Local Language

Edinburgh

Place Names and Speech

Note:  The colours in this index below match the background colours in the sections of this page.

Please scroll down this page, or click on one of the links below:

Index to Sections

1.

Edinburgh - Place Names

2.

Edinburgh - Words

3.

Edinburgh -  Expressions

4.

Edinburgh - Sweets, Snacks, Cakes

5.

Acknowledgements

6.

Questions

1.

Edinburgh and Leith

Place Names

Here are colloquial names for some of the places in Edinburgh, many of them taken from emails that I have received, recording people's memories of growing up in Edinburgh.

Perhaps somebody will tell me more about some of these places.

Peter Stubbs:  October 8, 2008

A

Admirality Street

©

This is how we used to pronounce Admiralty Street, Leith.

(Note the extra 'i')

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 15, 2010

Aggie Kate

The State Picture House

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  March 8, 2010

The Alabam

The Alhambra cinema

"The Alabam or Bam (Alhambra cinema) was on the corner of Springfield Street, now gone."

Pauline Cairns-Speitel, Old Town, Edinburgh;  October 3, 2008

Albert's

"A fish and chip shop at the top of Kirkgate, - black, green and white (I think) with a steady passage of customers.

A great place for the Teddy Boys to hang around.  The great thing is that it never stopped ordinary folk going in."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 6, 2009

©

The Allotments

Waste ground between Beaverbank Place, Broughton Road and Logie Green Road

"It was a great playground for kids, and I always remember a great big bonfire on Guy Fox Night which took weeks to gather all kinds of debris and wood that would burn.

Jim Calender, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada:  June 17, 2010

Andy Dam

"This was the 'bridge crossing' section of Water of Leith at Anderson Place, a kids' fishing territory."

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Leith:  Sep 17 + Oct 2 +  4, 2008

Angelosantas

Was this 1 word or 2?

"This was the shop for ice cream - but where was it?

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  November 22, 2010

Thank you to Susan MacLeod who replied:

"There is an ice cream shop in Lindsay Road that we always called 'Angelosantos' when we were growing up.

He had really great ice cream, and I think the same family still own the shop now."

Susan Macleod, Leith, Edinburgh:
Message posted in EdinPhoto guest book: November 27, 2010

Antaygi Street

Antigua Street

"When I grew up, Edinburgh folk didn’t seem too keen on words ending in ‘-ua’ or ‘-ue’. Hence the pronunciations ‘Antaygi Street’ and ‘Montaygi Street’"

Kim Traynor:  Tollcross, Edinburgh:  September 27, 2009

Archers' Field

"An area in The Meadows fenced off for use by The Royal Company of Archers.  It was somewhere between Jawbone Walk and the Paddling Pool."

Peter Butler, Hennenman, South Africa:  February 25, 2011

Auld Reekie

Edinburgh

Given this name from the time when the many crowded houses in the Old Town burnt wood and coal.

reekie = smoky

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  January 13, 2009

"I always thought the name referred to the reek from its many domestic chimneys as some early photographs would suggest.

It appears other authorities differ; they ascribe 'smell' (disgusting is implied) as its meaning from association with the insanitary practice of 'gardyloo!' when the cadgers (porters) had failed to call for the refuse"

George T Smith, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada:  Jan 13, 2009

"It is said that the Fifers* could tell it was dinner time from the smoke or reek of Edinburgh as the fires were banked up for the evening meal."

* Fifers were people who lived in Fife, across the Firth of Forth from Edinburgh.

Stuart Burgess, Devon, England:  September 17, 2009

Auld Reekie could mean either 'Old Smoky' or 'Old Smelly'.  The comments above refer to 'Old Smoky'.  That's Edinburgh as I remember it when I first arrived here in the 1960s.

However, David Waddell  reminded me of why Edinburgh was known as Auld Reekie in the 18th century.

David wrote: "It was because there was no sewage system and people used to empty their chamber pots into the streets (Edina’s Roses*) at 10 o’clock in the evening."

Dave Waddell, Houston, Texas, USA:  December 29, 2010

* 'Edina's Roses' is how the  slops, tipped into the street, morning and nightly, were referred to in the poem, 'Auld Reekie' by Robert F Fergusson (1750-74).

This poem ends:

'Then, with an Inundation Big as
The Burn that 'neath the Nore Loch Brig is,
They kindly shower Edina’s Roses,
To Quicken and Regale our Noses.'

Aunties

"This was a shop in Viewforth frequented by Boroughmuir school pupils).  It sold Vantas, an aerated fruit-flavoured drink."

George T Smith, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada:  January 13, 2009

B

Back Canongate

©

"Holyrood Road was always called the 'Back Canongate'."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  October 7, 2008

The Balconies

©

The Balconies were houses with balconies on the west side of Dumbiedykes Road, opposite The Big Green.

Jean Rae, who has sent memories of Dumbiedykes to the EdinPhoto web site used to live in The Balconies, at 34 Dumbiedykes Road.

Jean Rae (nee Aithie), South Side, Edinburgh:  April 2006

The Bam

The Alhambra cinema

"The Alabam or Bam (Alhambra cinema) was on the corner of Springfield, now gone."

Pauline Cairns-Speitel, Old Town, Edinburgh;  October 3, 2008

The Alhambra Picture House, on the corner of Springfield Street and Leith Walk, now demolished.

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 17, 2010

Banana Flats,

Banana Block

Cable Wynd House Leith

  A 9-storey local authority housing block in Leith:  204 flats, first occupied 1962 - so named because of its curved shape.

"Parliament Square in Leith used to be where the Banana Block is now."

John Stewart, Livingstone, West Lothian, Scotland:  Nov 16, 2009

"The Banana Flats at Leith won an award, albeit that it was the chunkies (toilets) that overlooked the Forth.  Could others please add to this?"

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 21, 2009

Barberry Coast

This was the area of the Shore between the dock gates and Bernard Street Bridge - so called by seamen who'd visit the place of the same name in San Francisco. 

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 15, 2010

Barrie's Trip

An outing from the Grassmarket Mission
(See below.)

"I'd like to find some photos of the Barrie's Trip.  This was an annual outing for 'pare bairns' (poor children) to Spylaw Park or Colinton Dell, run from the Grassmarket Mission.

We even had a song:

A'm no gaun tae Barrie's trip

A'm no gaun again

A'm no gaun tae Barrie's trip

Fur it ayways comes oan rain."

J Kelly:  March 28, 2009

Robert McGrouther also remembers chanting this song on Barrie's bus trips.

Acknowledgement:  Robert Mcgrouther, Munlochy, Black Isle, Ross & Cromarty, Scotland May 14, 2009

The Bassy

The Embassy Picture House at Pilton

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  November 29, 2009

Bennetts'

"We had our bonfire too, and it was set up in Bennett's', a large bit of waste ground within Wilkie Place, Leith

David Barrie, Adelaide, South Australia, December 22, 2008

The Bev

The Beverley Picture House

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  March 8, 2010

The Big Canyon

"The Wee Canyon and the Big Canyon. These were shale bings (unofficial adventure playgrounds!) on the Lang Loan* and at Straiton."

* The Lang Loan ran from Straiton to Edgehead.

David Bain:  Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England:  September 21, 2009

The Big Green

©

"The Big Green was the area in front of 'The Balconies' housing in Dumbiedykes Road"

Jean Rae (nee Aithie), South Side, Edinburgh:  April 2006

The Big Hotel

Saughton Prison

"A facility where a number of persons whose behaviour had varied from the rules of society were housed, justifiably or otherwise."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  January 21, 2010

The Big Mixie

"The Big Mixie was an area of land on the west side of Orchard Brae, across the road from the Wee Mixie.

The Big Mixie was bigger than the Wee Mixie and much more overgrown and therefore thrilling wasteland  -  totally undeveloped circa 1962.

I got lost in it as a wee boy and a police search was instigated!  When I was located, oblivious to any fuss, my dad was so furious with me

Keith Main, London:  December 19+20, 2008

"I lived at 10 Learmonth Crescent from 1957 until 1989.

The waste ground between Learmonth Ave. and Orchard Brae was called the Mixie and the area across Orchard Brae towards Jeffrey’s Nursery in front of Daniel Stewarts was called the Sheepa.   I’ve never heard of it being called the Big Mixie."

Ian Young, Hawick, Borders, Scotland:  September 18, 2009

Blackie

©

©

"Blackfriars Street was known as 'Blackie' to anyone who lived there or who had friends who lived there."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  October 7, 2008

"You mentioned that Blackfriars Street was known to the locals as 'Blackie.  Well, here are the 'Blackie Boys'.'"

Eric Robinson:  December 19, 2010

The Blackies

Blackford Hill

Paul Anderson:  October 8, 2007I

Bloody Mary's Close

A long steep close behind Chessel's Court in the Royal Mile.

