Recollections

2.

John Gray

Stenhouse, Edinburgh

Thank you to John Gray who wrote:

Early-1960s

"I remember Middleton Camp circa early-'sixties.

We went from Brunstane Primary School.  I guess i was about ten at the time.  We stayed for three days and two night and slept in army-style bunk beds.

In the daytime, I remember us playing war games against other schools.  This, of course, would not be allowed in today's lily- livered society, in case someone got a skint knee and sued the school !!.

Anyway, I vividly remember, after being captured by the 'enemy', being made to eat a cream cracker with soap spread on it.  I can still taste it as i write this !!"

John Gray, Stenhouse, Edinburgh:  June 16, 2007

Recollections

3.

Alex Jackson

Mortonhall, Edinburgh

Thank you to Alex Jackson, Edinburgh, for sending these recollections of school camps at Middleton.

Alex wrote:

Postcards

"Here are 3 Valentine postcards of Middleton Camp.

©  ©  ©

I remember the war games that John speaks of, and can recall being told in the Assembly Hall that the Queen had given birth to a boy to be called Andrew.

The cards have February 1960 written on the back of them and tie in with the Duke of York's birth."

Alex Jackson, Mortonhall, Edinburgh:  June 24, 2007

The same cards were presumably sold to the campers for several years.  The numbers on the cards indicate that the photographs were, in fact, taken in 1951 and 1952.

 -  Peter Stubbs;  June 27, 2007

Alex continued

"The 'X' marked on the 3rd card would have been my mother marking the dorm that I stayed in. I would have been there in my last year at Abbeyhill Primary School.

There must have been many children from Edinburgh primary schools who would have stayed at Middleton Camp in the '50s and '60s."

Alex Jackson, Mortonhall, Edinburgh:  June 24, 2007

Recollections

4.

John Cassidy

Glasgow, Scotland

Thank you to John Cassidy, Glasgow, for leaving this message in the EdinPhoto guestbook.

John wrote:

1971

"Thanks for sharing the photos of the residential school.   I was at the Gorebridge Residential School in 1971 for 3 weeks with other schools.

I had a great time. I also remember the wasps all over the place and the visits to the lily pond.

I often wonder if the school is still there."

John Cassidy, Glasgow, Scotland:  April 15, 2008

Update

5.

Phil Wilson

Aberdeen, Scotland

Thank you to Phil Wilson for letting me know that Middleton House (re-named Middleton Hall) is now up for sale.

Phil Wilson, Aberdeen, Scotland:  June 8, 2008

Middleton House 'For Sale'

Here is how the property is described:

Update

6.

Susan McCaig

Gorebridge, Midlothian, Scotland

Thank you to Susan McCaig who wrote:

Grandfather  -  Head Gardener

"I've just been  just looking at your postcards of Middleton Camp.  I thought I'd take the time to write and say, my grandfather, Mr Duncan, was the head gardener and caretaker of the camp until i think around the very late-1960's."

Mum + Aunt

"My mum was just a child and grew up there but my aunt who was 11 years older was a nurse there, caring for the kids and my great aunt was one of the cooks, ( She was deaf and wore one of those hearing aids with the big box on the front and a big wire going into her ear)."

Recent Visit

"I used to love listening to the stories they all told, it sounded like a great place. Sadly we visited there a few months ago, to scatter my aunts ashes.  It was her wish and the new owners gave us permission.

it's still a beautiful place.  There are none of the dorms there now but the pond is still there."

Susan McCaig, Gorebridge, Midlothian, Scotland:  July 19, 2008

Update

7.

Jim Patience

Alberta, Canada

Jim Patience wrote:

1948/49

"I was at Middleton House in 1948 or 1949, memory is getting short.

I met my first love there.  Her name was Iris Moffat.  I was 11 and she was 10.

If I remember rightly it wasn't far from Borthwick Castle."

Jim Patience Alberta, July 26, 2008

Update

8.

David Procter

Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada

David Procter wrote:

1974

"I remember staying at Middleton Camp in 1974, for 4 weeks. I was a  student at Lanark Primary School at the time.

I have fond memories of the bunkhouse and the fact that boys were very firmly separated from the girls. I also remember singing 'The Black Hills of Dakota', very badly!!"

David Procter:   August 28, 2008

Update

9.

Frank Ferri

Newhaven, Edinburgh

Frank Ferri wrote:

Around 1945/46  -  3 months

"I stayed at Middleton Camp with my young brother for about 3 months circa 1945/46.  Father was at sea and mother was unwell, so we were resident and attended school there.

The camp Matron was a horror we were all terrified of her.  She skelped us hard.

We used to go to the man-made pond with the wee island in the middle near the big manor house, Middleton House, to catch newts.  They had their own chicken/duck farm then"

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  October 21, 2008

Update

10.

Frank Ferri

Newhaven, Edinburgh

Frank Ferri added more memories of being a long-term resident at Middleton Camp.

