Edinburgh Recollections - Bristo Street

Replies
1.	Jim Cairns Dunfermline	The old Hole in the Wall
2.	Terry McGuire	Empire Palace Bar
3.	Eric Gold East End, London	Empire Palace Bar Empire Palace Theatre Centenary
4.	Vi Crouse Canada	The Argyll Arms
Recollections
5.	Neil Lawrence Fountainbridge, Edinburgh	Bristo Street / Potterow Pub - The Argyle Arms Nicolson Street Pub - Empire Palace Bar
6.	Stewart Connolly West Highlands, Scotland	Bristo Street / Potterow Pub - The Argyle Arms
7.	Stewart Lyon Blackford, Edinburgh	Confusion Empire Palace Bar
8.	John McKechnie Brentwood, Essex, England	Potterow Bar
9.	Peter Butler	The Coort Games Shops Coal Deliveries Poor-oot
10.	Peter Butler Hennenman, Orange Free State, South Africa	Chapel Street Shop 1931
11.	Peter Butler	Woolpack Inn Lannie's Ice Cream Old Acquaintances
12.	Kathy Bainbridge Hexham, Northumberland, England	The Gluepot - Question
13.	Peter Butler Hennenman, Orange Free State, South Africa	Lannie's
14.	Neil Lawrence Fountainbridge, Edinburgh	The Gluepot - Reply
15.	Jimmy Davidson East Lothian, Scotland	Bristo Street / Potterow Pub - The Argyle Arms
16.	Joe Telfer Lysterfield, Melbourne, Australia	Bristo Street
17.	Brenda Cunningham	Coffee Joe's Parker's Store Shops Undertaker Society Buildings Pubs Changes
18.	Stewart Connolly West Highlands, Scotland	May's Chip Shop The Coort
19.	Bob Sinclair Queensland, Australia	Frank Demarco's Cafe Cards

Reply

Eric Gold

East End, London

Thank you to Eric Gold, East London, who read 'Reply 2' above and commented:

Empire Palace Bar

"The pub that Jim cairns asks about, on the corner of Bristo Street and Potterow was not the The Empire Palace Bar.

The Empire Palace Bar, to give it its proper name was situated in Nicolson Street next to the Empire Palace Theatre. Hence its name. It still stands, but is now a Pound Store, I think.

The Empire Palace Theatre has now become the Festival Theatre. We on the south side always referred to it as 'The Empire'.

My first job, before going to work on the Queen Mary, was as a mechanic in the Empire Garage, just behind the theatre."

Eric Gold, East London: July 30, 2010

Empire Palace Theatre

"The Empire Palace Theatre burnt down in 1911, The famous magician, Lafayette, died with his animals in the fire. ** "

Eric Gold, East London: July 31, 2010

Lafayette's Funeral Procession

** Thank you Neil Watson for sending me a photo of Lafayette's funeral procession.

To see this photo, and to read more about the death of Lafayette in Edinburgh in 1911, please click on the thumbnail image below:

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: August 4, 2010

Centenary

I believe there are plans to commemorate the centenary of the fire at the theatre in some way during 2011. (I have been asked about using one of my postcards of the 1911 funeral procession as part of these commemorations.)

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: July 31, 2010

Reply

Neil Lawrence

Fountainbridge, Edinburgh

Thank you to Neil Lawrence who wrote, giving the same answer as Vi above.

(These two answers were reached independently. The reply from Neil came before I had updated the web site to include Vi's comments above.)

Neil wrote

The Bristo Street / Potterow Pub

The Argyll Arms

"There seems to be a bit of confusion about the pub name at the corner of Potterrow and Bristo Street. It was called 'The Argyle Arms' formerly 'The Gushet'. It was demolished in 1970.

The Nicolson Street Pub

Empire Palace Bar ***

"The other pub people mentioned was the Empire Palace Bar which was on the corner of Nicolson Street and Nicolson Square

Other names for that one were:

- The Palace Bar

- The Rat Trap

and latterly

- Doolittles

before it was converted into Ladbrokes betting shop."

