Edinburgh History - South Edinburgh

Recollections - South Edinburgh Gilmerton
1.	Maureen Mitchell Gilmerton, Edinburgh	- By tram in 1950s
2.	Lilian Young USA	- Children's Home
3.	Ann Valentine with replies from Archie Young Moredun, Edinburgh and Peter Stubbs	- School in 1950s - Convalescent Home - Dr Guthrie's Home
4.	Forbes Wilson near Guildford, Surrey, England	- Hyvots Bank - 143rd Scouts - Fish & Chips
5a.	Jimmy White Loanhead, Midlothian	- School - Play - Homes - Happy Days
5b.	Jackie Coupe	- Dr Guthrie's School
6.	Jimmy White Loanhead, Midlothian	- Village - Gilmerton Homing Club - Gilmerton Halls - Supporting Charities - Pigeons Today
7A. 7B. 7C.	Jimmy White Loanhead, Midlothian with reply from Forbes Wilson near Guildford, Surrey, England and answers from Jimmy White	- Prefab Housing - New Street - Burdiehouse Burn - Anderson Shelter
		- Prefab Housing - Shops - Chips and Pickle - Two questions
		- Prefab Housing - Quarries
More of Forbes Wilson's recollections of Gilmerton, together with a reply from Jacqui Anderson, Camberley, Surrey can be found on this page: © Gilmerton Main Street
8.	Tom Nimmo Canada with replies from Bob Henderson Burdiehouse, Edinburgh Scotty Henderson Canada Jimmy White Loanhead, Midlothian Peter Stubbs Edinburgh and again Jimmy White Loanhead, Midlothian	- Sanitarium - Children's Home - Industrial School - Dr Guthrie's School - Boys' Home - Name of the Big House - Houses in New Street
9.	George Field Melbourne, Victoria, Australia	- Gilmerton Road - Travelling Shops - School and Scouts - Employment
More of George Field's recollections of Gilmerton can be found here: © Beveridge - Grocer at Gilmerton, 1950s-60s
10.	Sheena Wheeler Australia with replies from Peter Stubbs Edinburgh Jenny Parkerson Edinburgh Archie Young Moredun, Edinburgh and Edward McMillan Moredun, Edinburgh	- Police Station
11.	Archie Young Moredun, Edinburgh	- Robin's Nest Inn
Here are some comments from John Hadden and Archie Young on the area near Gilmerton Crossroads © Saloon near Gilmerton Crossroads
12.	Archie Young Moredun, Edinburgh	- Gilmerton Coal Pit
13.	Archie Young Moredun, Edinburgh	- Police House and Police Station
14.	Andrew Muir Gilmerton, Edinburgh	- The Pin Society
15.	Archie Young Moredun, Edinburgh	- The Pin Society
16.	Archie Young Moredun, Edinburgh	- Procession - Clydesdale Cart Horse - Pins - Carter Play Days

Recollections from

Maureen Mitchell

Gilmerton, Edinburgh

Thank you to Maureen Mitchell for sending this note about her parents in law, George and Anderina (Rina) Mitchell. Maureen says they were well known in Leith then in Gilmerton.

Maureen wrote:

By tram in 1950s

"George Mitchell from Fort Street attended North Fort School. Rina from Newhaven and attended David Kirkpatrick School. They married in 1947, lived in Leith for six years then were allocated a new house at Gilmerton Dykes.

To reach their new home they would catch the tram:

- No 7 to Liberton Brae terminus, then walk through the field, or

- No 11 to the Robin's Nest Pub, then cut through Ellen's Glen

There was no bridge across the burn that separates Gilmerton from Gracemount. That wasn't built until the 60's.

In the Gilmerton area, George is recognised as one of the best, if not the best, welders of his time."

Maureen Mitchell, Gilmerton, Edinburgh: January 20, 2007

Recollections from

Lilian Young

USA

Lilian Young, who left Edinburgh for the USA in 1966, sent me some sad recollections of of time she spent at Gilmerton during World War 2.

Question

Lilian wrote:

Children's Home

"I have a questions for you. I have attempted to secure the answer from the Sick Children's Hospital, but they have been unable to assist me.

During the war, my Grandmother took me to the hospital (why, I don't know) but from there I was taken to a children's home in Gilmerton where I was left for approximately 2 months until my Uncle came home on leave from the war and found me there. He brought me home to my Mother.

I only know that it was a large building, with both boys and girls of various ages. Some children went to school, but others, including myself, were kept in the house. It was off of the main road, but the school was on the corner.

I don't recall nurses being there, but there was a blonde lady who sent me to purchase cigarettes for her and I had to cross a busy main street.

