is painted Yellow and has had the front replaced with double doors, seen here closed. It is currently, as the advertisements suggest, used as a mini snack shop.

David Booth@caleydave· Jul 5

This may be on interest to yourself, Rather than a Police List, the circles are Police Boxes which had Drainage Drawings prepared in 1933, there are a couple elsewhere I know were never installed in the location proposed. Illustrates some of the moves. (The colours are Council Survey areas)

A map centred on Leith (Edinburgh) Scotland. remaining Edinburgh police Boxes Currently in Situ as of 2026 along with Circles showing proposed location for Police Boxes in 1933.

There are 5 different icons in the part of the map;
1. "Standard" Police Box
2. Siren fitted Police Box
3. Police Box with call lamp
4. Police Box with call lamp and Siren
5. Circles showing proposed locations in 1933. (Colour coded by Council Drainage record book.)

Background Map Data: OpenStreetMaps

David Booth@caleydave· Jul 4

By my count here are currently 71 #EdinburghPoliceBox on street or stored in a viewable location. Here is a corner of the map showing those in Leith and adjoining areas. I am exploring ways to get this online if a form other than just a big static image #SirenSaturday

A map centred on Leith (Edinburgh) Scotland. remaining Edinburgh police Boxes Currently in Situ as of 2026.

There are 4 different icons in the part of the map;
1. "Standard" Police Box - Pier Place, Mill Lane, The Shore, Broughton Road, Smith's Place, Drummond Place, Regent Road, West Register Street, Canongate School, Northfield Broadway.
2. Siren fitted Police Box, today only a mount (with or without base) is present - Newhaven Road, Prince Regent Street, Henderson Gardens, Links Gardens, Lochend Park, Brandon Terrace, Jocks Lodge, London Road, Mound, Heriot Row.
3. Police Box with call lamp - Easter Road.
4. Police Box with call lamp and Siren - Leith Walk.

David Booth@caleydave· Jun 27

And that is the end of Radio 4 on Long wave 198kHz. 0100 AM 27/06/2026. The final normal program was the shipping Forecast. A short tribute to Long Wave was broadcast before the British National Anthem. Service has been replaced with a repeating message with alternative ways to listen.

An analogue clock showing time of 1AM and a Radio tuned to BBC 4 Long Wave 198kHz.

David Booth@caleydave· Jun 26

The 1975 Edition of the "BBC WAR BOOK" suggests that Long Wave was not part of the War Time Broadcasting System (WTBS). Instead it was to be shut down and kept in readiness for possible special use.

Extract from the BBC 1975 "War Book":

Droitwich Long-wave Transmitter.
17. The need for civil defence regional broadcasting has reduced the value of the Droitwich Long-wave transmitter, as this cannot be regionalised. It is obviously important that nothing should be radiated which would divert the attention of the public from listening to their own regional transmissions on their own wavelength. The Long-wave transmitter will, therefore, close down when the WTBS starts, but will remain available for subsequent use if required. During the preceding hour, however, it will broadcast a special programme describing the WTBS, and informing listeners in the different Civil Defence Regions of the frequencies on which these regional broadcasts may be received.

David Booth@caleydave· Jun 26

It is the final night of Radio 4 on Long Wave 198KHz. Whist primarily associated with Droitwich, there are (were) two supplementary Longwave Transmitters in Scotland, one at Westerglen and the other at Burghead. www.bbc.com/mediacentre/... rsgb.org/main/radio-s...

Westerglen Long Wave Transmitter from Google maps:
https://goo.gl/maps/kww422wKLWucRyCKA

The Pin is on the Protected 1989 Build protected accommodation.

Burghead Long Wave Transmitter from Google maps:
https://goo.gl/maps/DiVqR4N5Sk32qwdV7

David Booth@caleydave· Jun 13

In a normal Royal Observer Corps group, like 20 York, the phone to talk to the Carrier Control Points was on the operations table. The patch in the table below the phone is where the "warning keyboard" was located, the replacement phone had the CCPs programmed in memory. #SirenSaturday

20 Group Royal Observer Corps Group headquarters at York, this is open as a museum and operated by English Heritage.

20 Group Royal Observer Corps Group headquarters at York, this is open as a museum and operated by English Heritage.

Here we see the operations room, looking down from the Balcony onto the main command/operations table.

The patch in the table below the phone is where the "warning keyboard" was located, the replacement phone had the CCPs programmed in memory.

David Booth@caleydave· Jun 6

Because warning Areas were based on Telephone exchange areas some Scottish Villages were warned from English Carrier Control Points: Berwick (23 ROC Durham) and Carlisle (22 ROC Carlisle). In addition Dumfries, despite being wholly in Scotland, was connected to 22 ROC Carlisle. #SirenSaturday

Map Centred on Solway Firth Showing the proposed locations of the 1960's Carrier Control Points which had Warning areas in Scotland controlled by 22 Carlisle Group Royal Observer Corps.

