St Leonard's Lane, looking west, near the junction with St Leonard's Hill

Question

Where is it?

When I added this photo to the web site, I described it as being the corner of Heriot Mount and Dumbiedykes.

However, James Morton-Robertson, now living in Sevenoaks, Kent, has written to tell me that's not the location.

James wrote:

Not Dumbiedykes

"If it was taken looking towards Heriot Mount from Cross Causeway then it looks wrong. Dumbiedykes fell away quite steeply from the junction whereas this picture shows streets at the same level .

I really could do with seeing this picture at a higher resolution.

The tenements are only 4-storey whereas those on Carnegie Street / Heriot Mount were 5-storey, I lived on the 5^th floor!

I can’t think where this might have been taken, as the building on the left seems to be quite low in comparison with those on the right."

James Morton-Robertson, Sevenoaks, Kent England: July 21, 2009

If you can suggest where this photo might have been taken, please email me. Thank you.

- Peter Stubbs: July 23, 2009

Answers
1.	James Morton Robertson Sevenoaks, Kent	Where is it?
2.	Graham Carlin Edinburgh	St Leonard's Lane
3.	Bryan Gourlay Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland	St Leonard's Street School St Leonard's Hill + St Leonard's Lane Plaque on the Wall St Leonard's Lane
4.	John J Hadden Edinburgh	Railway Depot St Leonard's Lane
5.	Christa McDonald near Colchester, Essex, England	St Leonard's Lane
6.	John Preece Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland	Forbes Street St Leonard's Shops My Living Room Window
7.	John Preece Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland with reply from James A Rafferty Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland	St Leonard's Coal Yard Painter and Decorator More Yards Joiner Monumental Sculptor
8.	Bryan Gourlay Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland	Monumental Sculptor New Victoria Cinema
9.	Dick Martin Borders, Scotland	Monumental Sculptor
10.	Alistair Henderson Borders, Scotland	St Leonard's Street St Leonard's Lane St Leonard's Hill
11.	Robert Jamieson	Near James Clark School Gate ©
12.	A Pringle	St Leonard's Lane

Answer

James Morton Robertson

Sevenoaks, Kent, England

James Morton-Robertson added:

Where is it?

"It's a pity the resolution wasn't a bit higher, then you could read the street name above the confectioner.

I know that I have seen this street before. I have a feeling that the building on the left is either a school or a brewery.

There seems to be an alley on the left. See the light spill after the signpost."

James Morton-Robertson, Sevenoaks, Kent England: July 23, 2009

Answer

Graham Carlin

Edinburgh

Graham Carlin, Edinburgh, wrote:

St Leonard's Lane

"This photograph is of St Leonard's Lane, looking to the west towards St Leonard's Street. The photo would have been taken from just outside what was the school janitor's house.

This 'St Leonard's Lane, 1959' photo, already on the web site, shows the same street but looking in the opposite direction - up the hill to James Clark School."

Please click on this thumbnail image (or any other thumbnail image on this page) to enlarge the picture.

Graham added:

"Only the tenements on the right in the photo above remain today. Here is a photo that I took in 2005, showing what the street looks like today."

Graham Carlin, Edinburgh: July 24, 2009

Answer

Bryan Gourlay

Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Thank you to Bryan Gourlay for doing some detective work and proving, beyond doubt, that this photograph is looking west at the corner of St Leonard's Lane and St Leonard's Hill.

Bryan wrote:

"James Morton-Robertson is quite right – the photo is not Heriot Mount.

I'm pretty sure it is a view to the west, back along St Leonard's Lane towards its junction with St Leonard's Street."

St Leonard's Street

"I first recognised the facing, two-storey St Leonard's Street buildings at the far end of the street. They stretched from Rankeillor Street up towards Montague Street. There was a joinery business near that point called T Boland.

After 50 years or more, I can still see Mr Tom Boland – a tallish, slim, bald chap who drove a posh car – Jaguar I think, with a personalised ‘TB’ number plate."

School

"St Leonard's Lane is quite flat for most of its length (as shown in the photo) rising near the end up towards St Leonard's Bank and the old James Clark school.

I also recognised the building on the first corner, with the shop and Walls Ice Cream sign, from some of the photos you already have on your website."

St Leonard's Hill and St Leonard's Lane

Bryan commented on the building in this photo (on the corner of St Leonard's Lane and St Leonard's Hill):

and the building on the right in this photo:

"These two photos are taken from opposite directions and the building in the first photo has been refurbished.

