Milk Boys, Leith

© Reproduced with acknowledgement to John Stewart on whose web site this photo appeared.

Milk Deliveries

The Photo

Frank Ferri, Newhaven has given an interesting account of his job as a milk delivery boy for Leith Co-operative Society.

Here is a photo taken on a milk delivery rounds in Leith in the 1960s.

Which Street?

If you recognise this street (or the boys) please email me.

Thank you - Peter Stubbs: January 25, 2009

Replies 1
1.	Frank Ferri Newhaven, Edinburgh	- Lane to Kirkgate
2.	Frank Ferri Newhaven, Edinburgh	- Brickwork Close
3.	Carol Stewart Edinburgh	- Connell's Close
4.	Peter Stubbs Edinburgh	- Connell's Close
5.	John Hadden Edinburgh	- Old Sugarhouse Close?
6.	John Hadden Edinburgh	- Old Sugarhouse Close or Connel's Close
7.	Neil Lawson Fountainbridge Edinburgh	- Old Sugarhouse Close
8.	Bryan Gourlay Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland	- Old Sugarhouse Close
9.	John Hadden Edinburgh	- Old Sugarhouse Close 1-minute movie clip
10.	Jan Brown Leith, Edinburgh	- Connell's Close
11.	Danny Callaghan Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland	- Connell's Close or Candles Close
12.	Bill Henderson Winston Hill, New South Wales, Australia	- Candles Close

Reply

Frank Ferri

Newhaven, Edinburgh

Thank you to Frank Ferri who replied:

Lane to Kirkgate?

"This picture could be of the wee lane linking Giles Street at St Mary's Star of the Sea School, exiting at the Kirkgate just before St Andrews Street.

I'll try to check it out from an old map."

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh: January 26, 2009

Reply

Carol Stewart

Edinburgh

Thank you to Carol Stewart, Edinburgh who wrote:

Connell's Close?

"I saw this photo in a book titled 'Faces of Leith' (1986) and according to the book, the lane in the photograph is Connell's Close. I don't know where that would be in Leith"

Carol Stewart, Edinburgh: February 9, 2009.

Thank you Carol. I'll investigate further.

Peter Stubbs, February 10, 2009

Reply

Peter Stubbs

Edinburgh

Connell's Close?

"I've not yet discovered anything about Connell's Close from old maps, old books or Post Office Directories, but I have seen the book titled 'Faces of Leith' that Carol Stewart mentions in 3 above.

The book certainly identifies the street as being Connell's Close, but it does not name the photographer or say when the photo was taken. The publishers, Moubray House Press, 53 High Street appear to be no longer in business"

Tolbooth Wynd?

"In the photograph reproduced in 'Faces of Leith', the lettering on the sign in the background can be read. The sign is in fact in the shape of a circular saw blade and the name on the sign is Hughes & Hudson.

According to the Edinburgh & Leith Post Office Directories, Hughes & Hudson were saw manufacturers, based at 40 Tollbooth Wynd, Leith.
(Edinburgh & Leith Post Office Directories, 1930-31, 40-41, 50-51, 61-62).

The company later moved to 16 Burgess Street, Leith."
(Edinburgh & Leith Post Office Directories, 1970-71).

Peter Stubbs, February 15, 2009

Reply

John Hadden

Edinburgh

Thank you to John Hadden, Edinburgh who wrote:

Old Sugarhouse Close?

"How about Old Sugarhouse Close, which ran from Tolbooth Wynd to St Andrews Street?

Coming from Tolbooth Wynd, the close is accessed via an archway and we can see an arch in the top of the photo. There is also a street lamp on the corner of a building on the left.

Although the attached map doesn't show a pavement along the left of the close, the 1876 map does show it in the position seen on the photo.

That view would be slightly West of South and so the photo could have been taken in the direction of the sun, around the middle of the day.

If that were the case, then the large building (looks wooden?) with the round sign on it, could be Leith Candle Works"

1894 Map

Old Sugarhouse Close

Other Suggestions

"With reference to the other possibilities, Brickwork Close (at least in the 1894 street plan) didn't have an arch at either end and the only streetlamp was not on the corner of a building.

I didn't find a reference to Connell Close either, and I also checked the 1881 census."

John Hadden, Edinburgh: February 17, 2009

Reply

John Hadden

Edinburgh

Thank you to John Hadden, who wrote again a few hours later, confirming the location of this photo to be Old Sugarhouse Close.

John wrote:

Old Sugarhouse Close

"I just thought I would see if I could learn any more about Leith Candle Works and came across this page on the Old Leither web site. So, it looks like someone else knew the answer all long :) At least I can confirm it where it is, with the map ;)" **

John Hadden, Edinburgh: February 17, 2009

** The link above goes to a page on the Old Leither web site that includes the same photo

but with the caption: 'Two milkboys in Connel`s Close (Old Sugarhouse Close) 1953. This led from Tolbooth Wynd through to St Andrew`s Street'.

