Recollections

Around Edinburgh

A selection of brief memories and questions

Recollections

1.

Stuart Burgess

Devon, England

Thank you to Stuart Burgess for sending me the selection of memories and a few questions below.

Stuart wrote:

Binns Clock

"We always met friends under the Binns Clock at the West End."

NB Hotel

"The NB Hotel at Waverley always had its clocks two or three minutes fast to make passengers on time for their train.  Is that still the case?"

Answer:  Yes

"The NB Hotel is now the Balmoral Hotel.  Why?"

Answer:  It was the result of a takeover.

Store Numbers

"One of your correspondents bet that anyone over 40 could remember their family 'Store number'.  Ours was 878.

It was always queried when we gave it to the cashier as it was so short. (There's a reason for the short number, but too much explanation is required)"

Telephone Numbers

"How about all the old telephone numbers?  Two of the prefixes that I remember are:

-  CRA (Craiglockhart)

-  DAV (Davidson's Mains)

Was there:

-  FOU (Fountainbridge)?"

Newhaven Fishwife

"I remember the Newhaven fishwife who stood at the foot of Henderson Terrace in her traditional skirts and striped petticoats, selling fish (what else?).  She was there well into the 1950s.

Are there are any pictures of her?"

Thank you, also, to Stuart Burgess for also providing many entries for the Edinburgh Slang pages on the EdinPhoto web site.

Recollections

2.

Moira Clarke

Yorkshire

Thank you to Moira Clarke for posting a message and reply in the EdinPhoto guest book.

Moira wrote:

Fountainbridge

"I was born in Edinburgh Infirmary in 1955.  At the time, we lived in East Fountainbridge, next to the Palladium Theatre."

The Vennel

"I went to the little council-run nursery school at the top of the Vennel (Grassmarket) steps.

Edinburgh Castle

"My grandparents lived at Brown's Place which was on the left just a few yards up the Vennel steps.

My Grandad was the Recruiting Officer for the Kings Own Scottish Borderers and was stationed at Edinburgh Castle.

As children, he used to take us up to the castle esplanade when there were any visiting Heads of State.

Oh, and it always meant that we had free Tattoo tickets every year - -another perk of the job.

Goldbergs

"I remember when Goldbergs opened on the High Rigs.  We thought it was FAB, especially the escalator!"

Patrick Thomson's

       and

Crawford's Tearooms

"My granny used to take me to Patrick Thomson's on the North Bridge to look at the pianos, followed by a drink and scone in Crawford's Tearooms

All the ogling and trying out of pianos in Patrick Thompsons must have made some impression because I went on to be a piano teacher!"

Meadows Playground

"I remember the little playground at the edge of The Meadow, at the end of Brougham Place."

Greyfriars' Bobby

"I remember having a little drink of water from the Greyfriars Bobby fountain."

Dolls' Hospital

"I remember the Doll's Hospital, on George IV Bridge, I think.

Moira added:

"I'd love to hear from anybody else who has fond memories of such things."

Moira Clarke, Yorkshire:  Message and reply posted in EdinPhoto guestbook:  March 23 + 25, 2010.

I don't have an email address for Moira.  However if you wish to reply to her, you should be able to leave your reply below the message that she left  in the EdinPhoto guestbook:  March 23, 2010.

UPDATE:  I now have Moira's email address so if you'd like to send a reply to her, please email me, then I'll pass it on to her.  -  Peter Stubbs:  July 23, 2010

Recollections  -  More Pages

Recollections  -   Contributors