Edinburgh History - Granton Harbour

Recollections

Grant King

Aberdeenshire

Thank you to Grant King, Aberdeenshire, for his recollections of Granton from the 1950s to the 1970s.

Grant wrote:

Wardie Square

"The pictures of Wardie Square also brought back memories of this time as we lived in number 11 and my uncles Robert and Hugh lived in 12and 13 at one time.

We lived in number 11 until 1961 when we then moved to 18 East Cottages witch was one of the posh houses as it had an inside toilet (winters were never the same)."

Apprenticeship and Work

"As for myself, I served my apprenticeship with A&R Hepburn / Robb Caledon as a engineer. Then, like a lot of lads from Granton, I went off to the merchant navy.

When I came back, I worked shore side maintenance with Boyd / Listons until redundancy. I then started in the oil industry which has taken me to most parts of the world, and am at present working in Trinidad."

Penny Bap

"Does anyone remember "penny bap"? It was a large round rock/boulder that was only visible when the tide went out and resembled the shape of the well loved baps/rolls which you got from Edwards the bakers.

It was always a great source of entertainment, when we were kids, to find this when the tide was in, then stand on top of it and tell every one that the water was very shallow. (We were easily pleased in those days.)

I think, like a lot of things, it has now disappeared."

Grant King, Aberdeenshire, now working in Trinidad:: October 23, 2006

Recollections

Norma Butler (nee Burns)

Thank you to Norma Butler for the recollections below.

Norma wrote:

Wardieburn Road

"I was born in 1946 at 160 Canongate, but spent much of my youth with my father's family who were mostly born and raised on the 1st floor of 14 Wardieburn Road, if memory serves me well."

Granton Square

"I spent many, many of my summers around Granton Square playing on the pier, and ate many bags of chips when the pennies were available, from the chippie down at 'the shops' where the huge supermarket is now (opposite side of the street).

I have probably spent at least 28 Hogmanays here, with all of my aunts and uncles. Some have passed on but one, John Burns, a veteran of World War II is still with us."

Family

"My grandfather, Alexander, served in World War I. He had sons Alexander, John, Jimmy, Archie, Tommy and daughters Chrissie, Violet, Deirdre, Isa, Mary and Ruth, who all grew up at this location along with many nieces and nephews and grandchildren.

I also got lots of exercise planting and playing at my grandfathers allotment can't remember exactly where - somewhere around Pilrig.

I also had other in-laws within the vicinity - the McClellans and the Lovells."

Delivery Vans

"It would seem like hours to get from the High Street to Wardieburn.

Oh, what memories. These were the days of the Ice Cream Van, and Chip Van, not to mention the knife sharpeners, the rag-men, and the horse and cart delivery of coal.

But we mustn't forget the ice cold milk with the 2 inch cream on top which we all used to fight over!!!. "

Memories

"Oh, what memories! Granton will always hold a very special place in my heart with happy memories.

I only wish some of memories of today's generations could be as special, it seemed that in those days, the less you had, the more you had.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I hope it brings back memories for someone else."

Norma Butler, (nee Burns): November 5, 2006

Recollections

Florence Towell (nee Birnie)

Florida and Toronto

Thank you to Florence Towell, now living in Florida and Toronto, for sending her memories of Edinburgh.

Florence wrote:

Family

"I grew up in Granton. My family lived in Wardieburn Street West from the mid-forties until my Mother died about 8 years ago.

Our name was Birnie. I had two brothers, John and Charlie, and two sisters May and Lottie. We all went to Granton School, then on to Ainslie Park, Leith Academy, Broughton and The Royal High School.

Before an untimely early death, my Father worked at the Gasworks. I remember so well him playing lawn bowling in Granton."

Activities

"Kick-the-can and rounders were our main 'sports' then.

We listened to the wireless and, of course, borrowed lots of books from Granton library. I remember thinking I must have read every single book they had.

My sister, May, had dancing classes and we used to have back green concerts. My Mother would make fairy cakes and toffee cups, and we would charge 2d admission."

Magic Lantern

"We used to go one evening a week to the Magic Lantern in Granton Square. The movies they showed were so gory I don't know how we could watch them. But, it was entertainment.

My Mother used to give us pennies for our collection, but we always saved one penny to buy a hot roll from the baker in Granton Square. That was the highlight of the evening.

So many memories!!"

Florence Towell (nee Birnie), Toronto, Canada + Florida, USA: October 29, 2007.

Contacting Florence

Florence added:

"I guess there is always the hope that someone you once knew will contribute to the web site."

If you remember Florence and would like to contact her. please email me then I'll pass your message on to her.

Thank you. - Peter Stubbs: April 5, 2008.

Recollections

Steve Morrison

Queensland, Australia

Thank you to Steve Morrison who wrote:

Granton Road

"I spent many happy years living in Granton Road."

