W R & S - Photograph of Boroughmuir School in the early 1900s

Boroughmuir School

Background

Two Boroughmuir School Buildings

Two Boroughmuir schools designed by John A Carfrae were built in the Bruntsfield area of Edinburgh in the early 1900s. They were:

1. At Warrender Park Crescent - Built 1902 - Officially Opened 1905

Boroughmuir School (later known as Boroughmuir School Annexe). It has a Renaissance frontage in pale orange sandstone facing onto Bruntsfield Links. See photograph above.

2. At Viewforth - Built 1911 - Opened 1914

Boroughmuir School. Another Renaissance building. It has Byzantine details, a Doric porch and tall flanking towers.

The Occupants

- James Gillespie school and hospital were established in 1803 from a legacy left by James Gillespie, an Edinburgh snuff and tobacco manufacturer. It was based in Gillespie Crescent until 1914.

- Boroughmuir school opened in Warrender Park Crescent in 1905.

- Boroughmuir school moved to the new school building at Viewforth in 1914.

- James Gillespie school moved from their Hospital Building in Gillespie Crescent into the Warrender Park building vacated by Boroughmuir.

The military moved into the Gillespie Crescent Hospital Building during the 1st World War, then the building was sold to the Royal Blind Asylum in 1922.

Acknowledgements

Architectural Details: The Buildings of Scotland: Edinburgh, John Gifford et al. 1984

School Occupants: James Gillespie School web site

Request

Classmates from 1950s

1950s

Elma Cairns, nee Reid now living in Flint, Texas, USA wrote in the EdinPhoto guestbook

"I attended Boroughmuir from 1954 - 1958 and would love to hear from any classmates, especially June Oddie who came from the Dumbiedykes area.

I will be in Auld Reekie from July 27 until August 1, 2007 and may meet up with old friends"

Elma Cairns, nee Reid, Flint, Texas, USA: July 24, 2007

If you'd like to contact Elma, please e-mail me and I'll pass on your message to her.

Thank you. - Peter stubbs.

Recollections

Boroughmuir School

1960s

Thank you to Ann Landels, Aberdeenshire, for the comments below. Ann attended the school in the photo above in 1965/66, when it was James Gillespie's High School for Girls

"Although this building was built for Boroughmuir it was only Boroughmuir School for a very short time.

When Boroughmuir moved to current location, James Gillespie's moved in and it eventually became James Gillespie's High School for Girls until the current building was opened in the Bruntsfield House grounds in 1966. Muriel Spark would also have gone to school in that building.

The building later became part of the Dean College nursing college. It is now Edinburgh University student accommodation"

Thank you to Graeme Kerr for the comments below. Graeme attended the school when it was Boroughmuir School Annexe in the '70s and '80s.

"After James Gillespies moved out, this building became Boroughmuir High School Annexe (Affectionately known as the junior school), attended by myself, two brothers and sister in the 70's and 80's.

The gable end in your picture, from the ground up, shows one of the science classes, the room above I think was a storage room and the top was history.

Shooting off to the right, unseen in the photo, was the maths corridor with the gym at the top. The attic with the bell tower contained one of the art classes and was a trek and a half up a narrow staircase to get to. Once again, fond memories.

I believe the Boroughmuir moved all its classes to the Viewforth building in the late 80's after filling in the central area above the gym halls to create more space. You'll know what I mean if you've been in the Viewforth building. (It is also the school's centenary this year.)"

Today

Thank you to James L Walls for the comments below:

"This building is now part of Napier University. It was vacated by the Education Department, when the new building was completed at Spottiswoode Street."

Question

Boroughmuir School Song

Doris Shore, formerly of Edinburgh and now living in Canada, asked the following question. If you can help to answer it, please e-mail me, and I'll tell Doris. Thank you: - Peter Stubbs April 16, 2007

Doris wrote:

"I am trying to find the lyrics to the Boroughmuir School song."

Doris Shore, Montreal, Quebec, Canada: April 17, 2007

Reply 1

Thank you to George T Smith, British Columbia, Canada for the suggestion below.

George wrote:

"While I remember the first line " We are vassals of the Muir" the
rest escapes me . I think though if your correspondent contacts the Boroughmuir school web site she may get the full lyric or, more likely, an up dated version in hip-hop mode

George T Smith, Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada: April 16, 2007

Reply 2

Thank you to Stephen McMahon, Munich, Germany, for the suggestion below.

Stephen wrote:

"All I can really recommend is that someone e-mails the school office. They can probably help through their network of former teachers.

Otherwise: The Press department (Culture and Leisure) at the City Council helped me trace a 1970s school concert programme. They have links to music teachers in the city who may know someone who knows someone….."

Stephen McMahon, Munich, Germany: April 17, 2007

Update

I've now e-mailed the Boroughmuir School Office to see if they can help.

Neil Anderson has replied. See 'Answer' below.

- Peter Stubbs: April 18, 2007

Reply 3

Thank you to George T Smith, British Columbia, Canada for the further message

George wrote:

"Ken Smith of Calgary says he remembers the first line as I did and it continues - he thinks - with something about the Borestane (which is part of the school badge).

He also thinks it might have been composed by a Mr Moyes, a music teacher who went on to higher things in the music world.

While the name is familiar my own recollection is of a Mr Whitfield who talked of "tone colours", a concept that went over my uncomprehending and tone deaf head.

I am sure that your enquiries will reveal the song's lyrics and perhaps the rather turgid music to which they were sung by my class of uninspired teenagers. (Yes, we had them in those days too.)

George T Smith, Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada: April 19, 2007

Reply 4

Answer

Thank you to Neil Anderson, Boroughmuir School for replying, giving me the lyrics to the school song.

"We are vassals of the 'Muir, Vassals of the 'Muir.
In silent vigil at her shrine,
We pledge fealty to the 'Muir.
"Justus! Serve the cause of right:"
"Tenax! keep the scutchon bright."
And we proudly bear the banner,
The liege Vassals of the 'Muir.
The 'Muir, The 'Muir, Vassals of the 'Muir,
Rally to the Borestone, O Ye Vassals of the 'Muir.
To the gate that opens wide,
To the lamp that burns inside.
To the gate that opens wide,
To the lamp that burns inside.
To the Borestone, To the Borestone,
All Ye Vassals of the 'Muir."

Neil Anderson, Boroughmuir School, Edinburgh: April 19, 2007

Thank you to Irene Beaver, now living in Kirkliston, West Lothian, who sent me the same words as above.

Irene added:

"To the best of my knowledge, these words are correct, although how I managed to remember them when I forgot half of what I was taught beats me. :)

There's another version which starts 'We are vessels of manure...' - much more popular with the pupils."

Irene Beaver, Kirkliston, West Lothian, September 29, 2007

Reply 5

Thank you to Maureen Ritson (nee Pyper), now living in Holywell, Northumberland, who attended Boroughmuir from 1958 to 1964 for sending me the message below.

Maureen wrote:

'Pupil Version'

"I left Boroughmuir in 1964 and can still remember the tune of the school song. I managed to remember most of the words as well.

There was also a 'pupil version' which my mother said began: 'We are barrels of manure'!

She was at the school way back in the 1920's, I think.

Maureen Ritson (nee Pyper), Holywell, nr. Whitley Bay, Northumberland: April 25, 2007