*** Confusion! See Recollections 7 below

Map

"This map is an old copy that I had. I've marked it up with the two locations.

Southside Pubs

As you can see (if you click on the thumbnail image above), there were a good many other Public Houses (marked 'PH' on the map) all around that area."

Neil Lawrence, Fountainbridge, Edinburgh: August 3+6, 2010

Recollections

Stuart Lyon

Blackford, Edinburgh

Thank you to Stuart Lyon who wrote:

Confusion!

"I think some of your contributors have confused the now closed Empire Bar (known as the Rat Trap) which was on the corner of Nicholson Square and Nicholson Street with the Empire Palace Bar."

Empire Palace Bar

"This page on the National Library of Scotland website has a photograph (No. 55) of the Empire Palace Bar taken by Alfred Henry Rushbrook in 1929 on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Improvement Trust.

Here is the National Library of Scotland's caption for this photo."

'Photograph of a four storey building with business premises on the ground floor. On the left there is a small sign for Draught Bass which is beside the entrance to a public house.

A lamp hung over the front of the building has the words 'Empire Palace Bar' painted in white on its sides. Outside, in the centre, parked under the windows of the bar is a pram.

At the next entrance to the building which is arched there are two men standing looking at the camera. There is a third person but the image is blurred too much to see clearly.

On the right there is a woman pushing a pram away from the camera and two more men also standing with their backs to the camera.'

Stuart Lyon: October 13, 2010

Stuart added:

Rushbrook Photos

"There are 137 photographs in total in this collection taken by Alfred Rushbrook. They may be of interest to visitors to the EdinPhoto website."

Stuart Lyon, Blackford, Edinburgh: October 13, 2010

Rushbrook Photos

I photographed the complete set of Rushbrook photos from another source a couple of years ago and have permission to add them to the EdinPhoto web site.

I found these photos to be appealing - good quality with lots of interest - and would like to add them to the EdinPhoto web site when I can find the time to Do that. But it's unlikely to be in the near future as I have many other photos waiting to be added to the site first, and it usually takes me between about 1/2-hour and 1 hour to add each photo to the site!

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: October 16, 2010

Recollections

Peter Butler

Hennenman, South Africa

Thank you to Peter Butler who wrote:

The Coort

"We lived at 44 Bristo Street, 'The Coort' a 4--storey tenement with open balconies. We were all quite poor and most of our mothers went out to work as char-ladies, dinner-ladies, etc - but they were happy times.

Names that come to mind are:

- Ella Clark

- Honor Garrity

- Jeff Daly

- Donald Kerr.

I'd like to hear from anyone who may remember me, my brothers Drew and Pat, and my sister Annette."

Games

"Games played in 'The Coort' included:

- rounders

- kick-the-can

- dodge-the-ba

- cricket, with the stumps represented by 3 chalk lines drawn on the wall."

Shops

"I remember:

- Davidsons Dairy.

- Mays Chip Shop.

- Shearers Grocery.

- Wrights Newsagency.

- Young Brothers Bakery.

I delivered milk, newspapers and groceries for these shops."

Coal Deliveries

"My dad Peter, and his brother Jimmy, both had coal delivery businesses in the Leith Walk area - horse drawn, of course.

I acted as 'tick-boy' for my dad on a Saturday morning, i.e. collecting money due for coal delivered during the week on credit."

Poor-oot

"Does anyone remember the 'poor-oot' ,when the prospective bride left her home to be married, scattering handfulls of coins to be scrabbled for by us kids?"

Peter Butler, Hennenman, South Africa: January 18, 2011

Reply to Peter?

If you'd like to send a reply to Peter, please email me, then I'll pass on your message to him. Thank you.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: January 24, 2011

Recollections

10.

