|
|
Recollections
1.
Irene Atkins
Ashford, Kent, England
|
|
Thank you to Bryan Gourlay, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland, for
sending me these memories of Craigmillar in the early 1940s, written by
his aunt, Irene Atkins.
Thank you also to Irene, who wrote:
|
|
Old
Women and Old Men
"The
Craigmillar I grew up in, in the early 1940s, is not the place it has
become today. It was a world of women and old men, most of the young men
having volunteered or been called up to fight for king and country.
The
young women went to work to help boost the pittance they received from
whichever service their husbands fought with. The old women stayed at home
to look after the children of their sons and daughters.
The old
men sat on the various benches around the area and regaled us children
with tales of their daring do in ' the last one ' in such places as
Paschendale, Cambrai and Vimy Ridge, whilst their wives used their meager
sugar rations to provide us with such delights as toffee apples and barley
twists." |
|
A Safe Place
"Craigmillar was as safe a place as any then. We children played anywhere
and everywhere without a care. I do not ever recall a burglary, break-in,
child abduction or murder in my day.
The
shops neither used shutters or grills when they closed after the day's
business, and we only had one policeman called Bobby Munroe. |
|
German plane
"However, exciting things did happen. Such as the German plane that
crashed into the derelict grounds of Lady Wauchope's estate.
The
other children and I saw the remains of the plane
being loaded on to two flat-bed lorries. The very young German airman, who
was the only survivor of the crash, was dragged from his hiding place in
the woods and frog marched, with hands tied behind his back, covered in
dirt and blood, to the police box at the bottom of the road.
I was
unable to understand at that time why people jeered and spat on him. I
must confess I felt sorry for the poor young man who must have been
terrified out of his wits.
I also
remember being taken to the gates of Portobello cemetery (Milton Road) to
see the corteges of his dead companions pass through, where they might
still lie today." |
|
More German Planes
"I
remember hanging out of the window with my mother watching a dog-fight in
the sky above, with the lights out of course. Also, being wrapped in a
huge pink quilt and going to the air raid shelter when the siren sounded,
coming back hours later to find the cat had eaten our supper of fish and
chips (mother nearly killed it).
I
remember going with my mother to New Craighall to see the skeletal remains
of the bombed-out houses where a German airman jettisoned his load over
the village, having missed his target of Leith docks. |
|
Irene Atkins, Ashford, Kent, England, formerly Wauchope, Craigmillar and
Burdiehouse
with acknowledgement to Brian Gourlay, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland,
April 9, 2006 |
|
Recollections
2.
Cath Tuff
Warwickshire, England
|
|
Thank you to Cath Tuff, Warwickshire, England, who used to live at
Craigmillar, for sending her memories.
Cath wrote:
|
|
The
White House
©
"My
husband lived in Craigmillar from 1937. He has great memories of the
White Hoose as a boy. He watched the fights from the window in
the Loan (Craigmillar Castel) and had his first pint of heavy there.
We
moved to Niddrie Mill and had a few good laughs and close shaves there.
We now
live in England and my husband can't get about, but we still talk about
Craigmillar, and tell our grandsons about the White Hoose, and soon our
great grandchildren will know all about it."
Cath Tuff, Warwickshire, England: December 12, 2006
|
|
Recollections
3.
David Thomson
Broughton, Edinburgh
|
|
Thank you to David Thomson for sending his memories of
Craigmillar.
David wrote:
|
|
Craigmillar's
Decline
"I was born in the Craigmillar area and
regretfully have seen the decline in the quality of life in the area.
There used to be full employment with 7
Breweries, Coal Pits. Steele's Sanitaryware manufacturing, etc.
The cows were brought down from the
Castle Farm to be milked and folk won awards for Best Garden etc. I
delivered milk and never had any milk stolen from my barrow! Folk left
the money or token outside their door and it was never stolen.
I have seen Greendykes being built,
demolished, built again and now being demolished again, and I'm not even
pensionable age! There's more decent folk in Craigmillar but its the
age-old adage of the few bad apples ruin the box."
|
|
Wauchope Estate
"I have a book on General Wauchope and used to
play in the Wauchope estate - a wonderful place, The old cemetery is
where General Wauchope brought a drummer or bugle boy who had been badly
injured, back home from South Africa to have a decent place to die.
When the lad died, he buried him in the family
graveyard at Niddrie. Fascinating the history of a wee place in
Edinburgh which has a vast wealth in history of industry and village
life. General Wauchope has a statue which stands at the junction of
Market Street/Mound."
|
|
David Thomson, Broughton, Edinburgh: February 15,
2007
|
|
Recollections
4.
Marion Deighan
Edinburgh
|
|
Thank you to Mary Deighan who wrote:
|
|
My
First TV
"When I first got a TV in the late 1950s the
screens were small and the gimmick was to buy an enlarger like a
magnifying glass.
A guy came to the door. He was well
dressed and was not from the Edinburgh area. In my opinion he was a
conman, as I can spot a conman miles away.
He said: 'You can rent this magnifier for 2
shillings a week. I'll send one of my agents next week to pick up the
payments.
When he saw and heard my husband
and found out who my sons were, he got a bit nervous and I never saw him
or his so-called agent ever again.