"When I lived at No 8 Chessel's Court, the only access to the rear was by a corner staircase between No 8 and the next house (I think, 8b) which led under the building to a long steep close known as Bloody Mary's Close.

This was about six or eight feet wide with high stone walls on either side and led all the way down to Holyrood Road.  When I attended St Patrick's School this was a short cut, rather than go by the main roads, up the Canongate and down St Mary's Street."

Tony Ivanov, Bo'ness, West Lothian, Scotland:  July 16, 2009

However, George T Smith tells me that he found an entry on the RCAHMS web site saying that Bloody Mary's Close was one of several alternative names for Plainstone's Close, the other names being:

-  Bonnie Mary's Close

-  Thomson's Close

-  Year's Close

George T Smith, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada:  July 16, 2009

The Bombies

An area between Couper Street and North Junction Street, Leith

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 31, 2011

The Botanics

©

Royal Botanic Gardens, Goldenacre

"We spent a lot of time in the summer at 'The Botanics'  having a roam around and a picnic for free, even although picnics were banned."

EdinPhoto Guest Book:  G M Rigg,  April 7, 2009

Bow Tow

A resident of Newhaven

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  November 27, 2009

"Although I am not a Bow Tow (Newhavener) as a resident of Newhaven, I have used Mr Crolla's store in Main Street for over 50 years."

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 6, 2010

The Brae

Arthur Street, Dumbiedykes

"My mates included guys from Eastie, Middle Arthur Place and the Brae."

J Kelly:  March 28, 2009

Breadalbaney Street

This is how we used to pronounce Breadalbane Street, Leith.

(Note the extra 'y')

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 15, 2010

The Brickies

©

"The Brickies were houses, made of bricks, beside 'The Big Green' in Dumbiedykes Road."

Jean Rae (nee Aithie), South Side, Edinburgh:  April 2006

The edge of The Brickies can be seen on the extreme left of this photo.

Peter Stubbs:  April 2006

The Broad Pavement

"Parliament Square, Henderson St opposite The Vaults, at Leith"

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Leith:  Sep 17 + Oct 2 +  4, 2008

The Broadie

The Broady

©

The Broad Pavement, Parliament Square, Leith

"To us, this was 'The Broady'.  We used this name as children, all those years ago, and took it from our parents."

John Stewart, Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland

Mary McLeod (nee Wilkie):  August 28, 2011

Brown Mountain

A mound in London Road Gardens

"London Road Gardens was also our playground.  The two mounds at the east end we called purple (the highest) and brown (the lowest) mountain.

I tried finding them a couple of years ago, but they were well and truly hidden. They were in fact gunnery mounds used by Cromwell when he besieged Leith and Edinburgh."

Ronald Stout, Denmark:  October 10, 2010

The Budgies

Shops at West Granton

"I lived in West Pilton Road from 1968 to 1979.  There were a lot of shops in these days.  The shops down West Granton were often nicknamed 'the budgies' because there was a back garden next to them with a hut where some man kept his budgies in."

David Blackburn, also known as Davy, Blackie and Tony,
August 14, 2011

The Bughouse

"Our name for The Blue Halls (later the Beverley picture house)

Others may have given the name to their local flea pit."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  March 8, 2010

"The Bungalow ('The Bughouse') was directly opposite my House.  The first picture I saw there was John Steinbeck's 'Of Mice and Men' starring Burgess Meredith and, I think, Lon Chaney jun.  It was shown in sepia."

Jim Smart, Bournemouth, Dorset, England:  September 5, 2010

The Bunkey

The North British Rubber Co.  It used to be at Fountainbridge

Paul Anderson:  October 8, 2007I

Burry

Boroughmuir School

"I always thought I had missed the photographic sessions at Burry, but there I am, large as life ..."

George T Smith, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada:  May 17, 2010

C

Caley Station

Princes Street Station (built in 1893 for the Caledonian Railway) below the Caledonian Hotel at the West End of Princes Street.

"Till the day it closed, in 1965, I never heard the station referred to by its British Railways name  -  'Princes Street Station'."

David Scott, Doha, Qatar:  October 19, 2009

"On the way back from a visit to the Meedies (Meadows), I used to call in to the Caley Station for a bit of free entertainment."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia,:  January 6, 2010

Candles Close

Tolbooth Wynd

"Somebody remembered her grandmother calling it that."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  March 8, 2010

The Cappy

The Capitol Picture House

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  March 8, 2010

"The Capitol Cinema, now a bingo hall at  Gordon/Manderson Streets.

It was famous in the 1950s for its Cappy Concerts and talent contests on a Sunday night, and Kiddies' Film Club on Saturday mornings."

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Leith:  Sep 17 + Oct 2 +  4, 2008

The Cat's Nick

Rocks at Salisbury Crags in Holyrood Park

"The Cats Nick, which is immediately above The Giant Steps which are accessed just up towards Jimmy’s (James Clark School) about 200 yards from the Holyrood roundabout."

Jack Craig, Silverknowes, Edinburgh:  March 2, 2009

"We roamed over every inch of the park, the vast majority of times unaccompanied by an adult. We were really rather wild and adventurous pre-1950.

To be able to call yourself 'one of the gang' you had to scale the Crags at the 'Cats Nick'."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh

The Channel

Kirkgate, Leith

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 15, 2010

Chippet Apple

The Chapel, St Patrick's school.

"I've just read about The Pineapple below.  At St Pat's we used to call the chapel the 'Chippet Apple' (Chipped Apple).

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  October 7, 2008

Chuckaboombas

Anthony White spoke of the time when he lived in Keir Street, Lauriston:

"Our bonfire (a bonny, in the vernacular) took place in a bit of wasteland known as 'The Lane' which included a ruined piece of property that looked a little like an old fort and was gloriously named 'Chuckaboombas' - I suppose because it was a good vantage for throwing (chucking) stones."

Anthony White, Edinburgh:  November 29, 2011

The Clanny

Clan House Dance Hall, Tollcross

"Across the road from the Clanny was a barber shop.  I think it was called something like Dino's.  Lots of us Teds used to go to get our DAs done."

Margaret Cooper, London, England.
Message posted in EdinPhoto guestbook: August 11, 2011

The Coalie

"Down Coburg Street, 100 yards on the right, formerly a coal yard used by a coal merchant.  It's now part of Water of Leith Walkway.

Locals still use the term."

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Leith:  Sep 17 + Oct 2 +  4, 2008

Cockie Dodgies,

Cockie Dudgeons

A yard at Broughton, approximately where Lothian Buses' Central Garage is now, at Annandale Street.

"It was a big yard off East London Street, always full of old vehicles, mainly army if I remember correctly."

Archie Bell, Broughton History Society (BHS) Newsletter, Summer 2009

"In my boyhood, it was occupied by a contractor called Cockburn, who gave his name to Cockie Dodgies."

Albert Mackie, Evening News, quoted in BHS Newsletter, Summer 2009

"In his poem, 'Fitbaw in the Street' written when he was a student in 1926, Robert Garioch* described boys, dodging away from the Police, going via Cockie Dudgeons, the Sandies and the Coup on their way to Puddocky."

* Full name Robert Garioch Sutherland

John Dickie, Broughton History Society Newsletter, December 2008

"It was Cockie-Dodgies to me.  I knew it because it was behind what was then Cramond's Garage, owned by a cousin of my father."

Ronnie Cramond, Broughton History Society Newsletter, Summer 2009

"No-one we've heard from recognised the name 'Cockie Dudgeons'."

John Dickie, Broughton History Society Newsletter, Summer 2009

The Commy

Roal Commonwealth Pool, a large swimming pool at Dalkeith Road, built for the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh in 1970.

Paul Anderson:  October 8, 2007I  and
Danny Callaghan, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland

The Colonies

©

The terraces of houses in Stockbridge built in up/down style with ground floor access from the street on one side and upper from the street on the other side of the houses.

To confuse non-residents, the Colonies are named as buildings, not streets.

David Scott, Doha, Qatar:  October 18, 2009

In fact, as well as the Stockbridge Colonies, there are seven other groups of colonies houses in Edinburgh.  They are at:

-  Abbeyhill
-  Leith Links
-  Lochend Road
-  North Fort Street
-  Shandon
-  Pilrig  (Shaw Colonies)
-  Slateford  (Flower Colonies)

Peter Stubbs:  October 18, 2009

Commando Buildings

"These buildings were in East Cromwell Street, off Coburg Street, which was blocked off at both ends by a high brick wall.

The the old disbanded tenements there were used during the war for war games by the Home Guard."

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Leith:  Sep 17 + Oct 2 +  4, 2008

The Coort

44 Bristo Street

"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."

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

"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

Coppie

©

or

The Coppie

Corporation buildings OR a play area between Corporation buildings.

