Edinburgh in 1956 in Pictures: Here are 26 fascinating photos of life in Scotland's Capital 70 years ago

There was plenty happening in the world in 1956 - the year of the Suez Crisis when Egypt’s nationalisation of the Suez Canal led to an invasion by Britain, France and Israel.

Fidel Castro was plotting to overthrow the government in Cuba, there were uprisings against Soviet rule in Poland and Hungary, and the first cordless television remote control was invented.

Read more: Morningside Heritage in Pictures: Here are 30 amazing photos of the Edinburgh neighbourhood in the 50s and 60s

In Britain the country’s first nuclear power station opened at Windscale, the Clean Air Act came into law to combat severe air pollution from smoke, and heroin was criminalised for the first time.

Meanwhile in Scotland, Hearts beat Celtic 3-1 in the Scottish Cup final, Edinburgh’s tram services were finally scrapped, and the first commercial ski centre opened in Glencoe.

Here are 26 pictures for The Scotsman archives to take you back to what else was happening in Edinburgh that year.

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