Recollections South Side sometimes written Southside Around George Square, Nicolson Street and Pleasance |
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Q1. |
1 Drummond Street |
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1. |
Marie
Atkinson |
The Atkinson Family Walk around the South Side |
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2. |
Bob
Henderson |
Nicolson Street - Milk Bars Nicolson Street - JK Rowling |
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3. |
Bob Henderson |
Milk Bar Central School of Ballroom Dancing |
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4. |
James Rafferty |
Dancing Baker's St Mary's Street |
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5. |
Richard
Martin |
Mussels and Buckies Easter Road and Nicolson Street 3d a Portion |
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6. |
Helen Brown |
Soothside |
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7. |
Irene
Beaver (née Brown) |
Fringe Plays Family |
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8. |
Irene Day (née
Sharrock) |
Guides |
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9. |
Lynda Philpott |
1 Drummond Street |
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10. |
Irene Day (née
Sharrock) |
Guides - Girl Guides' Reunion |
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11. |
Lily Croal |
Tucker Croal |
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12. |
Alan R Hall |
South Bridge - Mundell's Shoe Shop |
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13. |
Bryan Gourlay |
South Bridge - Mundell's Shoe Shop - Shoes and Sandals - South Bridge Shops |
| 14. |
Jeannie Veitch |
East Crosscauseway |
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Hill Play Single Ends High Street Yards Home and Neighbours Sweets Kindergarten Schools |
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| 16. |
John Richardson |
Causewayside Barber |
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Question 1. Lynda Philpott |
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Thank you to Lynda Philpott who wrote seeking more information to pass on to her mother-in-law who used to live in Drummond Street Lynda wrote: |
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Question 1 Drummond Street "My mother in law talks happily about growing up in Portobello then, from around the early-1930s, at 1 Drummond Street, Edinburgh. Her name, then, was Elizabeth Glancy. She had two brothers, Michael and Joe, and twin sisters, Isabelle and Euphemia. Her father hired out rowing boats in Portobello. When she lived at 1 Drummond Street, she went to school with a girl called Margaret Marshall. Can anybody tell me more about Drummond Street, or the people who lived around there who meant so much to her? I'd love to find out more. She in Portobello." Lynda Philpott: September 10, 2010 |
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1 Drummond Street No.1 Drummond Street was on the corner of Drummond Street and South Bridge. That was the address of 'The Central School of Ballroom Dancing' in the 1960s and 1970s. Peter Stubbs: September 15, 2010 |
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Reply to Lynda? If you'd like to send a reply to Lynda, please email me, then I'll pass on your message to her. Thank you. Peter Stubbs: September 15, 2010 |
Recollections 1. Marie Atkinson Edinburgh |
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The Atkinson Family I received an e-mail today from Marie Atkinson, currently studying at Edinburgh College of Art. Marie is wondering if anybody remembers: - her grannie, Mary Lacey Atkinson, b.1914. - her father, Michael Carlo Atkinson, b.1935. Both lived in the Southside. If you are able to help, please e-mail me. Marie wrote: |
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Walk around the Southside My father and l have completed a walk today taking in the many houses my gran had lived in. She is now 92 years old. She had a passion for moving house. Our route was:
- Parkside
Terrace * In Nicolson Street, my gran lived directly above La Scala picture house. ** In Parkside Terrace she had worked for a time a proof reader, approx 1930 Can anybody help with any recollections of my granny or my father? Their names are Mary Lacey Atkinson and my father Michael Carlo Atkinson. |
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Marie Atkinson: March 5, 2006 |
Recollections 2. Bob Henderson Burdiehouse, Edinburgh |
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Bob Henderson wrote: |
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Nicolson Street Milk Bars "Older ex-residents of the Pleasance and Dumbiedykes areas will, like me, tell you that what is now 'Browns the Stationers' used to be the entrance to the Salvation Army Citadel. The children of my era, during the war and into the fifties, went there for a great sing song, hymns of course, and a great time was had by all." |
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Nicolson Street J K Rowling "What is now the Chinese restaurant on the first floor at the corner of Nicolson Street. and Drummond Street was the Café where J K Rowling penned the first Harry Potter novel." |
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Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh: May 29, 2008 |
Recollections 3. Bob Henderson |
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Bob Henderson wrote: |
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Milk Bar "I've just been reading the post about the Manhattan Café in Princes Street. I and remember it well, but the one Southsiders of my age will remember best is the Milk Bar at the north end of the Surgeon's Hall. It's now, I think, a musical instrument shop. It, too, was very American - all chrome and black and green Vitriolite. It sold great milk shakes and knickerbocker glories - just the thing to set you up in, what now seems, the innocent early 1950s, before heading up the stair in Drummond Street. |