The 'coppie' in this photo was at Sheriff Brae beside Leith Hospital.  The photo was taken in 1982, prior to demolition of the housing.

John Stewart, Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland:  October 6, 2009

“This referred to the Corporation housing at the foot of Mill Lane/ Sheriff Brae."

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Leith:  Sep 17 + Oct 2 +  4, 2008

“My mother's family, Jean, John and Janet (Nettie) Livingstone,  lived in the Coppie Buildings.  They went to St Mary's and St Anthony's schools."

Lynda Kelly, Leith, Edinburgh
Message posted in EdinPhoto guestbook:  September 16, 2011

The Corn Field

"The school that was at the top of Pennywell Road has moved and the spare ground looks like it looked in the 1950s.  The part where I played was called 'The Corn Field'.

Does anyone remember the RAF huts over the corn field?  When we were kids, we could see search lights, but they are gone now."

Maurice Dougan, Edinburgh:  September 11, 2009

Corry

Corstorphine

Maurice Dougan, Edinburgh:  September 11, 2009

Corrie Woods

"The 'Corrie Woods' at Corstorphine were great for adventures - no parental or adult supervision, so you could make fires and boil water for tea and climb trees and play soldiers or cowboys and indians."

Stuart Burgess, Devon, England:  September 17, 2009

Corstorphinny

See 'Pronunciations' below

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia,:  December 21, 2009

The Cut

From Trinity down to the back of the Peacock Inn in Newhaven.

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  March 8, 2010

The Coup

Somewhere in the Broughton area

"In his poem, 'Fitbaw in the Street' written when he was a student in 1926, Robert Gairloch described boys, dodging away from the Police, going via Cockie Dudgeons, the Sandies and the Coup on their way to Puddocky."

John Dickie, Broughton History Society Newsletter, Dec 2008

"This may be The Destructor - i.e. the Corporation Refuse Dept at Powderhall"

Alex Dow, Broughton History Society Newsletter, Summer 2009

Crummel Street

This is how we used to pronounce Cromwell Street, Leith.

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 15, 2010

The Cut

This is the name we gave to the section of Craighall Road linking Newhaven with Stanley Road.

It called 'The Cut' because the terrain was steep and had to be excavated to reduce the gradient prior to the road link.

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 17, 2010

D

Danger Woods
Craigmillar

©

The Danger woods were in area 4 of this map of Craigmillar.  Johnni Stanton recalls when he lived nearby in the 1960s:

"Across from Craigmillar Castle Avenue, looking at Craigmillar Castle, is the present Craigmillar Country Park, which used to be the Danger Woods, where there were huts holding the last of the fireworks from the gunpowder factory that used to there. Hence the name 'Danger'.  We found lots of gunpowder and a Verey pistol there."

Johnni Stanton, Craigmillar, Edinburgh;  October 31, 2008

Dead Man's Run

Near St Leonard's Hill

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 31, 2011

The Deanies

Dean Woods, half way along the Lang Loan*

* The Lang Loan ran from Straiton to Edgehead.

David Bain:  Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England:  September 21, 2009

The Dell

Colinton Dell

Maurice Dougan, Edinburgh:  September 11, 2009

Diggers' Bar

"A popular bar at the point of Angle Park Terrace, Ardmillan.  Its correct name is 'Athletic Arms', also sometimes called 'The Sportsman Bar'  But, of course, a sports bar today is a bit different now, with non-stop football on TV."

Danny Callaghan, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland:  November 4, 2009

"Diggers was the bar between two cemeteries, Dalry and North Merchiston.  It was a frequent haunt of the grave diggers."

Danny Callaghan, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland:  November 8, 2009

Dirty Dick's

©

Dirty Dick's is now a pond at Straiton Local Nature Reserve.

"When I was a boy in the late-1940s and early-1950s, it was a working sandpit.

It had very steep high sides with a steep sloping mass of loose sand at the bottom of the sheer drop.  We used to jump from the top down into the slopes.  I sometimes wonder how we survived to tell these tales!"

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  August 12, 2011

The Ditch

©

Waste land between Beaverbank Place and Logie Green Road at Broughton

"Looking at your photos of the land being redeveloped behind Beaverbank Place takes me back to my childhood years when I lived in Beaverbank Place

In the 1960s, we played on that wasteland which was dubbed, 'The Ditch'. it was also known as 'The Dump' because ash from the old coal fires was used as landfill, as you can see in the photo."

Donnie Graham, Zwickau, Germany:  June 14, 2010

The Dizzy

This was somewhere near Powderhall Stadium.  (See below.)

"Powderhall Stadium is where most boys who lived in the Broughton area went, to  watch the greyhound racing.  We did this, usually, by climbing the fence at St Marks park or at the bottom of the Dizzy."

David Flucker, Kirknewton, West Lothian, Scotland:  June 16, 2010

Doak Place

This is how we used to pronounce Dock Place, Leith.

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 17, 2010

The Dobies

Regent Road Park

"Holidays were great times.  We played for hours in the Dobies (Regent Road Park) or the Lundies (London Road Park).  I think we climbed every rock on the crags at some point or other."

John Welsh, Gracemount, Edinburgh:  September 5, 2008

"Kids would make their way through the bushes  in the Dobies, to a stone parapet overlooking the eastern end of the Calton Tunnel.

Steam locomotives leaving Waverley Station would suddenly emerge with their steam shooting upwards into the open air.

The driver or fireman would almost always wave to the watching youngsters. It seemed a secret place and, because of the drop, was more dangerous than any of us realised at the time."

Kim Traynor, Tollcross, Edinburgh:  September 24, 2009

The Dom

The Dominion Cinema in Morningside

Maurice Dougan, Edinburgh:  September 11, 2009

Doubties

Madame Doubtfire's Rag and Bone Shop

"Further up the hill at Stockbridge, was Doubties. It stank of cats' pee and wet old clothes !!"

Keith Main, London:  December 20, 2008

The Dough School

Edinburgh College of Domestic Science

"The Dough School was a fond name given to the Edinburgh College of Domestic Science which was at 1-4 Atholl Crescent, until it moved to Clermiston in the late-1960s and changed its name to Queen Margaret College."

Danny Callaghan, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland:  November 11,2010

The Dumbies

Dumbiedykes

"In 1951, we came to live in the Dumbies"

Vince McManamon, Darlington, Durham, England:  July 19, 2010

The Dumby

©

"The Dumbies is a shortened version of Dumbiedykes"

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  October 7, 2008

The Dummy

Edinburgh and Dumfriesshire Dairy

Paul Anderson:  October 8, 2007I

"We also knew the dairy as 'The Dummy D"

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  April 23, 2010

The Dummy D

See 'The Dummy' above

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  April 23, 2010

The Dummy Steps

"This was the name for the steps going down from Saxe Coburg Street to Glenogle Road and Stockbridge Colonies.

They were called after the Deaf and Dumb school at the top of the lane  -  no longer politically correct.

A Fortune, North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland:  May 16, 2010

The Dump

Corporation Rubbish Tip

"In the 1940s and 1950s, 'The Dump' was a large hole filled in by the Corporation with the city rubbish, in those days mainly ashes from coal fires.

When it was completed, top soil was added and grass seed sown and trees were planted around the sides.  I was one of the many pupils at Broughton Secondary School who planted trees in 1953 to celebrate the Coronation.  It is now known as St Mark's Park."

Jim Suddon:  February 20, 2009

Waste land between Beaverbank Place and Logie Green Road at Broughton

©

"Looking at your photos of the land being redeveloped behind Beaverbank Place takes me back to my childhood years when I lived in Beaverbank Place

In the 1960s, we played on that wasteland which was dubbed, 'The Ditch'. it was also known as 'The Dump' because ash from the old coal fires was used as landfill, as you can see in the photo."

Donnie Graham, Zwickau, Germany:  June 14, 2010

The Dungies

The Edinburgh Council facility at Gorgie used for stabling the horses and carts required to uplift the daily refuse collection.

This site has now become Gorgie Farm

Ian Harding, Gorgie, Edinburgh:  April 15, 2011

The Dungeons

The area around the front of the old Royal High School in Regent Road, that was generally forbidden to pupils

David Scott, Doha, Qatar:  October 18, 2009

E

Eagle Gates

These were gates close to the western end of West Granton Road.  They were at the eastern entrance to Muirhouse Mansion, a large house in Marine Drive.

They were gates with gate pillars surmounted by griffins.

See comments from several contributors in
Muirhouse Recollections

Eastie

©

"East Arthur Place, Dumbiedykes."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  October 7, 2008

Eckybank

  ©

Newington Cemetery

Paul Anderson:  October 8, 2007I

An area to the side of Dalkeith Road at Newington

David Bain, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England:  December 30, 2008

Edinbru

Portobello

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  April 23, 2010

The Edinburgh Riviera

The State Picture House

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  October 23, 2010

Eldo

The Eldorado Dance Hall, Leith

"The Eldo, as we knew it had dances and other functions, I think wrestling in more recent times."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  November 29, 2009

Eldorado - a two-part auditorium in Mill Lane, holding wrestling and dancing functions, since demolished.