Frank wrote:

Night

"Long term residents at Middleton Camp, such as those in temporary care due to home problems, attended school there. Each dormitory was supervised at night by at teacher who had quarters in a small room at the entrance of the dormitory.

We slept in two-tier bunks.  Lo and behold anyone who spoke after lights out.  The teachers were severe about that.  They still used the strap for punishment in those days."

Morning

"In the morning you were to march down to a communal wash room, then to the dinning room for breakfast.

I remember on one occasion in the wash room, my wee brother (only aged 6) was getting major grief from the matron who was shouting and hitting him on the legs which were sore and saying your legs are ingrained with dirt.  (I knew this not to be true because, in the summer month we would paddle in the pond, not drying our legs with the result the skin became cracked developing Hawks (spelling?), a very sore condition.

Despite my terror of this woman, I ran up to her shouting, leave him alone, it's not dirt, it's Hawks.  At that point I thought my world would cave in.  However for some reason she stopped her abuse and that was that."

Saturday

"Saturday was Assembly Day.  You gathered in the big communal hall.  They would shout out your name, gave you some money for the Tuck Shop and asked if you wished to go home for the day.  This could only happen if you had money which they kept and allocated to you, I assume this was left by relatives who visited from time to time.

If you had the funds, they gave you enough for return bus fare into the city.  I was only 11 years old but used to do this journey from Gorebridge. I'd visit my old Italian granny who lived in Montgomery Street and was always good for a bit pocket money.

Recreation Room

"The camp had a small recreation room for reading, playing board games or writing letters, which were censored.   Being a wee fly man, to avoid censorship, I'd write a letter home, take to the kitchen and ask a member of staff to post it for me.  I never knew if it was posted or not -  a bit like Stalag 17, if you like."

Grounds

"The positive side was, in your free time, you pretty much had the run of the camp's massive grounds with woods and the pond to play in, or collect eggs from their poultry farm."

School Camps

"City schools used the camp plus another at Broomlee for two weeks during the school holidays.  I think life was a bit easier for them. The big manse was also used for camps during the school holidays."

Things could be tough in them old days."

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  October 23, 2008

Update

11.

Tom Traynor

London, England

Tom Traynor wrote:

Evacuees

"I  was an evacuee in Middleton House during World War 2.

My sister and brother were placed in Middleton Camp.  This was a collection of huts put up in the grounds.

Tom Traynor, London, England:  Message posted in EdinPhoto guest book, May 15, 2010

Update

12.

Robert Fender

London, England

Robert Fender wrote:

1949

"The comments above on Middleton Camp took me back over fifty years to the time I spent there in 1949.  I can't remember exactly how long I was there, but it would have been about a week to a fortnight."

Rugby Match

    ©

"This photo was taken when we had a 7-a-side match against some of the teachers who were there.   All the lads in the picture were from Leith Academy.  (That's our rugby strips we are wearing.)

I'm the one who is looking away from the camera.   Too many years have past to remember much about who else was in the picture, but I do remember one of the boys, Ian Ramsey.  He's next to me on the right as you look at the photo.   One of the teachers, I believe, is  Mr. Maitland from our school.  He's is the one on the far right."

Robert Fender, England:  August 3, 2011

Update

13.

Frank Ferri

Newhaven, Edinburgh

Frank Ferri wrote:

Late-1940s

Homes for Children

"In the late-1940s, Middleton Camp was not only used as an inexpensive venue for school children to have a holiday.  It was also a facility, as was the adjacent Middleton House, to temporarily locate children with problems at home, such as parental ill health, bad housing or dire poverty

My brother 5 years my junior and I were separated from our parents for quite some time, (father being away at sea) when I was about aged 10 years of age. Due to some family drama, which I was never able to rationalise.

We were sent to Middleton Camp, near Birkenside and Dalkeith, where we attended school and slept in large army-style huts with dormitories and bunk beds.

Most of the children here were from broken homes or victims of family problems.  Some schools used the facilities as a holiday camp, but Ian and I were not on holiday by any manner of means.  We were very reluctant prisoners!"

House Master

"On arrival, we were allocated to a hut.  Each hut had House Master, who would pull you into his little room and give you the belt, if you spoke in bed after lights out."

Matron Nurse

The Matron Nurse of the camp was a terror who everyone was frightened of, stern and unsmiling.  I remember one instance, when brother Ian, a small child, had been paddling on a daily bases in a pond, as it was summer time.

He contracted Hawks on his legs, a sore and scabby skin condition, brought on by not drying his legs after paddling.  It was morning and all the children had gathered in the communal washroom. Ian had one leg in the sink, gingerly trying to wash his leg. He was only about five, for Gods sake!

When the matron saw his legs, she screamed at him for having filthy legs and proceeded to hit him. At this point, young as I was, and disregarding any fear of her. I pulled at her arm and said: “Leave him alone, it’s not dirt, its Hawks”

Whether she was stunned at my audacity, or realised what the real problem was, Ill never know ... but I do remember thinking that my whole world was going to end, because of my intervention.  She immediately stopped chastising him. I don’t think I’ve done a braver thing in my life since!   Today that nurse would have been sent to gaol."