Would you by any chance have any knowledge of this home?"

Lilian Young: January 16, 2007

Answer

New Street, Gilmerton

I've had a look at some old maps of Gilmerton, and I've been to Gilmerton and taken a few photos.

Gilmerton Primary School

There was a house, just up the road from the crossroads beside the Gilmerton Primary School that used to be a children's convalescent home.

Perhaps this might have been where you stayed for the two months. The street used to be called New Street and is now called Newtoft Street. The house is about 300 yards from the crossroads, on the right-hand side of the road going up the hill out of Gilmerton.

Children's Convalescent Home

Now 18-26 New Toft Street.

It is marked on the old maps as a Convalescent Home, and the old Post Office Directories say that it was a children's convalescent home. I wonder if you had some sort of infectious disease and that might be why the hospital decided to send you to the children's convalescent home.

The old convalescent home has now been divided into a number of private homes. Its address is 18-26 New Toft Street.

Peter Stubbs: February 15, 2007

Reply from Lilian

Lilian wrote:

Children's Home

"Many, many thanks for solving the puzzle of the home in Gilmerton for me. I was beginning to think that I would never solve it, but you have definitely hit the nail on the head.

I definitely recall the school, because I used to walk down there to meet some of the other children and walk home with them.

I remember the cupola on top of the top of the house where I stayed. I like cupolas and widow watches on top of houses to this day."

Lilian Young: February 16, 2007

It's not surprising that Lilian has had some difficulty tracing her early years. Lilian explains:

Name and Age

"My wonderful Mother had been widowed when I was 11 months old, when my father died as the result of an accident. My Mom, my brother and I went to stay with my Grandmother who enrolled me in school with an incorrect date of birth which wasn't discovered until I was 12 years old.

My actual name was Lilian May Howden Raeburn, but my Mom shortened this to Lilma and in fact I didn't even know my name was Lilian until I went to school. At some point, my grandmother registered me under Lilma and used her name, Howden as my last name, so many of my school and medical records were really messed up"

Lilian Young: February 16, 2007

Any other Recollections?

If you have any other recollections Gilmerton, particularly of the Children's Convalescent Home, please e-mail me and I'll pass on your message to Lilian.

Thank you. - Peter Stubbs: March 3, 2007

Thank you to Archie Young who replied:

"The original Convalescent Home was in New Street, now Ravenscroft Street, Gilmerton. It was built in 1879. I have still to find this building.

However, the duration at this site was short. It moved to Newtoft Street in 1886, costing £2000.00. It had room for 38 residents. It seems that this home was for children.

When I come across the original home, I'll take a photo of it and send it in."

Archie Young, Moredun, Edinburgh: April 8, 2008

UPDATE

Here is a postcard, posted in the 1920s. It shows the original convalescent homes in New Street, now Newtoft Street.

Here is a photograph of the same building taken in 2007

Peter Stubbs: April 20, 2008

Recollections from

Ann Valentine

Thank you to Ann Valentine for sending me her recollections below.

Ann wrote:

"I was brought up in Gilmerton as were several generations of my mums family before me."

Schools in 1950s

"In the early 1950's the convalescent home was the annexe of Gilmerton Primary school.

Some pupils were sent there, others bussed to Prestonfield, and depending on which part of the village you lived in walked to buildings down near St. Barnabus Church in Moredun."

The rooms all had coal fires in them. The girls got sewing lessons and the boys did gardening. Eventually, Hyvots Bank Primary School was built and the pupils in that area were transferred there."

Convalescent Home

"I remember my gran referring to the school as a convalescent home for children and next door the now social work department was known as the 'Mothers Rest'."

Dr Guthrie's Home

"My grandparents lived in Ravenscroft Place and moved to Hyvots Bank Avenue in 1939, over the wall from Dr. Guthrie's which in the 50's was a home for girls.

I recall there was a 'bell' of sorts rang and that was the signal that some girls had tried to escape."

Ann Valentine: March 10, 2007

Recollections from

Forbes Wilson

near Guildford, Surrey, England

Thank you to Forbes Wilson for his recollections below recollections below.

Forbes wrote:

Hyvots Bank

"Thanks for posting the photograph of the Hyvots Bank terminus - route 11.

When I lived at number 12 Gilmerton Dykes Street (1957 - 1977) this was the terminus for the number 31 bus (to the Maybury roundabout) and the number 20 bus (to Barnton).

143rd Scouts

Every Thursday evening I would walk past this terminus en route to the 143rd scouts located in the Gilmerton church hall, Ravenscroft Street.

