Edinburgh History - Old Town - Operetta House, Chamber Street

Recollections

Graeme Charles Munro

Adelaide, South Australia,

Grassmarket and Gypsy Brae, Granton

1930s - 1950s

Thank you to Graeme Charles Munro, Adelaide, South Australia, formerly of Edinburgh, who wrote after seeing a picture of the Grassmarket in the early 1900s:

Graeme wrote:

Home in the Grassmarket

"I was born in the house just above the carriage roof on the right-hand side in 1936.

I was only four when I left, I am 70 now, and live in Australia. Having been here for 40 years."

Causeys

[Cobble Stones]

"And do you know, the stones in the road were all removed in the late 'fifties and dumped at a place called Gypsy Brae along from Granton Harbour, millions of them for weeks and weeks.

It was my brother's job to make sure the trucks dumped them in the right place. He got fed up with the job eventually and signed on in the army for 22 years.

The cossies were actually white granite."

Graeme Charles Munro, Adelaide, South Australia. 18 August 2005

Causeys

'Causeys' were the granite setts, or cobble stones, that once paved many of the streets of Edinburgh.

Gypsy Brae is now part of Edinburgh's Waterfront development. The road is now closed, but the line of the road can just be seen on the enlargement of the map below, running north-south between the trees to the west of the three gasometers - towards the upper-left corner of the map.

Thank you to George Smith, British Colombia, Canada, for the further comments on 'Causeys'.

Gardens

Causeys or causeway setts were a source of garden paths and patios when they were lifted from the streets.

George Smith, Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, British Colombia, Canada

George has also provided an interesting comment on the causeys in Chamber Street.

Recollections

Peter Nolan

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Thank you to Peter Nolan for sending me his memories of growing up in the Grassmarket. Peter tells me that he was born in 1936, his father's parents were Irish and his mother's parents were Italian.

Peter was born at 54b Grassmarket, Edinburgh, and emigrated to Canada around 1968. Recalling his early years in the Grassmarket, Peter wrote:

The Clock

"When you came down the Herriot Bridge to the centre of the northern side of the Grassmarket, about 20 yards to the left there was a stairway that went up three flights. People lived along that top floor.

At the end of the corridor, there was a wooden ladder where I, as a small boy, would climb up then push open a trap door, then we entered into the clock itself.

It was just a wonderful place to be brought up."

Wartime

"During the War Years the German Prisoners of War would repair the cobble streets in the Grassmarket and many of the mothers in the area would take flasks of tea and sandwiches to the prisoners.

In the middle of the Grassmarket there were two air-raid shelters."

Peter Nolan, Canada,: March 3 + 4 +14, 2008

Recollections

Tom (Tam, Tommy) Heaney

Tenerife

Tom Heaney wrote:

"I was raised in the Grassmarket Edinburgh from 1942 and left there when I got married in 1960. I'm looking for some of my old pals:

- Dougie McCuscer

- James Conway

- Jamesie and Eric Thom

- lots of others.

I now live in Tenerife.

Can you help?

Tom Heaney, Tenerife: April 10, 2008

If you'd like to contact Tom (Tam, Tommy) please email me, then I'll pass on your message to him.

- Peter Stubbs: April 10, 2008

Recollections

Jim Di Mambro

Jim Di Mambro read the message from Tom Heaney and wrote:

"I remember Tom singing in the clubs and he should remember me, Jim Di Mambro, Butch and The Bandits.

Tam also used tae collect money for some clothing shop. I would love tae here from him.

If ye read this Tam, please email me."

Jim Di Mambro, South Africa: May 29, 2008

Here is Jim's email address for anybody who would like to contact him.

Recollections

Jim Di Mambro

Jim Di Mambro wrote:

"The first real band we started in Edinburgh was with Dex Hannant, We played Shadows numbers

I've now contacted Dex had and had a reply from him. .Fantastic, after 35 years"

Jim Di Mambro, South Africa: June 5, 2008

Here is Jim's email address for anybody who would like to contact him.

Recollections

Jim Di Mambro

Jim Di Mambro read the recollections from Peter Nolan above, then replied::

My Great Grandfaither

"My great grandfaither, one Antonio Tommasso, he lived in the last stair (I think) before you would turn left intae the Cowgate. He went thro three wives and sired 33 bairns.

Grassmarket Musicians

Regarding the photie of Peter Nolan's father's band, my auld man knew Sammy Pacitti. I don't know if Peter Nolan would have known any of the Tommasso or Di Mambro families."

Jim Di Mambro, South Africa: June 5, 2008

Recollections

George Stewart

South Edinburgh

Thank you to George Stewart who wrote:

Barrie's Mission

"I cant find the page, but somewhere on the EdinPhoto site I'm sure someone was asking about Barries in the Grassmarket.

I'm pretty sure the building was known as 'Barrie's Mission''. The mission basically helped out under-privileged kids at Christmas - in fact, all year so they must have had a heart of gold."

George Stewart Stewart, South Edinburgh: August 25, 2008