However, if you compare the arrangement and size of the large and small ground floor windows, you’ll see they are the same ones. This is also confirmed by the layout and size of the windows on the first floor. These have a carved insert between them in both photos."

Plaque on the Wall

"Here is the photo you took of the insert when you were on the track of Jeannie Deans’ cottage in 2006, and a closer view of the building."

St Leonard's Lane

So Bryan concluded that this view looks to the west along St Leonard's Lane. Bryan added

"This makes the first street in on the right, in Willie Croal’s photo, St Leonard's Hill and the second one, Forbes Street.

In the left foreground there is the wall and what seems to be a side entrance into St Leonard's Station and Coal Yard."

Bryan Gourlay, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland: July 24, 2009

Answer

John J Hadden

Edinburgh

Thank you to John Hadden, Edinburgh, who wrote:

Railway Depot

"The low buildings on the left could be related to St Leonard's railway depot."

Agreed. That's consistent with answers 2 and 3 above.

John added:

St Leonard's Lane

"Also, the wall and gate pillar at the far left and the building at
the far right of this photo seem to still exist."

"The photo would be almost the opposite of this one, already on your website."

Agreed. Again, this agrees with the answers 2 and 3 above.

John J Hadden, Edinburgh: July 24, 2009

Answer

Christa McDonald

near Colchester, Essex, England

Christa McDonald wrote:

St Leonard's Lane

"I can identify this photo as taken 1961-63.

I believe it was taken in St Leonards Lane looking up to St Leonards Street with the sweet shop showing on the corner of St Leonards Hill.

On the right, further down, would have been the entrance to Forbes Street. I grew up in St Leonards Hill until we were all moved out and would have walked this way to visit family in St Leonards Street.

I think the building on the left was the entrance to what might have been a coal yard but of that I’m not sure.

James Morton-Robertson is right in that the Heriot Mount / Dumbiedykes / Carnegie Street junction contained much higher tenements and the road fell quite steeply into Dumbiedykes."

Thank you Christa.

The location you mention agrees with answers given in 2, 3 and 4 above.

Christa McDonald, near Colchester, Essex, England: August 21, 2009

Answer

John Preece

Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland

Thank you to John Preece who wrote:

Forbes Street

2nd street on the right

"This is the first photo that I have ever seen showing Forbes Street. I used to live there at No 12."

John added:

St Leonard's

"This photo is, indeed, taken from just past the corner of St Leonard's Hill and St Leonard's Lane, at the bottom of St Leonard's Bank."

Shops

"The second street on the right is Forbes Street. The shop on the immediate right corner was always, to me, 'The Dairy''. It was owned, I think, by Edinburgh Dairies and run by two women.

The shop on the other corner was 'Hornes' run by a husband and wife - always Mr and Mrs Horne - even to my Grandparents! They were less sympathetic to the kids so I preferred to 'shop' in the dairy."

My Living Room Window

"My living room window from 1959, when I moved in with my Grandparents until 1972, when we were 'relocated' to Corstorphine, was the window two floors up from the maroon door on the corner of Forbes Street.

The door used to be a shop door, but it was closed off when the shop was converted to a house. You could still see the faded paint on the wall above the door with the shop name.

My Grandparents lived in the same stair, but in two different houses/flats from when they were married, in the late 1920's, until 1972."

John Preece, Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland: July 21, 2010

Answer

John Preece

Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland

John Preece responded to Brian Gourlay's comments in 'Answer 3' above.

John wrote:

St Leonard's Coal Yard

"The gap on the left is indeed the entrance to St Leonard's Coal Yard, next to which was a long wall (it seemed long anyway) with a billboard behind."

Painter and Decorator

"Opposite the end of Forbes Street (the 2nd street on the right) was a painters and decorators (MacAlpine?) which had a green garage door about half way along - goals when we played football.

This building is visible in the 'Just Another Saturday' scene, when the camera looks down Forbes Street to see a police car coming around the corner."

More Yards

"Next to that was a small builders' yard, opposite the first set of windows past Forbes Street.

Next was a removal firm's garage with brown and black lorries / vans. Their name escapes me. I spent many happy hours leaning out of our bedroom window watching the drivers reverse into this garage with inches to spare.

James A Rafferty replied:

"I went to Jimmy's school. I remember a removal firms by the name of Easton and another called 'Bullen & King'."

James A Rafferty, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland: July 27, 2010

Next to that was the entrance to a wood yard which was behind the buildings on the left corner of St Leonard's Lane.

The final building was a ground floor pub with orange and black walls (I think) and houses above."

