Piershill Barracks - A Postcard sold by H Adamson

Piershill Barracks

Early 1800s

Thank you to David Arathoon, Canada, who has been researching his family history and who is searching for more photos of the barracks. If you feel you can help, please e-mail me and I will pass on your message. Thank you.

David gave me some details of the travels of the 6th Inniskillin Dragoon Guards, including the following:

Birth at Piershill Barracks

"In the summer of 1808 the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons left York for Piershill Barracks, Edinburgh. There they stayed until they embarked at Port Patrick for Ireland in June 1809.

It appears my 3rd great great grandfather was born at Piershill Barracks on 22 April 1809 when his father Lt Philip Glover was stationed there briefly with the 6th Inniskillin Dragoons

I'm not sure what the place was like for Lieutenants and wives. Do you know if they have apartments for officers?

Philip Glover had married Launce Campbell in 1800. She was a lady of a very good family with close blood ties to the Earls/ Dukes of Argyll.

She was granddaughter of Neil Campbell, head of Glasgow University, and daughter of Duncan Campbell, 1726-1803, the well known Hulk overseer of the Thames prison system, who shipped convicts to Virginia and Sydney.

David Arathoon, Canada: 31 December 2005 + 4 January 2006

If you have any further details about the Dragoons and Piershill Barracks that you would like me to pass on to David Arathoon, please e-mail me. Thank you.

- Peter Stubbs

Piershill Barracks

Early 1900s

Thank you to Annie Smiles of Edinburgh for leaving the following message in the EdinPhoto Guest Book:

Did you live at Piershill Square

I used to live in the old Piershill Square, West Barracks. Does anyone remember me or our family?

We have grown somewhat and had a few deceased members, sadly. I would welcome any neighbours, particularly Joyce Higgins, if you are still out there Joyce!

Annie Smiles: Edinburgh 7 November 2005

Messages for Annie Smiles

Hi Annie: I hope you read this!

1. I received a message from Joyce Higgins (Bremner) attempting to contact you. Unfortunately, I don't have a note of your e-mail address. Could you e-mail me and let me know it, so that I can pass on Joyce's message to you?

- Peter Stubbs March 3, 2006.

2. I have now received an e-mail from somebody else hoping to get in touch with you. The latest message comes from Viv McKenzie. If you e-mail me and let me know your e-mail address, I'll pass on the Viv's contact details to you.

- Peter Stubbs March 5, 2006.

Update for Annie Smiles

Hi Annie: Thanks for passing your email address to me last week. I'll now pass on the messages from Joyce Higgins (Bremner) and Viv McKenzie to you.

- Peter Stubbs June 30, 2008.

Piershill Barracks

Early 1900s (again)

Thank you to Sharon Brown, Lincolnshire, England, whose grandfather was a Corporal of Horse in 17th Lancers, stationed in Edinburgh in 1903 at Peirshill Barracks.

Sharon wrote:

17th Lancers

"My grandfather seems to have joined the Lancers twice! He was married in 1903 whilst in Edinburgh and stationed at Piershill Barracks.

He then left and joined Edinburgh city police until 1906. When he left the police, he become a stevedore in Kent where he originated. He enlisted again with the lancers in 1914 and was discharged in 1919."

Wars

"As a child I can dimly remember my grandfather talking about being in the S African War with the 17th Lancers. His horse was called "Ginger".

17th Lancers

Portobello Beach

Somewhere in our family is a picture of him on his charger but no-one admits to having it although we all remember it as children. I shall now say he's in your picture!

I also remembering him telling a tale of when he was in the Boer War of his friend taking his glass eye out, spitting on it to remove the dust, giving it a polish and replacing it!"

Family

"As a child this was very interesting as you can imagine. I know his nine children all survived infancy and were brought up in a 'two-up, two-down' cottage in Gravesend. They kept out of his way when possible due to his temper!

How things have changed."

Sharon Brown, Lincolnshire, England: 10 January 2006

Piershill Barracks

Mid-1800s

Thank you to Maureen Brown who wrote:

17th Lancers

"My great grandfather, William Foulkes, served in the 5th Dragoon Guards. Whilst posted at Piershill Barracks, he married my great grandmother, Margaret Lumsden, in 1856.

It is so interesting being able to follow his military career via the various Internet sites.

William travelled to various places, including the Crimean War, and later was posted to Chapeltown Calvary Barracks in Leeds, Yorkshire. He remained in the area until he died in 1908"

Maureen Brown: March 17, 2008

Piershill Barracks

Mid-1900s

Thank you to Elizabeth Bell (nee Gall) who wrote:

Barracks and Piershill Square

"It was great to see the photo of Piershill Barracks.

I lived all my life at Meadowbank until leaving for Australia in 1958. My Father's foster-mother, with whom we lived, had lived there when the barracks were still occupied and spoke a bit of seeing the troopers returning there in the evening. It must have been quite a sight, seeing the troopers passing by.

Her tenement flat had been built about 1897. Then, when she was a child, Edinburgh Corporation had built tenement houses there, about 1932/3. They had followed the barracks layout. That was good, for there were playgrounds in the squares, named Piershill Square East and West, I think."

Parsons Green Primary School

"My husband and I have just completed living in Australia for 50 years last week. That's twice as long as we lived in Edinburgh.

I went to Parsons Green Primary School at Meadowbank, then to Broughton Senior Secondary School, as it was called then, from 1945 to 1948. Parsons Green school burned down not long after we arrived here in Australia.

My husband went to Leith Walk Primary and then Bellevue, just around the corner from Broughton.

Elizabeth Bell (nee Gall), Australia, March 31, 2008