The glass screen was great as it magnified my
wee TV to a 32 inch screen without being a blur. It was one of the
best bargains I had in Craigmillar.
I also used knitting needles to get a good
picture until I got an aerial mounted on the roof."
|
|
Marion Deighan, Edinburgh: March 29, 2007
Marion is the aunt of Eric Gold who has sent many
recollections to the EdinPhoto web site. Marion used to live in
Arthur Street, Dumbiedykes then in Harewood Road, Craigmillar
|
|
Recollections
5.
John Clark
Canada |
|
Thank you to John Clark who wrote:
|
|
Craigmillar Castle Gardens
"My Auntie Lizzie lived in Craigmillar Castle
Gardens. People reading this in Hollywood would probably think, 'Wow, I
simply must buy a house there.'
Sorry Maam, it wasn't that fancy, but it sure
was a lot of fun. We would play football in the park next to the brewery,
It's still there.
We would go to free movies in
the nissen huts from the war, and watch great movies for free. It
was freezing cold, but who cared if you were watching a free movie."
|
|
John Clark, Canada: April 1, 2007 |
|
Recollections
6.
David Brown
Craigmillar, Edinburgh |
|
Thank you to David Brown who wrote:
|
|
Schools and
Housing
"I go back to Craigmillar 1938,
when it was a great place to live.
Peffermill School was being
built. We had to go to
Prestonfield and the tin school, until it
was ready.
People were poor but honest,
with large families. All you hear
now is 'deprived area'.
I've lived in the
area for fifty years, ,and own my own home.
I'm very comfortably off because I worked
for it."
|
|
David Brown, Craigmillar, Edinburgh:
August 12, 2008 |
|
Recollections
7.
Rod Fraser
Australia |
|
Thank you to Rod Fraser who wrote:
|
|
Wauchope
Estate
"I used to live in Wauchope Terrace in
Craigmillar, back in the 1950s.
I used to play in the old Wauchope Estate
grounds then and have many great memories of the time.
I have a rough idea of where the paths
went and what was there. I was wondering if you have any maps of the
layout of the old estate before the housing development?"
Rod Fraser, Australia: August 7,
2008 |
|
Reply
For old
maps of the area, I recommend contacting the Map Library of the National
Library of Scotland.
Here is
their email address.
Peter Stubbs: August 7, 2008 |
|
Recollections
8.
Ralph Maltman
Canada |
|
Thank you to Ralph Maltman who wrote:
|
|
Home, School, Work
"I grew up in
Craigmillar from around 1938 or '39, and finally
left to go to Canada in 1957
We lived at 21
Craigmillar Castle Terrace terrace.
I attended Peffermill School, then moved on to
Niddrie Marischal. Later, I worked in the
pits at
Loanhead."
|
|
Neighbours
"I recall many happy
memories living in Craigmillar and I can't
recall any bad times. Our parents used to
go around the stair, either borrowing money for the gas meter or asking
for a drop of milk or sugar."
|
|
Jam Pieces
"I
remember having 'pieces'
thrown out the window. They they were
usually jam only, not butter and jam.
We never got butter,
that was usually only for our dad. But we
thought nothing of that. That's just the
way it was."
|
|
Shopping
"We used to shop at
the local shops for our messages.
The famous one I recall was
Mrs Flett's on the main road in Craigmillar.
I think her name was Jean and her husband
was Charlie."
|
|
Friends
"What great memories
of those times, meeting all our friends on the
corner of the Terrace and the Grove
-
the
Andersons
-
the Wilsons
- the Moyes
- the Gunns
- the Norrises.
So many memories.
There was nothing wrong with Craigmillar when we
were growing up.
What happened?"
|
|
Ralph Maltman, Canada: October 11,
2008 |
|
Recollections
9.
John Clark
Canada |
|
Thank you to John Clark who wrote:
|
|
Growing up in Craigmillar
"I lived in and visited
Craigmillar for long periods of time in the late
1940s, to stay with my cousins. Craigmillar was
a great place to grow up and to play as a kid.
Oh
yes, the young people were tough. They had to be.
But they were honest and reliable in the majority."
|
|
Norris Family
"My cousins
were:
-
Jim Norris
-
George Norris
-
Billy Norris.
Unfortunately Billy was killed in a terrible accident with a rocket flare
gun that he and some friends had acquired and
were fooling around with.
George died a few years ago of heart troubles,
but I like to believe that Jim is still around and with us."
QUESTION
"Do you know Jim? If
so, please tell him I am asking for him.
Anyway, long live
Craigmillar, it gave me many, many happy years
in my young days."
|
|
Auntie Lizzie
"My Auntie
Lizzie had a huge family, from two different husbands.
They were, starting at the eldest, and I hope I get
this right:
- Davey Bullock
- Jessie Bullock
- Nettie Bullock
- Anna Bullock
- Isabell Bullock
- Stewart Norris
- Billy Norris
- Jim Norris
- Mary Norris
- George Norris
- Marjorie Norris.
She also had one child
who died as a baby.
I was in the age group between Billy and Jim.
So you can imagine how entertaining life was at my
Auntie Lizzie's place, and why I love Craigmillar so much.
Oh, happy days."
|
|
Ralph Maltman, Canada: October 13+15,
2008 |
|