The Carrier Control Points with Scottish Warning areas shown on the map are:
214 Carlisle
246 Dumfries

Background Map Data: OpenStreetMaps
Icons and Placement: David Booth based of documents held in the National Records of Scotland

Map Centred on Berwick-Upon-Tweed Showing the proposed locations of the 1960's Carrier Control Point which had Warning areas in Scotland controlled by 23 Durham Group Royal Observer Corps.

The Carrier Control Point shown on the map are:
219 Berwick-Upon-Tweed

Background Map Data: OpenStreetMaps
Icons and Placement: David Booth based of documents held in the National Records of Scotland

David Booth@caleydave· May 30

Spending the evening sitting in a bunker photographing documents is pleasant if slightly surreal. Half expecting to be accosted on the way out then interviewed by George Smiley. #ColdWar

A view of the Data centre at the Royal Observer Corps Group bunker at Craigiebarns.

David Booth@caleydave· May 30

Next we have Carrier Control Points connected to 30 Group Inverness Royal Observer Corps. The National Warning system relied on the circuits used speaking clock which in early 60's was unavailable "north of the Caledonian Canal". This meant the CCPs marked would be relayed warnings from Inverness.

Map Centred on Northern Mainland Scotland and the Western Isles Showing the proposed locations of the 1960's Carrier Control Points controlled by 30 Inverness Group Royal Observer Corps.

The full Carrier Control Points shown on the map are:
268 Grantown-on-Spey
273 Inverness

The Other Carrier control points marked with a Red asterisk could not receive National warning owing to the local telephone infrastructure not being upgraded. These are:
274 Kyle
277 Stornoway
280 Thurso
281 Wick
282 Tain

Background Map Data: OpenStreetMaps
Icons and Placement: David Booth based of documents held in the National Records of Scotland

David Booth@caleydave· May 28

A strong choice of Badge, they missed an opportunity not selling reproductions.

Photograph of "Cats Against The Bomb" badge on the "break time" slide.

David Booth@caleydave· May 28

Today I am Symposium on #ColdWar Collections hosted by @ntlmuseumsscot.bsky.social, @natlibscot.bsky.social & National Collection of Aerial Photography.

Slide reads: "What is a Cold War Collection?
Collections, connections and context"

David Booth@caleydave· May 25

If I am up town and I do not photograph a #EdinburghPoliceBox was I really uptown? Spend the best day of the year so far going on a Walk to and from Cramond (not pictured below 🫣)

Wind turbine bases seen through the fence at Leith Docks.

Edinburgh Police Box at Newhaven Harbour.

David Booth@caleydave· May 23

Staying on the East but heading north we can see the Carrier Control Points connected to 29 Group Aberdeen Royal Observer Corps. Two warning areas are missing; 286 Orkney & 287 Shetland Neither was fitted with a CCP's in the 60's owning to limitations of the telephone network. #SirenSaturday

Map Centred on North Eastern Scotland Showing the proposed locations of the 1960's Carrier Control Points controlled by 29 Aberdeen Group Royal Observer Corps.

The Carrier Control Points shown on the map are:
266 Aberdeen
267 Aboyne
269 Elgin
270 Huntly
272 Peterhead

Background Map Data: OpenStreetMaps
Icons and Placement: David Booth based of documents held in the National Records of Scotland

David Booth@caleydave· May 16

Jumping back down the numbers we can see the Carrier Control Points connected to 24 Group Edinburgh Royal Observer Corps. This is a snapshot from the early 1960's, in later years most CCP's would move to different police stations which in some cases were the next town over. #SirenSaturday

Map Centred on South Eastern Scotland Showing the proposed locations of the 1960's Carrier Control Points controlled by 24 Edinburgh Group Royal Observer Corps.

The Carrier Control Points shown on the map are:
254 Edinburgh
255 Coldstream (Later Kelso)
256 Galashiels
257 North Berwick
258 Bathgate (Later Livingstone)

Background Map Data: OpenStreetMaps
Icons and Placement: David Booth based of documents held in the National Records of Scotland

David Booth@caleydave· May 10

One Very cute Rugby Mouse (so long as he stays out of my house).

David Booth@caleydave· May 10

Just like a Terence Cuneo painting you can play Spot the mouse. (Spoiler in reply)

A picture of Murrayfield stadium taken from the top side access stairs at the tram stop.
There is a small mouse in the picture.

David Booth@caleydave· May 9

Owing to the communication problems to Oban the Northern Glasgow Carrier Control Points were instead connected to 28 Group Dundee Royal Observer Corps. Scotland's other Cities were not treated to the same Treatment as Glasgow, the CCP in Dundee would be located in the City Centre. #SirenSaturday

Map Centred on Central Scotland Showing the proposed locations of the 1960's Carrier Control Points controlled by 28 Dundee Group Royal Observer Corps.