Fish & Chips

On the way back we'd stop off in a fish and chip shop in Newtoft Street named Willie Blair's. (He also had a training hall for boxers in Ravenscroft Street.) - warm chips, salt, vinegar and brown sauce all wrapped in a sheet from the Edinburgh Evening News - great memories!"

Forbes Wilson, near Guildford, Surrey, England

5a.

Recollections from

Jimmy White

Loanhead, Midlothian

Jimmy White wrote:

School

"Reading through the Gilmerton recollections (above) brought back the happiest days of my life. I went to:

- Ravenscroft School, annex of Gilmerton Primary School, in the early '50s. It was situated next door to the 'Convalescence School' and had about 7 classrooms.

- Green Halls School, the other annexe. It's now the church hall."

I remember Bunny Mason, one of the most famous teachers at Gilmerton Primary School."

Play

"My parents moved to the newly built prefabs at Hyvots in the late '40s. I have happy memories of:

- playing in the 'quarry' between the prefabs and Gilmerton Dykes houses that were built later.

- running from the prefabs through the long grass, now Gilmerton Dykes houses, with only grey flannel shorts and braces, nothing else

- building a dam, and swimming in the burn

- later, Wullie Blair's hall, opposite the church, for the boxing club - tuppence that cost.

- threepence for a great big bag of chips out of Wullie Blair's chip shop, after boxing lessons

- penny ice lollies - that's if you could manage to get a tanner (a sixpenny piece)"

Homes

"The 'bad boys home ' used to be the Convalencent Home and the 'bad girls home' was on the Gilmerton Road, now the faith centre.

I often wondered what became of Annie from the 'bad girls home' I knew her well. I used to help her to walk the home's boxer dog, Rufus'. Is she still living and can she remember me?

Happy Days

"Yes, when you think back, you could write a book on those days - all the characters etc etc. Happy happy days indeed, and stranger still, all the summers seemed sunny and all the folks freindly - great days!"

Jimmy White, Loanhead, Midlothian: August 31, 2007

Annie?

If anybody knows what became of Annie from the 'bad girls home' please e-mail me and I'll pass on the news to Jimmy.

Thank you: - Peter Stubbs, August 31, 2007.

Recollections from

Jimmy White

Loanhead, Midlothian

Jimmy White wrote again in September 2007 with more recollections of Gilmerton.

Jimmy wrote:

Village

"I would like to explain how old Gilmerton was really a small mining village, with most of the population miners of coalmen. e.g. the Inneses and the Erskines."

Gilmerton Homing Club

"Most of these families, like myself were pigeon fanciers. This was the ultimate hobby in Gilmerton at this time. In 1956, when the Gilmerton Homing Club was founded, it had 42 members, winning races from 60 miles to 600 miles.

1954 Presentation of Prizes

Sadly, this hobby has drastically dropped. The club now, in 2007, has only about a dozen members.

Gilmerton was noted in the racing pigeon circles as "the place where the best fliers came from. Through the years, 5 Gilmerton members individually won the 'Grand National of Pigeon Racing - against the whole of Scotland, from France, flying to their small back garden lofts.

My father and I were, in fact, founder members and helped to start the club."

Gilmerton Halls

"The photograph above was taken at the very first presentation of the Gilmerton Homing Club, held in the "Society Hall" in 1956. This hall was built in the 1870s and at that time was called the 'Pin Hall'.

The 'Society Hall' is opposite the Community Centre, which used to be Gilmerton Primary School.

The 'Society Hall' was used as the school Dinner Hall, and also as the Sunday School hall, which i attended, run by a Mr and Mrs Kerr. It acted as the Gospel Mission Hall for the services of a Sunday evening."

Supporting Charities

"The Gilmerton Homing Club has aided many charities.

Myself and a few others organised a sale and night-out in aid of the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust and realised nearly £4,000, after my sister sadly passed away at the age of 44. It was all I could do to help!

David, Jimmy and Irene

With the old Gilmerton being a big name in the pigeon world, many came and donated from all over the UK, in the hope of buying a champion pigeon.

Pigeons Today

"I, myself, have been and still am a keen pigeon fancier. Pigeon racing became the miner's lives since the early 1900s when it began.

Nowadays, pigeons are racing for thousands of pounds, and obviously very valuable, thanks to the miners of Gilmerton."

Jimmy White, Loanhead, Midlothian: September 20 + October 1, 2007

One of Jimmy White's pigeons, 'Sir Colin', won Open SNFC Open Races in 1991, 1992 and 1993 and appeared on the cover of The British Homing World's magazine, 'Pigeon Racing Gazette'.

7A.

More recollections from

Jimmy White

Loanhead, Midlothian

Thank you to Jimmy White for sending me these two photos of Gilmerton.