Peter Butler

Hennenman, Orange Free State, South Africa

Thank you to Peter Butler for writing again with more memories of the Bristo Street area of Edinburgh.

Peter wrote:

Chapel Street Shop

"While living in Bristo Street, I remember being sent on SUnday mornings to a very small shop in Chapel Street, opposite the Post Office.

Not only did this shop sell 'skeechan', but it also recharged the accumulators required for "'he wireless'. I remember hoping that the respective liquids never got confused!

The 'skeechan' must have been quite potent. Its stopper was held down by a U-shaped wire clip.

Incidentally, the mine workers, out here in South Africa, used to have a similar brew called 'skokian'."

Peter added:

1931

"I was born in 1931, which I think makes me a few years older than your average contributor, but then it also means I have more memories - not so?"

Peter Butler, Hennenman, Orange Free State, South Africa: January 30, 2011

Recollections

11.

Peter Butler

Hennenman, South Africa

Peter Butler wrote again with more memories of the Bristo area.

Peter wrote:

Woolpack Inn

"On the subject of local pubs, I've seen no mention of the Woolpack Inn. It was situated in Bristo Place, half way down the block bordered by Lothian Street and Marshall Street. It was one of my Dad's favourite pubs."

Lannie's Ice Cream Shop

"Further on was Lannie's ice cream shop, a great favourite after Mass at St. Francis' church. Mr Lannie was always in attendance, sometimes assisted by his oldest son, Ernest, who I believe went on to become a doctor.

I was in the same class as his other son, Dante, at Holy Cross school. I understand, he went into business of another kind later on."

Old Acquaintances

"I am still hoping to be contacted by old acquaintances. I will most certainly be in touch again."

Peter Butler, Hennenman, South Africa: February 9, 2011

Recollections

13.

Peter Butler

Hennenman, Orange Free State, South Africa

Peter Butler wrote again in response to reading comments that Lannie's was opposite about Young Brothers on the Parker's Store page (recollections 2 and 4).

Peter wrote

Opposite Young Brothers

"The shop opposite Young Brothers was, in fact, Jock Whitton's Newsagent. It had a display window in both Marshall Street and Bristo Street. I worked there after school hours delivering the 'News'.

Lannie's was just slightly further up Bristo Street, towards Lothian Street. There might have been a stair in between Jock Wilson's and Lannie's, but I'm not sure about that."

Peter Butler, Hennenman, Orange Free State, South Africa: April 4, 2011

Recollections

16.

Joe Telfer

Lysterfield, Melbourne, Australia

Thank you to Joe Telfer who wrote:

Bristo Street

"I was very interested in the comments from Peter Butler in several of the recollections above. I have a faint recollection of Peter, but age dims the memory. I'd certainly like to here from him if he is interested.

I also grew up in Bristo from the early-1940s, with my sister Jeanette who is younger than me, until I came to Australia in 1952.

I lived in 35 Bristo and enjoyed all the activities Peter described in the Coort. My friends were:

- Pete Smith.

- Norrie Wilson.

- the Colemans.

- the O'Donohues who lived in No 40.

- Bobbie Much was in our stair in the top flats."

Joe Telfer, Lysterfield, Melbourne, Australia: June 10, 2011

Reply to Joe Telfer?

If you'd like to send a reply to Joe Telfer, please email me, then I'll pass on your message to him. Thank you.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: June 15, 2011

Recollections

17.

Brenda Cunningham (nee Fairley)

Thank you to Brenda Cunningham who wrote:

Coffee Joe's

"I was brought up in 15 Forrest Road above Coffee Joe's cafe. I remember playing around the Potterow/ Bristo area with pals. There was a whole community living and working in that area."

Parker's Store

"Parker's Store was the equivalent of today’s Primark and it sold everything from clothes to clothes pegs! There was also a Parkers furniture store further along but this closed in the late 1950s."

Shops

"I remember:

- Wilson the butcher

- Mrs. Duffie’s grocery shop where my mum used to send me for 1/4lb boiled ham and Mrs. Duffie cut it with a sharp knife.