The Carrier Control Points shown on the map are:
230 Kirkintilloch
231 Milngavie
259 Dunfermline
260 Perth
263 Dundee
264 Montrose
265 Kirkcaldy
300 Stirling

Background Map Data: OpenStreetMaps
Icons and Placement: David Booth based of documents held in the National Records of Scotland

David Booth@caleydave· May 4

Here is a Simplified Version of the Route I took today: I Began at Queen street, looped around to St Enochs, Subway to Hillhead, walked up and back to Hillhead, Subway to Cowcaddens and back to Queen Street. It roughly took me around 3 hours. #GlasgowPoliceBox

Part 1 On exiting Queen Street station I went North up North Hanover Street before turning East along Cathedral Street. Turn south at the end of the road/Cathedral down Castle Street. The First Box can be found at Cathedral Square.
Contine south down High Street until you get to Gallowgate and then continue along past Barrowland Park until you get to Moir Stree. By this point you will have spotted the second Box across the Park. Loop back the way you came by following London Road, continuing on to Trongate. Head north up Glassford Street and you will find Box 3 at the junction with Wilson Street. Continue north until the end of the road and then turn west along Ingram street. Cross Queen Street and walk around Royal Exchange Square until you find Royal bank Pl. The forth Box is at the end of the road where it meets Buchannan Street.
From here make your way to the Subway station of your choosing. Buchanan Street is closer, I walked past St Enochs and across the South Portland St Suspension Bridge to Bridge St as I was walking and eating my lunch.
From here get the Subway to Hillhead.

Part 2 From Hillhead Subway station to the Police box at the entrance to the Botanic Gardens via Byres Road. As the return is the same Journey I diverted via Cresswell St and Cresswell lane as they are very nice and lined with restaurants.

Part 3, Final leg, Exited Cowcaddens Subway station and followed the signs for the City centre down Cambridge St. The first box is seen where Cambridge street meets Sauchiehall St. The second and Final box is found by walking east along Sauchiehall St where it is in the shadow of the Buchanan Galleries.
Queen street Station is a short sign posted walk from here.

David Booth@caleydave· May 4

And finally, unless i am mistaken; Sauchiehall Street at the junction of West Nile Street. Here in it's original Red colour which if what I read was correct was because the GPO had the maintenance contract so it got painted pillar box red like the phone boots and post boxes. #GlasgowPoliceBox

Front view of the Glasgow Police Box on Sauchiehall Street at the junction of West Nile Street.

It is painted in its original Red colour.

Rear view of the Glasgow Police Box on Sauchiehall Street at the junction of West Nile Street.

It is painted in its original Red colour.

David Booth@caleydave· May 4

Next I traveled back into the City Centre. We come to a Box getting a bit of Attention on Sauchiehall Street near the junction with (West) Campbell Street. #GlasgowPoliceBox

Rear view of the Glasgow Police Box on Sauchiehall Street near the junction with (West) Campbell Street.
It was freshly painted Blue.

Front view of the Glasgow Police Box on Sauchiehall Street near the junction with (West) Campbell Street.
It was freshly painted Blue.

David Booth@caleydave· May 4

The next box needed a ride on the clockwork orange to get to. On the Corner of Great Western Road and Queen Margaret Drive at the entrance to the Botanics we have the Brioche Box. #GlasgowPoliceBox

Glasgow Police Box on the Corner of Great Western Road and Queen Margaret Drive at the entrance to the Botanics.
It is painted Blue and has a sign above advertising it as the Brioche Box.

David Booth@caleydave· May 4

I skipped ahead with my list, now corrected. This is the Box on the corner of Buchanan Street and Royal Bank Place. #GlasgowPoliceBox

Rear view of the Glasgow Police Box on the corner of Buchanan Street and Royal Bank Place. It is painted Blue. The two sides seen here have an advertisement covering the whole side.

Front view of the Glasgow Police Box on the corner of Buchanan Street and Royal Bank Place. It is painted Blue.

David Booth@caleydave· May 4

CORRECTION: I then moved on to the #GlasgowCheeseBox onWilson Street at the junction with Glassford Street. Sadly closed when I passed so I will need to get my fill of cheese elsewhere. 🧀 #GlasgowPoliceBox

Front view of the Glasgow Police Box on Wilson Street at the junction with Glassford Street. Painted blue it features it's original signs in addition to the Glasgow Cheese box branding which includes a cone on the roof.

Rear view of the Glasgow Police Box on Wilson Street at the junction with Glassford Street. Painted blue it features it's original signs in addition to the Glasgow Cheese box branding which includes a cone and cheese wedge on the roof.

David Booth@caleydave· May 4

Next #GlasgowPoliceBox is at Barrowland Park on London Road.