Photograph taken by Charles W Cushman in 1961 - Blackfriars Street, Edinburgh Old Town

Recollections Around the Cowgate
1.	Bob Henderson Burdiehouse, Edinburgh	The Cowgate Area
2.	Donald Grant Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland	Blackfriars Street High School Yards Infirmary Street High School Wynd The Old Infirmary + Dr Knox House Mortuary
3.	Jackie Parker (nee Cooney) Perth, Western Australia	Tron Square
4.	Jane Jones (nee Richardson) Cambridgeshire, England	Leaving Tron Square Return to Edinburgh Bonfires Preparing for the Bonfires Donald Fraser Health and Safety
5.	Jutta McAllister Cambridgeshire, England	Tommy Francis

Recollections

Bob Henderson

Burdiehouse, Edinburgh

The Cowgate Area

The sketch above shows streets around the Cowgate, to the east of where Cowgate passes under George IV Bridge. It is based on Bob Henderson's memories of the area around 1950.

It includes some of the schools and a church that have been mentioned in the 'Recollections' section of this web site. They are:

- St Patrick's Church

- St Patrick's School

- St Ann's School with Junior and Senior Playgrounds.

Recollections

Donald Grant

Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland

Blackfriars Street

Donald Grant was one of the people who commented on this photograph of Blackfriars Street, taken in 1961.

Donald then went on to give more details about other streets and buildings in the area.

High School Yards

"Here's a wee bit more information about the area. High School Yards is so named because it was the site of the original Royal High School in Edinburgh before they eventually moved to Regent Road and later out to Barnton.

Infirmary Street

"Then it became the site of the first Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh so that gave Infirmary Street its name."

High School Wynd

"Access to High School Yards from the Cowgate is from High School Wynd which can be seen in the photos and was correctly identified by one of your correspondents."

Here is a view of High School Wynd in 1837:

High School Wynd appears to have been the name given to the section of Infirmary Street that runs north-south from Cowgate. That's the street running up the hill in the background of this photo.

I've checked six fairly modern street atlases in my collection but none of them names High School Wynd.

My Edinburgh Geographers' A-Z Street Atlas names this street, Infirmary Street.

My Bartholemew, Geographia and Phillips (2002) Street Atlases show the street but give no name to it.

However Donald Grant tells me that his Phillips (2006) Street Atlas shows the street and names it, High School Wynd.

I've also checked the name on the street sign and the street does still seem to be named High School Wind, despite the name not appearing on my street atlases.

- Peter Stubbs: April 26, 2008

The Old Infirmary

and

Dr Knox's House

"Within the precincts of the old Infirmary is an old mansion house. This was once the residence of one Dr. Knox the infamous anatomist who was supplied with freshly murdered cadavers by Burke and Hare.

I've actually been in that building, down in the basement area, and was shown the door that the bodies were delivered to. The door was accessed from near the bottom of the Pleasance. I can tell you that, although there was heating in the building the basement was still very cold, even although there was a dental workshop there which was in use all day. One of the technicians remarked that it would make a grand wine cellar!

The last time I was in the old Infirmary you could still clearly see the layout of the old wards. At that time, it was being used by the University as part of the Dental Hospital training facility for student dentists. It's probably been modernised since then though as that was nearly twenty years ago."

Mortuary

"The connection of the area to dead bodies is maintained to this day as the City Mortuary is located at the bottom of High School Wynd. It was featured as a location in a recent episode of the detective drama 'Rebus'.

As for Dr Knox, I understand that when he died he was buried in a cemetery in Buccleuch Street and that the remains of his mausoleum can still be seen. It's behind a high wall across the street from the beer garden of the Pear Tree Inn. I've yet to see any concrete evidence of that though."

Donald Grant, Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland: April 25, 2008

Recollections

Jackie Parker (nee Cooney)

Perth, Western Australia

Thank you to Jackie Parker for leaving a message in the EdinPhoto guest book.

Jackie wrote:

Tron Square

"I had an enjoyable day looking thru your site. I was interested in anything about the Cowgate. I lived in Tron Square from 1962 to 1969. I wonder if anyone has any old pictures of the squares?

I went to St Annes but can't remember anyone."

Jackie Parker (nee Cooney), Perth, Western Australia: June 8, 2008

Recollections

Jane Jones (nee Richardson)

Cambridgeshire, England

Thank you to Jane Jones (nee Richardson) wrote:

Leaving Tron Square

"I read Jackie Parker's note with interest. She must have moved into Tron Square about the time I left for England. My Mother still thinks of it as a foreign country, even after all these years."

Return to Edinburgh

"I was up in Edinburgh a couple of weeks ago and had a wander down the Cowgate and couldn't believe the changes.

- Solicitors Building, where I used to live, is now a hostel.

- Mrs. O'Malley's sweet shop is now an information centre.

- The brewery where my Uncle John worked has gone.

At first I thought Tron Square had gone too. Then I went round the back of a new block of flats, and there it was, a bit posher now, with flower pots and new cars parked out the front, but still the same."

Bonfires

"Does Jackie remember the huge bonfires on Guy Fawkes night, between the Square and the shops? The fire brigade was always called out.

I remember one year some poor lad had a banger put in his pocket and it set fire to his jacket. You've never seen anyone jump up and down and run round in circles so fast in all your life.

It caused uproar all around. Some were horrified but kept their distance. Others tried to catch him to put out the burning jacket, but were laughing so much that they couldn't help him. I think his Mum came to his rescue and clipped the ear of the offender, resulting in even more laughter."

Preparing for the Bonfires

"There used to be a lot of bonfire-wood pinching going on the week leading up to Bonfire Night.

There was a rival bonfire further down the road towards Holyrood. I remember sneaking down the road and the other bonfire builders sneaking up the road to raid each others' stacks.

When the two sides met there were a lot of threats and stick waving. Some sticks were bits of furniture bigger than the skinny children wielding them, but I can't remember it ever coming to blows!"

Donald Fraser

"The only person I can remember who lived in Tron Square was Donald Fraser. He was in my class at Drummond St School and South Bridge School.

He was a lovely lad, but I think his parents were early Scottish Nationalist's as the poor lad was the only person to wear the kilt all year round, and he was teased mercilessly for it."

Health and Safety

"Oh, fond memories. What a hardy lot we were back then. I couldn't imagine anything like that happening in the orderly organized bonfire nights I attend now - thank goodness."

Jane Jones (nee Richardson), Cambridgeshire, England: June 10, 2008

Recollections

Jutta McAllister

Warrington, Cheshire, England

Jutta McAllister read the John Bisset's memories of growing up in Guthrie Street, in which John named Tommy Francis as one of his friends there in the 1940s.

Jutta wrote:

Tommy Francis

"In response to John Bisset's comments, I am Tommy Francis' daughter!! Sadly my dad passed in 1995, but he did leave a full and happy life full of travel and great experiences.

I have many happy childhood memories of Guthrie Street when visiting my gran and Auntie Kitty. Even then, there were some characters. The street seemed to be full of grannies!!

I vaguely remember the old shop on the corner. I remember going into the Empire (I think it was) to wait for my gran to finish her game of Bingo because we had arrived too early when visiting.

Dad used to love talking about his childhood there:

- the nuns at his school (hmmm no comment)

- friends betting each other 2d to WALK up Tanners Close

- the waltzers, when the fair came

- his first banana (He didn't know you had to peel back the skin before eating it!)"

Jutta McAllister, Warrington, Cheshire, England:
Message in EdinPhoto Guest Book, August 29, 2008