Saturday Mornings

"In the camp, on a Saturday morning, we would gather in the communal hall and you were asked if you wanted to go home. Provided you had enough cash credits - how this was arrived at I do not know - you put your hand up.  You were, given a few shillings and off you went on you own, at that tender age!

Most times my first stop would be my granny’s.  I knew she would always give me money.  She lived in Montgomery Street.

My next stop was home, for a short spell ,then back to the camp, quite an unsupervised journey for a child of my age

On occasion my Aunt Joey and Uncle Johnny would visit and give me money which I could spend in the Tuck shop."

Recreation Hut

"In camp, there was a little recreation hut you could use if you wanted to read, play board games or write a letter home.  All letters were read by a Supervisor and censored, by the way, in case you said anything derogatory about the place, just like prison.

Being a resilient wee chappy I used to take my letters to the cookhouse and ask the staff to post them, whether they did or not, I don’t know."

Fowl Farm

"The camp had its own fowl farm, with geese, ducks and chickens and it was fun collecting the eggs."

Middleton House

"At the other end of the camp, there was a large mansion house (Middleton House) where other children lived."

Lake

"In this area, there was an artificial lake with an island in the centre, complete with raft.  We had fun catching minnows and newts.

We were given regular meals, but often still felt hungry during the day.  So we would go to the hen house, steal some eggs, put them in an old can, add water from the lake and boil them."

Last Day

"My last day at the camp was a bit scary, but at the same time, adventurous. My friend and I decided to go walkies. We wandered through woods, glens and meadows, not knowing where we were going.

It was a glorious hot summer’s day.  Pissed off with the dogma of the place we decided to run away.  After another hour or so we got cold feet and decided to return and face the music.

Full of fear and angst, we arrived, by the grace of God, back at the camp and met a teacher who told me to report to the dreaded Matron, the one who hit my wee brother.

I gingerly knocked on her door to be met by a very stern face that asked me where I had been.  My response never came out.

She abruptly told me my brother Ian had been released and taken home by ambulance and I was told to collect my belongings, given a few shillings.  I was told that I could make my way home on my own, and that I was discharged for good.

I was Just a kid.  'Off you go.'  No supervision, no security.  That's how things were in those days."

School

"Whilst at the camp, I attended school there.  Young as I was, I  attended a metal work class and was taught how to repair boots etc."

The Grounds

"One positive aspect was that the grounds, which we had free range to roam, were beautiful with plenty of wooded areas that, lent themselves to a bit of adventure."

"How long I was there?  I can’t recall, but I remember daffodils growing, hard boiled, coloured Easter eggs and very hot weather, so it must have been for the duration of spring and part of summer -  and I do remember school classes from Leith Academy being there at holiday time.  Some also went to the other camp, Broomlee."

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  August 10, 2011

Update

14.

Douglas Easton

Thank you to Douglas Easton who wrote, telling me that his mother (then Margaret Kennaway) and her mother's sister (Mary), had been evacuees at Middleton House, from 1939 to 1941.

Alex asked if I could add the letter below to the EdinPhoto web site.  The letter was written by his mother and published in the Edinburgh Evening News.

Letter to

Edinburgh Evening News

Teachers

"I was evacuated with my young sister to Middleton Hall and spent many happy years there.  I was looked after very well by the staff:

-  Miss Bonnyman was the Headmistress.

-  Miss Thomson and Miss Campbell were our teachers.

-  Mr Duncan stayed in the gatehouse with his family.

-  Mr Menzies stayed round at the stables with his family."

Frogs

"Down in the grounds, there was a pond with an island in the middle, and a boat where we all used to play and row over to the island which was full of frogs, toads and small fish.

I remember, we used to think the frog with his legs round the other frog's body was choking it to death, so my friends and I would go down every day after school, grab the frogs, pull them apart. throw the top one away, pet the other one and gently put it back in the water.  We felt good at saving its life.  It was years before I learnt they were mating!

..."

Margaret Easton

Gilmerton, Edinburgh

Douglas Easton:  November 6, 2011

Update

15.

Chris Topp

Thank you to Chris Topp who wrote:

1960

Youth Clubs

"I came to Middleton in 1960 when I was a young boy.  I was a member of a Methodist Youth Club in England.

©

The Youth Clubs came from many parts in England and Wales for a Scottish Holiday arranged by Rev Price, the leader of the clubs.

Sadly I am no longer in contact with very many of my youth club which came to Scotland from Sherborne, Dorset, all those years ago."

Food

"My Lasting memory is the food.  We had lettuce for breakfast, dinner and tea.  By the end of the week we were going to local tuck shops for extra nourishment."

Chris Topp:  February 8, 2012

Around Edinburgh

Recollections