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 17, 2010

F

The Fence

"Opposite Towerbank School, at Portobello, there was an enclosed area.  This was our playground.  It was know as 'The Fence'.

There was a solitary tree there, which gradually died, as it was used for everything, including:

-  a goal post

-  a viewing platform for the Umpires for 'Cycle Speedway'."

Jim Smart, Bournemouth, Dorset, England:  September 5, 2010

The Figgy

©

"Figgate Pond or 'The Figgy' as we used to know it in he 1950s, was the pond  down behind St. John’s school in Portobello."

Paul Anderson:  October 8, 2007I

The Figgie Burn

Figgate Burn, Portobello

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  March 8, 2010

Fire Brigade Street

Junction Place, Leith.  We called it Fire Brigade Street because the fire station was there.  It is still there now, but has been converted into housing.

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 17, 2010

Fishy Tamson

©

William Thomson, Fishmonger and Fruitier,
104 St John's Road, Corstorphine

Ian Thomson, Lake Maquarie, New South Wales, Australia:  March 23, 2009

Fit o' The Walk

©

The foot of Leith Walk.
i.e. the Leith end of Leith Walk, where there is a statue of Queen Victoria, and used to be a Woolworths

Peter Stubbs:  September 21, 2010

Flaggie

A large rock at St Leonard's Terrace

George Hughes, Edinburgh: Message posted in EdinPhoto Guest Book, May 15, 2007

Flea Pit

"The Salon on Baxter Place, we called it the flea pit but it could well have been known as Scabby Alan's as it's sort of rhyming slang with Salon. I spent many a happy time there watching cartoons."

GM Rigg, New Zealand:
message posted in EdinPhoto guestbook, January 31, 2012

"I believe that 'The Flea Pit' was a name that was commonly used for several of Edinburgh's  smaller cinemas."

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:, January 31, 2012

Forbie

©

Forbes Street

"I could probably give you a yard by yard account of what was where in 'Forbie' and St Leonard's Lane."

John Preece:  July 21, 2010

The Forth

"The Firth of Forth, but usually just called the Forth"

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  January 2, 2010

The Foundies

"People who lived in East Pilton might know this better than others.  It was the foundations that were laid for the school which was eventually erected - Ainslie Park School or College. 

We used to leap from a single brick wall to another wall and think it was exciting. Not recommended."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  November 27, 2009

Front Street

©

"Nicolson Street was always called the 'Front Street'."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  October 7, 2008

"The main road  from South Bridge to South Clark Street is known by  'Southsiders' as the Front Street."

Paul Anderson:  October 8, 2007I

G

The Gaff

The County (originally 'The Rio') Cinema and Bingo Hall, Wauchope Avenue, Niddrie.

Joe Currie, West Lothian, Scotland, 7+8 December 2007

Gampers

Those who attended The Gamp disco in the Royal MIle.

"Does anyone know Sanders, George Kelly, Graham Gourley, Black Eddy, Tommy or Big Davie who went off to India, all of them Gampers?

They all used to start from the Wee Windaes bar on the High Street before going to the Gamp."

Lyndsay (formerly Linda)  Montgomery, Old town, Edinburgh:  Oct 25, 2008

Gang Hut

Our gang hut was an Anderson Shelter which was built during the war to protect from falling bombs.  There were lots of places with them.

It was a place where you could meet in secret, away from parental view, and plan daring deeds.

Everybody tried to secrete things from the house, bits of rope or food and the like.  I think the gang hut sprang up from watching movies about  American youngsters.

 Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 7, 2009

Ghosty Valley

Rab Lettice wrote:

"Does anyone know where Ghosty Valley was?"

Rab Lettice, Leith, Edinburgh:  March 20, 2011

Reply from Rab Lettice

"The Ghosty Valley was a small bridge near to the Swedish houses in Ferry Road Drive at West Pilton.  Trains used to run under the bridge.

There was a short path from the Ghostly Valley to Ainsley Park School.  If you walked on, there was a scout hut then another bridge that you could go under to the school, but that's been filled in now.

If we were caught playing there, we were brought before Mr Murchison, our Headmaster as it was dangerous because of the trains."

Rab Lettice, Edinburgh:  March 21, 2011

The Giant Steps

Steps, close to James Clark School on the west side of Holyrood Park

"Many a time, while living in Montague Street, as a 10 year old, I and my friends would climb The Giant Steps then up The Cat's Nick.

If only Mother had known, she would have killed me."

Jack Craig, Silverknowes, Edinburgh:  March 2, 2009

Giant's Brae

The larger of the two small hills on Leith Links.

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  March 8, 2010

The Glassworks Stair

"The first tenements along Rossie Place was  'The Glassworks Stair', inhabited by staff of the Edinburgh Crystal Works in Edina Place."

Eleanor Dzivane,  January 27, 2009

Goodals

A place at Abbeyhill where items collected for bonfires were stashed.

"We used to collect all kinds of things for our bonfire on November 5.   We stashed them at the back of the greens in a place called 'Goodals'.  Then, we made the fire on the wall of the school."

Ella:  January 26+27, 2010

The Grassy

Grassmarket

"I'm surprised no-one has given the colloquial name for the Grassmarket 'The Grassy' and  Tollcross as 'Toley'.  Surely we were not the only family to use them?"

Anita Razzell (nee Canale), Qualicum Beach, British Columbia, Canada:
December 31, 2008

H

The Half Moon

"I lived at 36 Royston Mains Crescent from 1954 to 1979.   My house was in front of a grassy area that we called the 'half moon'.  We played a lot of games on that area."

David Aberdour, Message posted in EdinPhoto guest book:  November 26, 2010

Henny

©

An area where hens used to be kept at the end of Heriot Mount, beside Holyrood Park.

"You asked the question: 'What is the ornate structure in the corner with four steps leading to it?'

Well, I'm happy to tell you, it led round to the back green, or the 'Henny' as we kids called it.  I believe it was called this because they used to keep hens there years before."

Joyce Ritchie, London, England, September 18, 2005

Hermie

Hermiston Park Primary School

Brendan Pollitt, Edinburgh:  December 6, 2009

Henner Bars

©

The railings beside the steps that led down to Granton Square.

Henner refers to the somersaults that the boys did as the swung on these railings.

Kenneth Williamson, Silverknowes, Edinburgh:  Discussion, March 23, 2011

High Street

Raeburn Place, Stockbridge

"Our family used to play a game whereby we tried to remember all the shops of Raeburn Place (the High Street to folk from 'Stockaree' as we called Stockbridge)"

Keith Main, London:  December 20, 2008

High Street Pictures

©

"The New Palace, High Street, never got its full name.  It was always just 'High Street Pictures'."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  October 7, 2008

Hole in the Wall

There were several of these:

-   One was in Bristo Place (in a pub?)

-   One was in Pilton.  It led to West Pilton and Muirhouse flats.

-   One was  in Leith.

Others might be able to add to this list.

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  November 27, 2009

"This was a long, narrow pedestrian tunnel under Leith Central Railway Station, prior to the demolition of the station and erection of Scotmid.

It made a short-cut from Leith Walk via the tunnel entrance at Crown Place to Glover Street (now demolished), Ferrier St (now demolished), Manderston Street and Gordon Street."

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Leith:  Sep 17 + Oct 2+ 4, 2008 and  Mar 18, 2010

Holy City

"This was the name we gave to Mount Lodge,  a small council estate adjacent to Windsor Place, Portobello, because of the allegedly thousands of Catholics who lived there.  It was part of one of my 'rounds'."

Jim Smart, Bournemouth, Dorset, England:  September 5, 2010

Holy Corner

The junction of Morningside Road, Colinton Road and Chamberlain Road, a crossroads near Church Hill with a church on each corner.

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  March 8, 2010

I

The Institution

Melville College

"When I was a boy in the 1930s, Melville College was called 'The Institution' .

It's really only in recent years that the connotation of 'Institution' meaning 'Reform School' appeared, and people started referring to the school as 'Melville College' rather than 'The Institution'."

Alastair Berry, Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada:  January 28, 2012

GM Rigg wrote:

"I am curious about 'The Institution', the only place I ever knew being referred to as 'The Institution' (in inter-family chit chat) was the name given to a restaurant on Princes Street which ran during WW2 and was managed by one of my aunties.

 I beleive it was for Officers only, but I'm not sure. Any clues on this one?"

GM Rigg, New Zealand:
message posted in EdinPhoto guestbook, January 31, 2012

The Ire

"The passage underneath the back green outside Katie Burge's shop in East Arthur Place  was called 'The Ire'.