Peter Stubbs: February 22, 2009

John also wrote:

"This page from the Leith History web site has what could be a photo looking in the opposite direction along Old Sugarhouse Close, ie towards the archway off Tolbooth Wynd. ***

John Hadden, Edinburgh: February 17, 2009

*** I agree. This photo certainly seems to be a view, looking the other way along Old Sugarhouse Close. On the left of the photo, the back of the circular-saw-shaped sign can be seen, with the name 'Hughes & Hudson, Sawmakers' on the sign.

Peter Stubbs: February 22, 2009

John Hadden, Edinburgh: February 17, 2009

Reply

Neil Lawson

Fountainbridge Edinburgh

Thank you to Neil Lawson who wrote

Old Sugarhouse Close

"I would agree that the location was Old Sugarhouse Close which runs up the side of 40 Tolbooth Wynd.

I was looking through various records for a mention of Connell's Close but could find nothing."

Neil Lawson, Fountainbridge Edinburgh: February 17, 2009

Reply

Bryan Gourlay

Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Thank you to Bryan Gourlay for sending two emails (and yet another spelling of Connell's Close or Connel's Close).

Bryan wrote:

Sugarhouse Close or Candle Close

1. BOOK: In his book 'A History of Edinburgh Suburbs (published 2002) Sandy Mullay includes the same photograph of the two milk boys:

In the book, this photo has the caption:

'This atmospheric 1953 shot of milk boys In Leith’s Candle Close could have been taken anywhere in the city ...'

The book gives Edinburgh City Libraries as the source of the photo.

2. WEB SITE: Here is a quote from the Electric Scotland web site:

'There was a 'sugarie' or sugar-house in the Old Sugar-house or Candle Close in Tolbooth Wynd, and two soap-works were now at work in the town'."

Bryan Gourlay, Biggar, Lanarkshire: February 23, 2009

Reply

John Hadden

Edinburgh

Thank you to John Hadden who wrote:

Old Sugarhouse Close

"Investigating the location of this close led me to this short movie clip of the same close, circa 1939."

John Hadden, Edinburgh: February 22, 2009

'New Lives'

This is an appealing 1-minute silent movie about a family moving out of Old Sugarhouse Close. Father and son don't want to leave, but mother insists. The family take their furniture down to the waiting horse and cart standing under the arch at the northern end of Old Sugarhouse Close

The film is titled 'New Lives'. This link is to a one of the Scottish Film Archive pages on the National Library of Scotland's web site. The page includes the short movie and also links to brief biographies of the film maker, Alan James Harper, and his company, Campbell Harper Productions

Peter Stubbs: February 27, 2009

Reply

Jan Brown

Leith, Edinburgh

Thank you to Jan Brown who wrote:

Connell's Close

"This is definitely Connell’s Close.

You went through the arch from St Andrew Street and it came out in Tolbooth Wynd, almost opposite Michael’s Cafe and Annie’s.

I used to live in St Andrew Street and used it all the time, although we used to say we were, ‘going up the pend’.

Jan Brown, Leith, Edinburgh: June 15, 2009

Thank you Jan.

From your description of where Connell's Close was, it sounds to me as if it was probably the same close as is marked as Old Sugarhouse Close on this map. (Please click on the map to enlarge it.)

Peter Stubbs: June 15, 2009

Reply

Danny Callaghan

Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland

Thank you to Danny Callaghan who wrote:

Connell's Close
or Candles Close

"I've just read through the 'Milk Boys Leith' replies (Replies 1 to 10 above) and the points made about the different names of the Old Sugarhouse Close.

I am not over-familiar with the area, other than that the Kirkgate was a favourite shopping area for my father.

Could I suggest that Connell's Close could be a local name for the close where the Candle works was. ie Caunel (Candle) Close, in some sort of broad Leith accent???"

Hughes & Hudson

"There is mention of Hughes and Hudson. I used to work for a sawmill company and this is one of the firms we used for our saws and their sharpening etc"

Danny Callaghan, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland: November 23, 2009

Hughes & Hudson

I remember Hughes & Hudson. they were still in business sharpening saws, in the 1990s, when I was taking a series of photos of 'People at Work in Edinburgh'.

Then, they were based in newer premises in or near Tennant Street.

Peter Stubbs: November 24, 2009

Reply

Bill Henderson

Winston Hill, New South Wales, Australia

Thank you to Danny Callaghan who wrote:

Candles Close

"I remember this close well and it was Candles Close. I, as a young lad ,at least once a week visited what was known as the Saw Doctors, H&H, with a variety of hand and circular saws for repair and resharpening for John Wilkinson (Machinery & Tools) who were stationed at Leith Walk.

As as for myself , I lived in Henderson Street for some time.

I really suspect that the name Connell's is a slang type name that developed over a period of time (e.g. Candles, Condles, Connell's.) Maybe I'm right, maybe I'm wrong, but what the heck, no harm in trying.

I see that in 'Faces of Leith' (Publ. Moubray House Press, 1996, pp.18,19) there is a full page photo of the milk boys, bright and very clear. They also say Connell's Close.

Bill Henderson, Winston Hill, New South Wales, Australia: July 10+11, 2010

I've checked the book 'Place Names of Edinburgh' (Stuart Harris). It answers most of my questions about place names in Edinburgh and Leith, but it makes no mention of either Connell's Close or Candles Close.

Peter Stubbs, July 10, 2010