Joiner

"I am amazed that Bryan Gourlay can remember the joiner's name. I would occasionally play in his yard at the back of the building that Bryan mentions."

Monumental Sculptor

"I wonder if Bryan remembers the Monumental (headstone) Sculptor who worked in Rankeillor Street *** in between the slaters and the big, blue, corrugated iron garage. That was my Grandfather, Thomas (Tommy) Alcorn's yard."

John Preece, Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland: July 21, 2010

*** See 'Answer 9' below

Answer

Bryan Gourlay

Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Thank you to Bryan Gourlay for sending a response to 'Reply 7' above.

Bryan wrote:

Monumental Sculptor

"I can remember the Monumental Sculptor that John Preece mentions."

New Victoria Cinema

"My forays along Rankeillor Street were mostly going to or coming back from the GB (Gaumont British) club at the New Victoria cinema, most Saturday mornings.

I used to get the No 2 bus up from the stop near East Mayfield on Dalkeith Road, then along Montague or Rankeillor Street to the cinema

The way home was more of a 7th Cavalry charge, involving St Leonards Lane, St Leonards Bank, into the park, and up Park Road – or sometimes a short cut by legging it over the wall into Prestonfield golf course."

Bryan Gourlay, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland: July 26, 2010

Answer

Dick Martin

Borders, Scotland

Thank you to Dick Martin for sending a response to the final paragraph in 'Reply 7' above.

Dick wrote:

Monumental Sculptor

"The Monumental sculptor was my mother Nan's elder brother, Thomas Alcorn.

During the 1940's I spent a lot of my weekends with my grandparents, Dick and Meg Alcorn, who lived in Salisbury Street, and have fond memories of playing in uncle Tom's yard on Saturday mornings.

It was fascinating watching him drawing the lettering onto the stone, very carefully chiselling the letters out, and then filling the characters with lead. But what amazed me most was his skill and knowledge of Hebrew Script.

He would tease me by telling me it was a mystical and magical code which could only be understood by very special people. I don't know if he could speak the language or not but he could certainly engrave it into stone"

Dick Martin, Borders, Scotland: July 27, 2010

Answer

10.

Alistair Henderson

Kirkcudbright, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland

Thank you to Alistair Henderson who wrote:

St Leonard's Street

"I was born in No 59 St Leonard's Street in 1938 and left when I was nine years old. The corner dairy was Jennie Deans Dairy.

On the right of the photo is the Janitor's house, belonging to James Clark School

On the left if you went through the gap in the wall, this led to St Leonard's coal station. On the right of this was storage for the brewery barrels and further right were the brewery buildings

St Leonard's Lane

On the corner of St Leonard's Lane and Forbes Street was a corner shop that had been converted to a house. I think the family were called Crawford.

St Leonard's Hill

Going along St Leonard's Hill from St Leonard's Lane:

On the right were:

- Jeannie Deans Dairy Stairs

- Jeannie Deans Pub

- more stairs

- a gap

In the gap were:

- Mrs Martins Mission

- the air raid shelter

- stairs to the start of the Dumbiedykes.

On the left were:

- Mrs Rankin's shop

- one stair (I think)

- the wall of St Leonard's School play ground

- St Leonard's School, an annexe to James Clark School

- a small play ground (I think)

- the janitors house

- next street."

Kirkcudbright, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland: February 22 + 28, 2011

Answer

11.

Robert Jamieson

Peebles, Borders, Scotland

Thank you to James Robertson for replying with an extract from a 1955 map, showing where this photo was taken from.

James wrote:

Near James Clark School.

"This photo was taken from about 30 yards down the slope from James Clark school gate, looking to the SW down St Leonard's Lane towards St Leonard's Street.

The streets leading off to the right are (nearest) St Leonard's Hill and (further away) Forbes Street, both leading to Beaumont Place and on to the top of the Dumbiedykes.

My Grandparents lived at the bottom of Beaumont Place (No.7) opposite the 'Penny Tenement'.

Detail from 1955 Map

with text in blue added by Robert Jamieson

Robert Jamieson, Peebles, Borders, Scotland: June 27, 2011

Answer

12.

A Pringle

Canada

Thank you to A Pringle (Scotty) who wrote:

St Leonard's Lane

"This view is of St Leonard's Lane, looking towards the Pleasance from the foot of Heriot Bank

On the left, where you cannot see, is the old coal station and on the right , at the far end of the road, is where St. Leonard's Police Station (see Rebus) is.

I was born and raised at 145 Dumbiedykes and walked this way every day to Preston Street School."

A Pringle (Scotty), Canada: January 16, 2012