An Ire was a small close under a building.  We had plenty in the Dumbiedykes and there would be dwellings in them too.  But as time moved on, they closed the wee house up,  people threw their rubbish in the Ire and it became rat-infested.

When it rained heavily, the Ire would flood, and we would see rats hanging onto bits of wood and debris (ha ha ha ha)."

Eric Gold:  East London: November 21+24 2010

J

Jackie's Backie

OR

Jacey Backys

An area of waste ground near Henderson Street, Leith.

"We weren't allowed bonfires in Henderson Street, but used to have a huge one on waste ground over from Shades (potato merchants) that we called Jackie's Backie."

Willie Hutton, Edinburgh:  January 14, 2009

"I lived at No 18 Fort lace, for the first ten years of my life, from 1968.  This was a ground floor flat with a livingroom/kitchen, toilet, coal cupboard and bedroom.

We used to play opposite on scrap bit of land we called Jacky Backys."

Annie (nee Richardson):  March 12, 2009

Jewsy

©

©

Half way down the Vennel, on the west side

"Granny Gillies used to tell us stories of the Vennel.  She told us that the area half way down the steps, on the west side, near the portal gateway, was called Jewsy because there had been a Jewish temple there."

Don Johnston, St Mary's, New South Wales, Australia:  February 22, 2011

Jimmy's

James Clark School, St Leonard's

"I went to Castlehill from 1945 until the school closed.  I then went to Jimmie's until 1955."

John McCall:  February 20, 2009

The Jungle

1.  This was the area of the Shore between the dock gates and Bernard Street Bridge.

2.  It was also the name for King's Wark Pub.

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 15, 2010

K

Kaydie Street

This is how we used to pronounce Cadiz Street, Leith.

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 17, 2010

The Khyber Pass

Jane Street, Leith

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  December 15, 2008

Kimly Bink

This was how some people pronounced Comely Bank  (not far from Stockaree).

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  March 15, 2010

The Kinnegars

"There was a place close to Chester's farm, near Rosewell, which we called 'The Kinnegars'.

There, we used to pick brambles, raspberries, strawberries, blackcurrants, which all grew wild.

We also used to collect rosehips and sell them to our school Headmaster, Mr Hector MacPherson, a formidable gentleman, who gave us 6d per pound."

Pat Reid, Edinburgh:  Message in EdinPhoto guest book:  Dec 7, 2008

The King's Park

Holyrood Park

"A lot of people now call the park, the Queen's Park. 

I remember people calling it the King's Park until long after the 1953 Coronation."

Kim Traynor, Tollcross, Edinburgh:  September 2, 2009

The Klondike

Grand tenements at the corner of Hawthornvale and Lindsay Road, Newhaven - so christened because the date they were build related to the Canadian Gold Rush

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 17, 2010

L

Land's End

©

The end of Granton Western Breakwater and Pier, close to the harbour entrance.

(It's a long walk to get there from the shore!)

"Here is a picture of 'Gregor Paton' returning to Granton in mid-1960s, showing one of the West Pier steam cranes at Land's End"

John Dinwoodie, Granton, Edinburgh:  April 6, 2009

The Lane

There appear to have been at least two places known as The Lane.  See the messages below:

The Lane - 1

"Someone mentioned a bonfire (a bonny, in the vernacular).  These events took place in a bit of wasteland known as 'The Lane'.  That was the area between the blocks of houses in Kerr Street, Heriot Place and Lauriston Place."

Anthony White, Edinburgh:  November 29+30, 2011

The Lane - 2

"In the 1950s, 'The Lane' to us was the opening between Pitlochry Place and the tenements in Salmond Place at Abbeyhill.

We spent mony a happy day playing 'make believe' there, as there was an echo!  This led round to the 'back' of Pitlochry Place, right beside the railway and the back of Millers' Foundry.

My Grandad was a goods train driver and I can just remember how he would 'toot' the horn as he passed our kitchen window,coming from the St Margaret's depot."

Eleanor Dzivane, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland:  December 1, 2011

Laundry Brae

A road  at Abbeyhill

"At the top of Rose Lane* and on the right was a road down to the laundry building.  We called it Laundry Brae."

Jim Wilson, Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland:  October 25, 2011

*  Rose Lane was the hill leading down from London Road to Abbeyhill,  It has now been re-named Abbey Lane

The Laurie Street

"The old cinema behind Woolworths at Leith.  It had several names, one being the Salamander.

Up until the mid-1940s, you could get entry for a jam jar.  It was a bit of a flee pit.

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Leith:  Sep 17 + Oct 2 +  4, 2008

Leither

A person from Leith

Johnni MacKenzie-Anderson, Craigmillar, Edinburgh:  November 8, 2009

Leithie

Leith Academy

"This was the only school that I knew that had a nickname."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia,:  December 21, 2009

Libby

Liberton

"As a youngster in Arthur Street, Dumbiedykes, I remember getting the No 7 or 37 tram to Libby Dams.  It seemed like going to the other side of the world."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  December 5, 2007

Lieberton

See 'Pronunciations' below

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia,:  December 21, 2009

Little Texas

Near Caroline Park, there was a rail line in front of the shore.  It had sidings, one of which was covered with trees.  For years, this was known as 'Little Texas', and is still fondly remembered as such, even now.

William Dutton, Colinton, Edinburgh:  September 7, 2010

The Loan

Grange Loan (Edinburgh South Side)

Frank Wilson, Golden Beach, Queensland, Australia: Feb 26, 2010

Lockies

 ©

 ©

The playing fields to the north of Wardie School (on the East side of Granton Road) were known as Lockies in the 1970s.

This was the site of Lochinvar Camp, a naval training establishment in the 1940s.

The camp was passed to Edinburgh Council in 1946 and was used for the next ten years to house homeless families who did not qualify for council housing.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  November 15, 2008

Low Road

 ©

"Here is a photo taken on  the 'Low Road', the area at the front of Upper Viewcraig Row.

I was born in 32 Upper Viewcraig Row in 1949 and lived there for eight years."

Bob Hunter, Edinburgh:  December 30, 2008

The Lundies

London Road Park

"Holidays were great times.  We played for hours in the Dobies (Regent Park) or the Lundies (London Road Park).  I think we climbed every rock on the Crags in King's Park at some point or other.

John Welsh, Gracemount, Edinburgh:  September 5, 2008

"This was the perfect place for playing ‘Robin Hood’ after seeing one of his adventures at the Eastway or the Regent cinemas.

Incidentally, up until it was banned at the time of the Reformation, a ‘Robin Hood’ pageant was held annually on the slopes of Greenside below the Calton Hill. He was as popular up here as in Nottinghamshire"

Kim Traynor:  September 25, 2009

M

Madearie Street

"This is how we used to pronounce Madeira Street, Leith."

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 17, 2010

The Marischal

Niddrie Marischal Secondary School

"My three brothers and I went to the Marischal."

Dave McKinlay< New Zealand:
 Message posted in EdinPhoto guestbook, November 24, 2010

The Market

©

The Grassmarket

"I was raised in the Market in the 1950s and early-1960s.  We lived at 17 Grassmarket next to the Vennel."

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 17, 2010

The Meedies

"The Meadows"

Paul Anderson:  October 8, 2007I

"On the way back from a visit to the Meedies, I used to call in to the Caley Station for a bit of free entertainment."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia,:  January 6, 2010

"Living in Bristo Street, as I did, I spent many hours at the Meedies, especially during the school holidays when we would be packed off with a 'piece' ."

Peter Butler, Hennenman, South Africa:  February 25, 2011

Middly

©

"Middle Arthur Place, at  Dumbiedykes."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  October 7, 2008

The Mighty Block
Craigmillar

A cycle route, near Craigmillar

"We would take the road from Craigmillar Crossroads, along Peffermill Road, turn left up Bridgend into Old Dalkeith Road, continue up to Edmonstone, then turn left along towards the road up to where the City Bypass is now.  We'd then turn left again, up the Wisp Road, continuing down to the Wisp Crossroads, then turn left along Niddrie Mains Road and back to Craigmillar Crossroads.

For a bunch of 10-year-olds who just built their first bikes from parts scavenged at the City Dump on Old Dalkeith Road, that was a good long trip round the 'block'!"

Johnni Stanton, Craigmillar, Edinburgh;  October 31, 2008

Mixie

©

"I played in a piece of waste ground between Orchard Brae and Learmonth Avenue in the ‘50s known as the 'Mixie'. Does anyone remember it?"

Lindsay Russell, Edinburgh:  November 6, 2008

"I lived at 10 Learmonth Crescent from 1957 until 1989.

The waste ground between Learmonth Ave. and Orchard Brae was called the Mixie.

I think it was called Mixie because all the building products for the building of the Comely Bank/Learmonth houses were mixed roughly in that area.

