Looking down on Dumbiedykes from a path through Holyrood Park leading from James Clark's School

Looking down on

Dumbiedykes Road

The way home from School

This was the path taken home to Dumbiedykes from James Clark's School at St Loenard's. The school has now been converted to housing.

Both old and new can be seen in this picture:

- The old: gasworks, brewery chimneys and old housing.

- The new: new housing in Dumbiedykes Road, being built in the 1960s.

The Park Keeper's House

The Park Keeper's House is in the centre of the picture.

In his recollections of Edinburgh, Eric Gold, now living in East London tells how his mother discouraged him and the other children from playing near the house.

Eric wrote:

"My mum told him that the Bogeyman used to live in the 'Parkie's Hoose' in Queens Park, and that when my family moved from Dumbiedykes to Craigmillar and Niddrie, the Bogeyman had flit too, and was living in the old Niddrie House."

Eric Gold, East End, London: March 13, 2006

Recollections

Jean Rae

Southside, Edinbrugh

Dumbiedykes Road and Arthur Street

Close to the park keeper's house are:

- a Police Box in Dumbiedykes Road

- a bowling green, now a children's play park

- the park entrance at the foot of Arthur Street.

Jean Rae remembers occasions when lorries came down the steep Arthur Street, out of control, and crashed through the park gates. She told me:

"When the coal lorry crashed through the park gates, we all dashed out with bags to collect the coal.

When the bread lorry crashed through the gates, we all collected loaves."

Jean Rae, Edinburgh: October 20, 2006

Recollections

Eric Gold

Thank you to Eric Gold who wrote:

The way home from School

"That was a great picture of the park as one would walk from Jimmie Clarke's school. You can see the swings and the Parkie's Hoose (re: Bogyman) at the bottom of Arthur street.

The hill was my playground and we would use our sledges in the snow, and we would sleigh from the top to the bottom of the hill.

I have been walking all over tonight in the Dumbiedykes area (ha ha ha ha) and my feet are killing me."

Eric Gold: East London: November 7, 2006

Further comments from

Eric Gold

Thank you to Eric Gold who wrote:

Run-away Lorries

" I was reading Jean's story about the lorry crashing through the gates. I remember that too as, like Jean and all the other kids, we would help ourselves especially when old Mr Rattery in East Arthur Place (next door to us) crashed - and boy we stocked up with sweets (ha ha ha ha).

Opposite the police box at the bottom of the brae is Capola's cafe and the wee sweet shop I wrote about."

Eric Gold: East London: November 8, 2006

Photo from

Ron Leckie

Both Jean Rae and Eric Gold (above) mentioned the Arthur Street coal lorry accident. I now have a photograph of the accident, thanks to Ron Leckie.

Please click on the thumbnail image above to view this picture and read more about it.

Peter Stubbs: July 15, 2007