Jimmy wrote:

Prefab Housing

"This photo is my grandmother, mother and youngest sister, June.

These are the prefabs houses that occupied the area in Gilmerton, now Hyvots, where the flats are now. (Some have been knocked down due to subsidence, no wonder as they were built on a filled-in quarry.)

New Street

"Through the gap in the prefabs, you can just see the two chimneys and the tops of the houses in New Street (now Newtoft Street) opposite Wullie Blair's chip shop. Ravenscroft school, annexe of the old Gilmerton Primary School, was next door to these houses."

Burdiehouse Burn

"The photo was taken around 1950, about the time that they built the houses at Gilmerton Dykes and the bridge over Burdiehouse Burn. Before, then, the only bridge over the burn was the one at the Lasswade Road. From these prefabs down to the burn was just quarry and long grass."

Anderson Shelter

"This photo is myself and my deceased sister, Irene, with the old Anderson Shelter at the back of us, used as the 'coal house'."

"At this time, around 1950, the small village of Gilmerton started to expand. Prefabs were built at Ferniehill, Moredun and Craigour. Then, the council houses were built at Gilmerton Dykes ,Moredun etc."

Jimmy White, Loanhead, Midlothian: December 10, 2007

7B.

More recollections from

Forbes Wilson

near Guildford, Surrey, England

Forbes Wilson, now living near Guildford, Surrey, England replied:

Prefab Housing

"Many thanks to your reader Jimmy White for posting the photograph of the prefab housing in Gilmerton.

Shops

From 1957 until 1977 I lived at 12 Gilmerton Dykes Street, above what used to be at that time, Millers chemist shop. There was also:

- Millar’s the butchers

- McLeod’s the grocer

- McKay’s the bakers

- Burns fruit and veg and

- Mayer’s the newsagent.

The rear of our house looked down onto Burdiehouse Burn. Across the burn, and at the top of the slope was the rear of the houses in Gilmerton Dykes Avenue. To our right was the old bridge that Jimmy refers to on Lasswade Road and to the left was the, then, new bridge taking Gilmerton Dykes Street up to Newtoft Street.

Chips and Pickle

After Thursday night scouts in Ravenscroft Street we used to get a 6d bag of chips from Wullie Blair’s and if you were feeling rich, a 1d large pickle!

Forbes Wilson, near Guildford, Surrey, England: December 18, 2007

Questions

Forbes Wilson has asked these two questions.

Forbes writes:

Question 1: Where were the prefab houses?

"I am curious to know where the picture beside the prefab houses was taken from. Judging by Jimmy’s description of the two chimney tops, they are on the top of houses in New Street (now Newtoft Street) opposite Wullie Blair’s’.

I have been looking at the 1955 map of the Gilmerton area on the EdinPhoto web site. Were the prefab houses in Moredun Dykes Road or in what appears to be Hyvots Crescent?

Question 2: Does anybody have pre-1950s photos?

Do any of your readers have any photos from the pre-1950’s where Burdiehouse burn was bordered by the quarries and long grass?

When I was a young lad, some of the older residents of the Gilmerton area would often talk about ‘the quarries’"

Forbes Wilson, near Guildford, Surrey, England: December 18, 2007

7C.

Answers from

Jimmy White

Loanhead, Midlothian

Thank you to Jimmy White who wrote:

Prefab Housing

"Forbes is near enough right about the location of the prefabs in the photo.

Coming down Moredun Dykes Road, from the old phone box, there were prefabs on both sides.

- On the right off Moredun Dykes Road was Hyvot Crescent, which bordered the 'swing park' in the shape of an arc.

- On the left were Hyvot Avenue leading to Hyvot Terrace, then Hyvot Gardens, then Hyvot Loan, which ran down to Inches farm then Ellen's Glen. There were also some small streets.

Quarries

Right at the bottom of the prefabs there were quarries, then just long grass down to the burn, now Gilmerton Dykes.

The quarries were of course a haven for us young lads, even although we were told to keep away from them, as they were too dangerous - but as boys will be boys.

I slid down one of the caves at the bottom of the quarry, and my brother and his mates took hand in hand, (about 4 of them) and pulled me out. Of course, to this day he says he saved my life. Maybe a slight exageration, but they were pretty dangerous. If you threw a stone down, it was a good few seconds before you heard the splash of water at the bottom.

Photos

Like Forbes, I would love to see any photos of these quarries. They seem to be very rare , but I am still hunting, myself.

Through the years, I have lost a few old photos, but I may find some with my family.

Jimmy White, Loanhead, Midlothian: December 26, 2007