I have copies of maps dated 1914 and 1933 which show cranes in what appears to be a compound at the west end of Comely Bank Grove.

I can also remember there being an area of compacted sand which we played in as kids."

Ian Young, Hawick, Borders, Scotland:  September 18, 2009

"My children always played at the Mixie  when coming back from Flora Stevensons school in Comely Bank in the 1960s and 1970s.

But a very elderly neighbour of mine, who had lived in Belgrave Crescent Mews in the early years of the century, said that this was the site of 'Mick's farm' and that there had been a stream there in her childhood."

Anne Fortune, North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland:  May 16, 2010

Montaygi Street

Montague Street

"When I grew up, Edinburgh folk didn’t seem too keen on words ending in ‘-ua’ or ‘-ue’. Hence the pronunciations ‘Antaygi Street’ and ‘Montaygi Street’"

Kim Traynor:  Tollcross, Edinburgh:  September 27, 2009

Morningsaid

See 'Pronunciations' below

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia,:  December 21, 2009

The Mound

 ©

"This photo, taken at the Low Road, Viewcraig, Dumbiedykes The wall on the left was round what we called 'the mound'.

I don't know what its purpose was but I suspect it harboured an air raid shelter during the war.

It certainly was somewhere we played on quite a lot."

John (Iain) McEvoy, Craigentinny, Edinburgh:  Jan 6, 2009

The Muir

Boroughmuir School

"I attended the Muir from 1952 until 1958

Margaret Kortas, British Columbia, Canada:  October 17,2010

The first verse of the Boroughmuir school Song begins:

"We are Vassals of the 'Muir,
Vassals of the 'Muir."

N

Nanny Park

©

The sloping ground to the north of Granton Road, looking down on Lower Granton Road, where goats were once kept.

Andrew Boath, Granton, Edinburgh (Chairman, Granton History Group), 2010

The Nash

The New  International Club, a dance club in Princes Street

"When I was a lad, back in the early-1970s, we used to almost live in the International Club on Princes Street.

By that time, it had been renamed the 'NEW International Club' or simply 'The Nash'.

Every Saturday night we would be there as soon as the pubs closed at 10pm."

David Sanderson, Lake Forest, California, USA:  May 22, 2009

"I was one of the roadies with Reflection from 1967-69 and we played the Nash almost every Saturday night.

Usually the last spot after a wonderful couple of hours playing the Top Storey!!!"

Bob Jenkins, Mayfield, Edinburgh
Message posted in EdinPhoto guest book:  September 9, 2011

Niddron

A person from the Greater Craigmillar area.

"The term 'Niddron' was coined by myself and Alice Henderson (Craigmillar Festival Society Assistant Organising Secretary - Planning) back in the 1970s and refers to any and everyone from the Greater Craigmillar area. I use it a lot - but imagine my surprise to find that it's commonly used by lots of Niddrons these days!"

Johnni MacKenzie-Anderson, Craigmillar, Edinburgh:  November 8, 2009

O

The Op

The Operetta House cinema, Chambers St

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  March 11, 2010

P

Pally (1)

Palais de Dance, dance hall at Fountainbridge

"We danced the nights away at Bungies, Top Storie and of course the old Pally in Fountainbridge."

Sandra Hartland (nee Reid), Florida, USA:

Pally (2)

©

Leith Palace Cinema (at the foot of Leith Walk)

"This photo shows nearly all of the Leith Palace Cinema (on the right hand side of the photo), including the side exit beyond the post office in Constitution."

Jim Macfarlane, Edinburgh:  January 23, 2012

Paps of Fife

East and West Lomond  (hills in Fife, seen from Edinburgh)

"Opposite Edinburgh, on the other side of the Firth are the 'Paps of Fife' I don't know if that was an Edinburgh name for the hills or a general geographical reference as in the 'Paps of Jura'."

Stuart Burgess, Devon, England:  September 17, 2009

The Pend

 Part of Gorgie Road

"From about 1942 until about 1955, I lived in what we called the 'pend' right next to Davie's Cafe, which is now the kids farm in Gorgie Road."

Alex McEwan, Australia:  June 4, 2008

The Peffy

Peffermill school

"I attended Peffy as it was then called.  The Peffy burnt down in 2003."

Tam Smith, Germany:  July 31, 2011
Quoting a message from David Thomson on the Friends Reunited web site

Petty France

Little France

"I'm proud to have been born on 'Little France Farm' in July 1958.  It also used to be known as 'Petty France', possibly a corruption of Petite France, home for Mary Queen of Scots' French servants, while she lived at nearby Craigmillar Castle in the 16th century."

Robert Thomson, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Message posted in EdinPhoto guest book:  June 30, 2011

The Picky

The Picturedrome

"The Picturedrome was a cinema in Easter Road.  We called it we called  'The Picky'.

 That's where we went for the Saturday matinee.  We were pushed along a wooden form as far as possible to get us all on."

Ella:  January 26+27, 2010

The Piggery

"A large piece of waste ground at the foot of Ballantyne Road, probably so named because at one time were kept here in the 17th/18th century.

Ballantyne Place overlooked this piece of waste ground, prior to the demolition and rebuilding of Ballantyne Road.

Just after  the war, Wingy Robertson fenced it off and used it to store Government excess military vehicles that he sold off"

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Leith:  Sep 17 + Oct 2 +  4, 2008

The Pineapple

"Amongst so me of the Catholic families, there were members of our street football team.

We used to sneak into 'The Pineapple', the Roman Catholic Church in Brighton Place, to tell them to hurry up with their 'Hail Mary's as the tide was coming in and we would have only an hour to play."

Jim Smart, Bournemouth, Dorset, England:  September 5, 2010

The Plantations

©

©

The Plantations were an area of trees, on the western edge of Holyrood Park, close to Dumbiedykes Road.

The Plantations can  be seen on this picture, and are just visible between the houses at the left-hand side of the photograph of The Big Green (above).

"I remember running down Dumbiedykes Lane (the road that leads straight ahead in the top picture, opposite).  The road then turned left and went to Holyrood Square.  We used to dreep over the wall into the plantations."

Jean Rae (nee Aithie), South Side, Edinburgh:  April 2006

The Plowt

©

"This was a nickname for Fleshmarket Close."

Pauline Cairns-Speitel, Old Town, Edinburgh;  August 29, 2008

"No-one knows why this was a nickname for Fleshmarket Close.  It may have been because it was muddy at the bottom of the close."

Kim Traynor, Tollcross, Edinburgh:  December 27, 2009

Poaly Oaly Close

"This was our name for Old Fishmarket Close"

Jane Jones, Cambridgeshire;  August 15, 2008.

Polly Park

Redhall Public Park

"John Stevenson ran the Dry Cleaners at Longstone.  His brother, Cyril, ran the laundry.

They had the two big houses beside the footpath into the Redhall Public Park.  We called it the 'Polly Park'."

Robert Laird, Longstone, Edinburgh
Recollections from his dad

Ponderosa

"This was the colloquial name given to the low density housing part of the Leith Fort housing estate.  It's taken from the TV series, 'Bonanza', but the reasoning defeats me."

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  July 30, 2011

Porty

Portobello

"I remember the Figgy Burn at Porty"

Jim Irvine:  January 12, 2009

Porty Pool

Portobello Bathing Pool.

An open air pool with a 'wave machine', situated beside Portobello Power Station.

It opened in 1936 and was demolished in 1980.

"I have great memories of Porty Pool.  I'm sure, in the '50s and '60s, there was no time limit.  You took your towel and sandwiches and sunbathed on the terraces."

Danny Callaghan, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland:  November 12, 2009

Powdie

Powderhall dog track

Keith Barker Main:  December 19, 2008

The Provvy

Leith Provident Coop

"Aitken & Niven were outfitters to a lot of the schools in Edinburgh but, as my wife informed me, not to Leith Academy whose school uniforms were sourced from the Provvy."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  November 27, 2009

Puddockie,

Puddocky,

Puddiky

Puddockie Park

(These are different ways that people who remember the district have spelt it.)

©

©

"The Puddockie was that part of the Water of Leith at Canonmills.

My mother used to talk about collecting frogs’ spawn here, so there must have been a large frog population!"

Lindsay Russell, Edinburgh:  November 6, 2008

"Puddockie Park furnished kids with frog spawn or tadpoles, that your mother promptly disposed of when you took them home."

EdinPhoto Guest Book:  G M Rigg,  April 7, 2009

"This photo was taken at 'Puddockie', at the bottom of Logie Green Road.  The boys in the photo are  Jimmy Callender, Davey Callender,  George (Doddie) Thompson and  Billy Paton."

Jim Callender, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada:  April 9, 2007

"Water of Leith at Canonmills, home to puddocks"

Jim Duncan, New Brunswick, Canada,:  May 22, 2009.