Starbank Park

"Mum used to take us to roll our Easter Eggs at Starbank Park."

Granton Beach

"We spent happy times at Granton Beach, with a hot greasy pie from the Wardie Hotel.

Happy days with just the basics to play with - tig, kick the can, hide & seek."

Steve Morrison, Queensland, Australia: July 5, 2010

Steve:

Granton Beach and Wardie Hotel

This old postcard shows Granton Beach and Wardie Hotel.

The hotel remained open until recently, but over the past couple of years it has been converted to housing.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: July 11, 2010

Recollections

Steve Morrison

Queensland, Australia

Thank you to Steve Morrison for sending me more of his Recollections of Granton.

Steve wrote:

Home

"We lived at 141 Granton Road, on the top flat. In 1967, the high winds blew a chimney through our roof. It went through our floor into the Murray’s who lived below us. Our house was ripped apart."

Penny Bap

"I remember the penny bap at Granton beach when I was a wee boy. I remember standing on it with the water all around me and my brother David saying he would push me in."

Edwards' Bread

"I also delivered newspapers for Grahams newsagent in Granton Road, all around Granton and down the Wardie Steps into the square. I could smell the bread being baked at Edwards. I used to get a hot roll when I delivered their paper"

Football

"I was the goalkeeper for Granton School. Our coach was the headmaster, Stanley Duncan who I think played for Hearts (but he couldn’t help that) as Hibs only took good players. I remember that Granton shared the Mackie cup with St David's in 1972, I think.

I also played football for:

- Wardie football club for about 4 years under Jimmy Smith, also from Granton Road.

- Bryden Thistle.

- Bank Villa.

- Parkvale in Leith.

Football was our passion sometimes only one kid had a ball in the street and we would play anywhere we could."

Boxing

"My brother, David, boxed at a club at lower Granton Road. He became champion of Scotland for his weight. He would have been about 12 or 14, I think."

Granton Harbour

"I loved growing up in Granton and going to the harbour. Whenn the trawlers came in it was a hive of activity. We always had endless amounts of energy."

School

"I also attended Trinity School. The headmaster was William Brodie. I had an English teacher called Doug Cowie and my Biology teacher Mr Samson. They were great teachers and I actually liked going to their classes,"

Work

"I worked at Norman Ruthven's in Coburg Street, Leith as a panel beater. Then I left and went to work at Appleyard's in Gorgie."

Steve Morrison, Queensland, Australia: October 3, 2010

Reply to Steve?

If you'd like to send a reply to Steve, please email me, then I'll pass on your message to him. Thank you.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: October 3, 2010

Recollections

Steve Morrison

Queensland, Australia

Thank you to Steve Morrison for posting a message in the Edinphoto Guestbook.

Steve mentions that he emigrated to Australia in 1986 and has returned twice to Edinburgh which he sums up as:

"Great place, great people, but wet and cold."

Steve added:

Mates

"I hated leaving my mates:

- Kevin Croan.

- David Gibb.

- Johnny Duncan.

- Martin Shields.

If anyone knows any of them, please let me know."

Steve Morrison, Queensland, Australia: Message posted in EdinPhoto Guestbook, October 5, 2010

Reply to Steve?

If you'd like to send a reply to Steve, please email me, then I'll pass on your message to him. Thank you.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: October 5, 2010

Recollections

Mary Cummings (nee MacRae)

Edinburgh

Thank you to Mary Cummings (nee MacRae) for sending a reply to Steve Morrison's comments.

Mary wrote:

Granton Road

"I remember Steven and his big brother, David. They lived in 147 Granton Road and I was at 143.

I remember the shops in Granton Road:

- Grahams Newsagent (Jackie's).

- Borthwick's Butcher.

- Mrs Moffat's Bakers.

- Alonzie's, the grocer.

I also mind your roof getting blown away. I was pals with Theresa Murray who lived below you. I don't know if you will remember any of us. There were five of us in all. - there were 5 of us all in that wee flat."

Mary Cummings (nee MacRae), Edinburgh,: February 20, 2011

Recollections

Iain C Purves

Waterdown, Ontario, Canada

Thank you Iain C Purves who wrote:

Granton Eastern Breakwater

"I wonder if any of your readers remember Ned Barnie, a teacher at DK School, using the small dressing room on Granton Eastern Breakwater.

picture. Ned used to swim almost ever day, in all weathers along the outside of the Eastern Breakwater

Iain C Purves: Waterdown, Ontario, Canada: October 7, 2011

Ned Barnie

Yes. Several people have sent me their memories of Ned Barnie swimming in the Forth, mainly at Portobello. Here is page of memories of Ned Barnie. It includes a photo of him with another swimmer, both preparing to swim the Forth in 1955:

and photos of his tenement close to the Forth at Portobello where and of the plaque on the tenement wall commemorating his Channel swim.