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Edinburgh Live
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Historic Edinburgh landmark transformed as artist captures 'decades of memories'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info An Edinburgh artist has given a historic and much-loved 'landmark' of the city a new lease of life. Paul Meikle, who also works part time in a car garage, took apart the iconic helter skelter that once sat in Montgomery Street Park in Leith. After generations of children enjoyed the slide since it opened in the '70s, it was deemed a health and safety risk and cordoned off in 2022. Not willing to let that be the death of the slide, Paul took on the task of repurposing the metal slide to create pieces of art. Now, the pieces will be displayed in an exhibition. Paul said: "People grew up with this helter skelter. My hope is that this is the helter skelter growing up with them." (Image: Sam McGill) The ornate slide is said to have become an 'integral part' of the community, and as Paul found out - many Leithers had either played, drawn... or peed on it. After its fate was decided, Paul dismantled the slide and created 15 different artworks. It was set to be scrapped, alongside 'decades worth of memories'. Paul, whose work focuses on decaying environments, saw an opportunity and now hopes the stories 'live on forever'. Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox He carried out interviews with residents in hopes of ensuring the pieces represented the local spirit, and the stories that came with it. Paul continued: "Play parks shape our existence as we grow up. "Leithers have told me of the creative ways they used the helter skelter over the decades, creating different obstacles and reimagining it as completely different worlds. Each of them viewing it through a different lens. (Image: Sam McGill) "An enchanting place you used to play with your dad. Somewhere you'd go with your pals, trying to wrap the swings around the top bar for hours on end. "A chute that quite a few people have peed down, for some reason I couldn't see these stories go in the bin." Speaking to us previously, Paul added: "I was really surprised at just how many people reached out to me. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. "One person told me they remembered going down the slide in roller skates. They said they quickly regretted that decision! Another person told me they were so quick to go down it but then halfway down they realised it was covered in seagull poo. "So many people reminisce about the slide, it means so much to them." The artworks will go on display at Sett Studios in Leith over the weekend of May 30. This is Paul's first solo show, with the works also set to be shown at the Hidden Door festival in June.
Edinburgh Reporter
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Reporter
Montgomery Street Helter Skelter lives on in art
A Leith artist has given a new lease of life to the Montgomery Street Helter Skelter which was removed due to safety concerns during the renovation at the play park. For more than half a century an ornate slide or Helter Skelter stood in Montgomery Street Park, and became an integral part of the community. Leithers far and wide were able to recall playing with, drawing on, or as local artist Paul Meikle has recently discovered, peeing down, the structure. Regardless of how it was interacted with, fond and priceless memories were made and it is those memories that Paul could not allow to be destroyed when Edinburgh Council decided that was its fate. When the council deemed the structure unsafe for use it was set to be scrapped alongside the decades worth of memories it holds. Paul, an artist whose work focuses on decaying environments, saw an opportunity and contacted those involved with a plan to ensure that this once local staple and its stories live on forever. The Friends of Montgomery Street Park tried to save the historic helter skelter PHOTO Alan Simpson He dismantled the slide and has since transformed it into 15 different artworks, using every piece to form the works. Its bars are used as frames, its stairs as a canvas. The slide has not only been saved but the community who remember it so fondly can now hang a piece of history on their walls. And remember it fondly they do. Paul says he has interviewed residents to ensure the art represents the local spirit and the stories it holds. He said: 'Play parks shape our existence as we grow up. Leithers have told me of the creative ways they used the Helter Skelter over the decades, creating different obstacles and reimagining it as completely different worlds. Each of them viewing it through a different lens. An enchanting place you used to play with your dad. 'Somewhere you'd go with your pals, trying to wrap the swings around the top bar for hours on end. A chute that quite a few people have peed down for some reason I couldn't see these stories go in the bin. People grew up with this Helter Skelter. My hope is that this is the Helter Skelter growing up with them.' The pieces will be on display at Sett Studios in Leith over the weekend of 30 May. This is the first solo show for the Leith-based artist. The artworks will also be shown at the Hidden Door festival which is on at the Paper Factory in Edinburgh from Wednesday 11 to Sunday 15 June. Helter Skelter by Paul Meikle Sett Studios, 127 Leith Walk. Edinburgh Opening Night: 30 May 6pm – 9pm General Viewing: 31 May – 1 June 12 – 6pm Credit. Sam McGill 2025 Credit. Sam McGill 2025 Credit. Sam McGill 2025 Credit. Sam McGill 2025 Credit. Sam McGill 2025 Credit. Sam McGill 2025 Credit. Sam McGill 2025 Credit. Sam McGill 2025 Like this: Like Related