"What we called fishing, at that young age, was going to Puddockie (a section at the Water of Leith, just over the bridge and near the old allotments) with our nets and jars for sticklebacks."

John Welsh, Gracemount, Edinburgh:  September 5, 2008.

"On the Water of Leith at Warriston Road.  It was kids' fishing for tiddlers' territory.  It was where the bridge crossed a section of the Water of Leith, just past Warriston cemetery."

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Leith:  Sep 17 + Oct 2 +  4, 2008

"The word Puddockie is most likely to come from the old Scots word for  toad or frog which is a Pudduck."

David Flucker, Kirknewton, West Lothian, Scotland:  June16, 2010

Purple Mountain

A mound in London Road Gardens

"London Road Gardens was also our playground.  The two mounds at the east end we called purple (the highest) and brown (the lowest) mountain.

I tried finding them a couple of years ago, but they were well and truly hidden. They were in fact gunnery mounds used by Cromwell when he besieged Leith and Edinburgh."

Ronald Stout, Denmark:  October 10, 2010

Q, R

The Rat Trap

A pub in Nicolson Street.  (Which one?)

ANSWER:  See below

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  April 5, 2010

The Rat Trap was the name given to the Empire Bar. I had my first pint there, bought for me by my grandfather.

It was on the corner of Nicolson Square, opposite the Surgeons' Hall. Incidentally above it was the room where the first-timers to the Central School of Ballroom Dancing were introduced to their first '123, 123'.

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  October 7, 2008

The Rat Trap was the Empire Palace Bar, on the corner of Nicholson Street and Nicholson Square.

It must have been good; my grandad, who was severely hampered by rheumatoid arthritis and Paget's Disease, would travel there from Craigmillar for a pint or two!

David Bain, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England:  April 6, 2010

Reekie

The front section, upstairs on a tram

"On the top deck at the front of the tram was a small section, which we called the round house.  It had a sliding door which could be shut.  So we used to go in there and lock the door if it had a snib."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 20, 2009

Roly-poly Hills

A play-area close to Pennywell Primary School

"I remember the wee roly-poly hills, just off Pennywell Road.

Jim Little, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada:  October 31, 2011

The Rooms

The Assembly Rooms, Leith, a Dance Hall, now flats, opposite Nobles Bar, Constitution Street

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 17, 2010

The round house

The front section, upstairs on a tram

"On the top deck at the front of the tram was a small section, which we called the round house.  It had a sliding door which could be shut.  So we used to go in there and lock the door if it had a snib."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 20, 2009

S

St Frannie's

St Francis School  (RC school at Niddrie Mains Road, Craigmillar

"I went to St Frannie's school.  All my mates went to Castlebrae."

Jimmy Dickson, Easter Road, Edinburgh:  April 10, 2011

St Tam's

St Thomas of Aquin's High School

"St Tam's is a long established (since 1880s) High School."

Ian Stewart:  November 12, 2009

Sally Ann

The Salvation Army HQ in Bangor Road.

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 17, 2010

Samson's Ribs

"Our name for the basalt rock columns on the roadside above Duddingston Loch in Holyrood Park."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  October 7, 2008

The Sandies,

The Sandy Hills

"The 'cobbled street, off Rodney Street, north of the shops, leading to elevated waste ground was Heriothill Terrace, and the waste ground was 'The Sandy Hills'."

Jim Duncan, New Brunswick, Canada:  May 22, 2009

"In his poem, 'Fitbaw in the Street' written when he was a student in 1926, Robert Gairloch described boys, dodging away from the Police, going via Cockie Dudgeons, the Sandies and the Coup on their way to Puddocky.

Elsewhere, Robert Gairloch, describes his family's allotment as 'a poor bit of ground named 'The Sandies' , opposite our house (109 Bellevue Road), a disused sandpit."

John Dickie, Broughton History Society Newsletter, Summer 2009

The Scabby Alan

"I recall the Salon Picture House in Baxter's Place, opposite Union  Street, being known as the 'Scabby Alan'.

I also recall that we were  always thrown out the side door at exactly the point in the main  feature, B film or cartoon at which we were admitted.  I never fully  understood the logistics of keeping track of the entry point so many  children !"

James McEwan:  April 6, 2009

Scabbie Alice

The Palace Picture House, at the foot of 'The Walk'.

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  March 8, 2010

The Scabby Lala

"The La Scala cinema was always called the Scabby Lala by us street urchins."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  October 7, 2008

The Scotchie

©

"This was the waste ground behind the Pleasance Trust, where we Arthur Street keelies played footie.  I've never seen or heard an explanation of this name"

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  October 7, 2008

The Sheepa

"The waste ground between Learmonth Ave. and Orchard Brae was called the Mixie and the area across Orchard Brae towards Jeffrey’s Nursery in front of Daniel Stewarts was called the Sheepa."

Ian Young, Hawick, Borders, Scotland:  September 18, 2009

Shirra Brae

Shirrie Brae

"We used to pronounce Sheriff Brae in Leith, the road that links Mill Lane and Coal Hill, as 'Shirrie Brae'."

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 17, 2010

Sheriff Brae

"Many old Leithers to this day, still refer to Sheriff Brae as 'Shirra Brae'.

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  January 28, 2011

The Shore Block

©

"The building on the right, partly shown in this photograph of 67 Lochend Drive, was known as 'The Shore Block' because the people who lived there all came from The Shore, down at Leith docks."

Ian Hastie, Coventry, Warwickshire, England: June 28 + July 13, 2011

The Shuch

New Broughton

"I was reminded, just recently, of the name 'The Shuch' -  a local name for New Broughton in the 1930’s and which my brother always used when talking of where he came from."

 Elizabeth Fraser (nee Betty Simpson, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia:
October 15, 2010

Skinny Woods
Craigmillar

©

The Skinny Woods were in Area 9 of this map of Craigmillar.  Johnni Stanton describes the land lying to the south of the eastern end of Craigmillar Castle Avenue in the 1960s:

"Across from that part of the Avenue were Sandy's Boys Club, and a cornfield leading to Greendykes along the old Skinny Woods."

Johnni Stanton, Craigmillar, Edinburgh;  October 31, 2008

The Slidey Stane

OR

The Slippery Stane

©

A large flat stone that children played on close to the St Leonard's border of Holyrood Park.  It lies between the site of Jeannie Deans' Cottage and the entrance to the park beside the Royal Commonwealth Pool.

Several people have sent their memories of this stone to the EdinPhoto web site, including Tam Croal, the boy on the left in the photograph opposite.

Tam Croal, Edinburgh:  February 26+27, 2009

Smokey Brae

Restalrig Road South

"So named because of the railway bridge over it and the adjoining railway yard at Meadowbank.  The steep slope was great for guiders"

Kim Traynor,  Tollcross, Edinburgh:  September 24, 2009

The Snakie

"The curving footpath from Saxe Coburg Place to Glenogle Baths."

Keith Main, London:  December 19, 2008

Soldiers' Hill

The slope on the western side of Arthur's Seat, Holyrood Park, facing Dumbiedykes.

"The park, when I was young, was the most magical of play grounds, with soldiers marching up and down what we called the soldiers' hill,  and using live rounds at the Hunters Bog firing range.

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  March 1, 2009

The Steamie

Public Laundry

"In Henderson Row, just before the Edinburgh Academy, there was a place my Mother used to call 'The Steamie'.

Women in headscarves and a 'fag' (cigarette) hanging from the lower lip, wheeling pram (perambulator)  frames containing tin tubs full of dirty laundry, used to frequent it."

Allan Dodds, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England:  October 21, 2008

Stinky Lane

Silvermills Lane

"This was one of the routes to Edinburgh Academy.  The lane had an open sewer."

Ian Lutton, Trinity, Edinburgh:  August 23, 2010.  (This was mentioned by Ian in a talk on 'The Smells of Edinburgh' that he gave at Lauriston Castle in Aug 2010.)

Stockaree

Stockbridge

Keith Main, London:  December 20, 2008 and
Shirley Thompson, South Africa:  March 29, 2009.

The Store

"St. Cuthbert's Co-op (later, Scotmid) was always referred to as 'The Store'.

Ask anyone over  age 40 from Edinburgh, their mum's store number.  I bet they still know it!"

Mary Frances Merlin (nee Monteith), France:  October 6, 2008

Strangs

Annex to St Anthony's School, Leith

"We both later attended Leith St Anthony's school.  They kept Joe in the main school in Lochend Road.  He was top of his class.  They moved me to 'Strangs', the annex in Hawkhill Avenue where, just before I left, I was the top of the lowest class!"

Eric Gold:  East London: June 26, 2010

Street of a Thousand Smells

Fountainbridge

"The canal, Mackay's sweet works, the brewery, etc.  Just lovely."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  October 23, 2010

Swedish Houses

"Wooden Houses on Ferry Road Drive, West Pilton"

Rab Lettice, Edinburgh:  March 21, 2011

T

The Tally Toor

or

The Tally Tower

©

A defence tower built on the shore during the Napoleonic Wars, just east of Imperial Dock.