- The ironmonger just next to the baker's shop which was on the corner.

- Dante Lannie who had the cafe across from the bakers and the newsagent on that same corner.

- Lannies, who had the chip shop in Forrest Road. I think Dante was related to them.

- Paris Gowns, a dress shop further up the road diagonally across from Napier's herbalist (very posh).

Undertaker

"In Forrest Road, I recall Louis Costello the undertaker who used to stand outside his premises and my used to say there’s Louis looking for business. I never understood the humour of that until later in life!"

Society Buildings

"There were houses in Society Buildings, which were where the new part of the museum is now. That wasn’t such a nice area and I wasn’t allowed to play there."

Pubs

"There was a pub called The Hole in the Wa'.

Another was called The Territorial Bar.

My dad used to drink the Territorial on a Friday night. He once had his pay packet stolen from the back pocket of his trousers when he was there.

There was always a few fights on a Saturday night and we used to look out the window and watch the fights and the police arriving. Well, there was only one channel on the telly and it made better viewing!"

Changes

"I took my grandson to the museum in Chambers Street only last week and had a wander round the area. I was saddened to see how it has changed over the years.

When I was living there in the 1950s/60s, it was a lovely residential area with shops galore and the shopkeepers knew all the locals."

Brenda Cunningham (nee Fairley): July 17, 2011

Recollections

18.

Stewart Connolly

West Highlands, Scotland

Thank you to Stewart Connelly for contacting me again.

Stewart wrote

May's Chip Shop

"Peter Butler mentioned May's chip shop in his Bristo Street recollections (13 above).

Although a lot younger than Peter, I remember May very well. Her full married name, as I recall, was May Cardosi and here husband was Nello. They stayed at 53 Bristo Street and knew my mother very well.

My mother was born in Bristo as was her mother."

The Coort

"I remember the coort as a play area, for football, tig, hide and seek, etc.

There was a Mr Wilson, ex policeman, who lived in the coort. He would bang his window when we were getting a bit to loud.

In those days you paid heed and scarpered, because he knew everybody's mum and dad."

Stewart Connolly, West Highlands, Scotland: August 19, 2011

I asked Stewart Connelly where 'The Court' was. He replied:

The Coort

"Imagine walking down towards Chapel Street from Parkers Store. Half-way down on your left-hand side (east) is where the coort was.

It had a proper name (something-Entry?) but I can't remember, what it was. To us, it was always: 'Ah'm ower by the coort, playin'."

Stewart Connolly, West Highlands, Scotland: August 21, 2011

Recollections

19.

Bob Sinclair

Queensland, Australia

Bob Sinclair wrote:

Frank Demarco's Cafe

"I remember Forrest Road in the later-1950s, when I used to go into Frank Demarco's Cafe, after dancing at the Central on the corner of Drummond Street and South Bridge.

Cards

"At the cafe, it was a night for cards. One old gent used to be in there when we arrived and he spent about twenty minutes arranging his cup and saucer and cutlery before his pie and chips appeared - it was fascinating to watch.

The card games were either Nap or Brag and on a bad night, within the space of two hours, playing for halfpennies, the worst player could lose a couple of bob.

- My mate, Charlie Morrison was the worst player. He was a good Catholic.

- His mate, Selby Kougaltz always won. He was, a Jew and known to all as Spud.

- The others generally came out about even.

It was an interesting mix of blokes: Jew, Catholic, Methodist, Church of Scotland, Agnostic, Atheist.

Frank used to shut the door and join us. I think it was his only relaxation. Sometimes, the undertaker from nearby would come for a wee while and crack some enlightening jokes about the dear departed.

I wondered if it was his only relaxation. Sometimes, at about one in the morning Charlie would walk Spud back to Arthur Street then come home to walk his dog Major in the Meadows. By that time I was in my pit."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia: August 22, 2011