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 17, 2010

The Martello Tower

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  November 27, 2009

Teapot Close

©

A small street off Drum Street, Gilmerton

"I have found out more on 'Teapot Close'.  The story behind it is that, when the men had finished their meals and went off to work the women went down to the close and emptied their teapots down a drain that was there.  Hence the name."

Archie Young, Moredun, Edinburgh:  May 1, 2008

The Tiv

Tivoli cinema, Dalry Road

Stuart Burgess, Devon, England:  September 17, 2009

The Tinny

The washhouse

"At Gorgie, I used to use Davie's Cafe a lot when I was younger.  I also went to Tynecastle School and used 'The Tinny' (washhouse).

Janet Porteous (nee Janet Horne Cleland Eagle):
Northern England:  November 4, 2008

Toley

Tollcross

"I'm surprised no-one has given the colloquial name for the Grassmarket 'The Grassy' and  Tollcross as 'Toley'.  Surely we were not the only family to use them?"

Anita Razzell (nee Canale), Qualicum Beach, British Columbia, Canada:
December 31, 2008

The Toll X

A Picture House at Tollcross, opposite Glen Street.

I went there once, to the cheap seats which were wooden forms.  I didn't fall asleep.

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  November 29, 2009

Toni's

or

Tony's

St Anthony's RC Secondary School, Lochend Road, Leith.

"After St Mary's RC Primary School in York Lane, I went to St Anthony's Sec (Toni's)."

Danny Callaghan, October 19, 2009

"So much for my non-education at Tony's. I'm sure others will have had similar experiences at that  ehhhhhhhhhhhhm School??."

Ron Goldie, Peine Germany: August 8, 2009

Too Tat

Tootat

" 'Too Tat'  or 'Tootat' was young and not-so-young kids' 'smart speak' for the Edinburgh Military Tattoo."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia,:  December 22, 2009

Tumbler's Hollow

The unnatural looking large depression in Bruntsfield Links between Whitehouse Loan and Bruntsfield Place.

Is there any substance to the scary rumours of plague-graves in that area?

David Scott, Doha, Qatar:  October 18, 2009

"Does anyone remember when all us school kids went to the meadows to a spot near Bruntsfield called Tumbles Hollow to stick sixpenny saving stamps on a Lancaster Bomber."

Margaret Cooper, Tollcross, Edinburgh:
Message posted in EdinPhoto Guest Book, June 11, 2011

The Tunnel
through to Letty's

©

"In the 1950s and early 1960s, we called the railway bridge at Bingham 'the tunnel through to Letty’s'.  We were sent there many times by our mum when she desperately needed sugar or soap or something,

Just after the tunnel on the right was a tiny shop, Letty’s.  It was very handy in an emergency and luckily she always had sweeties too, like the 'Penny Dainty', much loved by us all."

Mary Frances Merlin (nee Monteith), France:  October 6, 2008

U

Up the Pend

into Connell's Close, Leith

"To get to Connell’s Close, you went through the arch from St Andrew Street and it came out in Tolbooth Wynd, almost opposite Michael’s Cafe and Annie’s.

I used to live in St Andrew Street and used it all the time, although we used to say we were, ‘going up the pend’

Jan Brown:  June 15, 2009

"A pend was an archway under a house.  There used to be one along Bread Street.  One of my pals used to talk about going 'up the pend'. The flat or house above looked as though it was hanging there. I've an idea that there was also one near South Clerk Street.

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  May 8, 2010

"There were a lot of pends some of the older parts of  Edinburgh and Leith.  They are shown on large-scale Ordnance Survey maps by a cross through the building.

I can see 14 marked in the Old Sugarhouse Close area of Leith  on this extract from an 1894 OS map.

Peter Stubbs:  May 11, 2010

Up the Woods

to Wauchope Estate

"I also remember going "up the woods" to play.  This was, of course, the Wauchope estate.

We used to think a witch lived in the big house.  Whoever lived there must have been sick of us kids shouting 'Auld granny witchy; yer bums awfy itchy'."

Elliot Laing, Broxburn, West Lothian, Scotland:
March 18, 2011

V

The Vantie

"The Confectionery shop in East London Street was known as 'The Vantie'. 

It had a machine on the counter which was for the purpose of making Vantas drinks.  I never had one myself, but we used to buy Vantas cubes which we sucked."

Jim Suddon, Morningside, Edinburgh:  October 17, 2008

The Venchie

©

A children's play area at Craigmillar.

(Is this, perhaps, an abbreviation of 'Adventure Playground'?)

'The Venchie' is taken from the title of a photograph shown to me by
Sandra Givan, Craigmillar, Edinburgh:  October 14, 2008

The Village

The southern end of Restalrig Road South, near the church at Restalrig.

"I have no idea why this particular area was always known as 'The Village'."

(Perhaps somebody else will know.)

Rob Fender, England:  August 11, 2011

G M Rigg wrote:

" 'The Village' at Restalrig Road South was, in days gone by, a genuine small village with just a few farms and cottages around the church.

As kids, We always referred to it as 'Restalrig Village' rather than just 'The Village'

GM Rigg, New Zealand:
message posted in EdinPhoto guestbook, January 31, 2012

W

The Walk

'Scabbie Alice' (The Palace Picture House) was at the foot of 'The Walk'.

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  March 8, 2010

Wash Hoose

Same meaning as steamie above

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 4, 2009

The Watchie's Hut

"These structures were to be found at various places in Edinburgh where buildings were under construction."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  November 27, 2009

The Wee Canyon

"The Wee Canyon and the Big Canyon. These were shale bings (unofficial adventure playgrounds!) on the Lang Loan* and at Straiton."

* The Lang Loan ran from Straiton to Edgehead.

David Bain:  Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England:  September 21, 2009

The Wee Hole

"We ( the Hammy Boys) used to store our bonfire materials in a space between the tenement in Hamilton Street and the Fort wall, known to all as the "wee hole", to keep it safe from the marauding hordes of raiders from Wilkie Place and Lapicide Place.  We used to light our bonfires at Bathfield."

John Cavanagh, County Durham, England:  December 27, 2008

The Wee Mixie

"An area off the east side of Orchard Brae, off Learmonth Crescent.  This was smaller than the Big Mixie on the other side of Orchard Brae."

Keith Main, London:  December 19+20, 2008

Westy

©

"West Arthur Place, Dumbiedykes."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  October 7, 2008

Whale Brae

The hill at the north end of Newhaven Road, leading down to Main Street, Newhaven.

"There is a tradition that the Whale Brae got its name from a school of seventeen whales which grounded itself there."

Tom McGowran in his book 'Newhaven-on-Forth'

Woolies

Woolworths store

It traded for 100 years until 2008.

"He knocked that oot o' Woolies."
(He stole it from Woolworths.)

Terry Cox, Fairmilehead, Edinburgh:  December 22, 2008

WX

West Crosscauseway

"I am enjoying the old photos of WX, added to the EdinPhoto web site."

David Gordon, Old Town, Edinburgh:  July 20, 2011
(David has a shop 'Now & Then' , selling old toys and antiques, at WX.)

X, Y, Z

'The Y'

The YWCA at St James' Square

"Although it was  a young women’s club,  it was a very mixed bunch who went to the YWCA.  Some of us met our life partners there.

We had dancing, table tennis, discussions, concerts and day trips to Gullane etc.  It was cheap and cheerful for us all."

Betty Simpson, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia:  December 28, 2010

Yankee Corner

An area in The Palais Dance Hall where the airmen from Kirknewton air base used to congregate.

Margaret Cooper, Tollcross, Edinburgh:
Message posted in EdinPhoto guest book:  July 27, 2011

Yairdheeds

This is how we used to pronounce Yardheads, Leith - the street running from Cables Wynd to Henderson Street, parallel with Great Junction Street.

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 17, 2010

The Yards

The tarmac area between the back of old Royal High School in Regent Road and the Calton Hill retaining wall.

David Scott, Doha, Qatar:  October 18, 2009

Numbers

92

"St Cuthbert's Office Building used to be at 92 Fountainbridge.  It was simply referred to as '92'."

Paul Anderson:  October 8, 2007I

121

Head Office of the Church of Scotland  is, at 121 George Street.

'The Scotsman' newspaper referred to "The corridors of power at 121."

Peter Stubbs, October 8, 2008

Pronunciations

Corstorphinny
Lieberton
Morningsaid

"As youngsters we used to have a go at the posh by saying the the places where they lived, differently.  It might have gone thus:

"Eh think she has gone to Morningsaid or Lieberton or Corstorphinny, but aim not sure which"

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia,:  December 21, 2009