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Central School of Ballroom Dancing "At Drummond Street, we went to the Central School of Ballroom Dancing. This hall was above Clydesdales. Once you were able to get round the floor without crippling your partner you progressed to the Afton in Niddry Street, just off the High Street and, joy of joys, they had a late night there about once a month on a Wednesday when they stayed open until 11 o'clock. |
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Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh: July 30, 2008 |
Recollections 4. James Rafferty Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland |
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James Rafferty wrote: |
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Dancing "Thank you to Bob Henderson, for his latest post (3 above). I too went to the dancing above Clydesdale's, but could never remember the name." |
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Baker's Perhaps Bob will remember a baker's shop in St. Leonards, opposite Rankeillor Street and next to an old church. At lunch time we used to come out of Jimmy's (James Clark's School) and head straight there for a 'tuppeny bag'. This was the mis-shapes of the day's baking and tasted great. |
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St Mary's Street "We used to go to a shop in St. Mary's street, Barrie's I think, to get our accumulator charged and mantels for the gas lights." |
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James Rafferty, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland: August 3, 2008 |
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Recollections 5. Richard Martin Borders, Scotland |
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Thank you to Richard Martin who wrote: |
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Mussels and Buckies "I came across Granton, Boswell & Royston, Recollection 14 by John Clark and his mention of collecting mussels and buckies on the shore at Granton and my mind immediately went to the 'Fish Wives' who, in the 1940’s, sat at street corners on a Saturday selling mussels and buckies from a large wicker basket. These ladies spent back-breaking days on the shore at Fisherrow, picking the shellfish before cooking them, loading up their baskets and transporting them, by tram car, to their pitch in Edinburgh. These extremely heavy baskets were carried on their backs and supported by a wide leather band or strap which was placed across their forehead." |
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Easter Road and Nicolson Street "I particularly remember : - the one who sat at the corner of Easter Road and Edina Street, outside Middleton’s Bar and - the one in Richmond Street, off Nicolson Street, again outside a bar. I've forgotten it’s name. Can anyone help?
All the ladies dressed in traditional Fisher women’s clothes of dark blue blouse, long blue skirt over numerous underskirts, black shoes and stockings and a knitted, usually grey, shawl." |
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3d a Portion "The mussels were in a mixture of brine and vinegar, covered in pepper, served in a saucer and eaten with a tea spoon. You ate them at the roadside and when you were finished she 'washed' the saucer and spoon in a bucket of cold water. The buckies were measured out in a cup and handed over in a brown paper bag along with a plain pin. Both the mussels and the buckies cost 3 pence per portion. A cup of buckies could take a while to eat as you first had to use the pin to remove the membrane, which protected the fish inside the shell, and then poke about inside the shell with the pin to remove the worm shaped fish." Richard Martin, Borders, Scotland: August 9, 2008 |
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Answer? If you can remember the name of the bar that Richard mentions, near Nicolson Street please email me, then I'll pass your message on to him. There has already been discussion of this topic on the 'Edinburgh Recollections - Cinemas' page on this web site. Thank you. - Peter Stubbs: August 10, 2008 |
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Recollections 6. Helen Brown Gilmerton, Edinburgh |
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Thank you to Helen Brown who wrote: |
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Soothside "Having been brought up in the 'Soothside', as it was then, before becoming the Old Town for the benefit of tourists, it's good to see photos of the streets that are no longer there. I suppose the area had to be demolished, but I think the spirit of the place went with it. I certainly had a lot more freedom as a child than my children had. It's also interesting to see where the people from the area have scattered to. I've looked up the censuses for the 1800s and early-1900s. It worked the other way then. Many of the residents in the area came from other parts of Scotland and Ireland." |
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Helen Brown, Gilmerton, Edinburgh: August 23, 2008 |
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Recollections 7. Irene Beaver (née Brown) Kirkliston, West Lothian, Scotland |
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Thank you to Irene Beaver (née Brown), now living in Kirkliston, West Lothian, who wrote: Fringe Plays "I am following up my sell-out play from the 2006 Fringe, 'Stooshie at the Store' set in St Cuthbert's Bread Street Store in 1959, with a sequel, hopefully to be produced by Edinburgh People's Theatre during the 2008 Fringe. This one is called 'Stramash at the Store'. It's still set in Bread Street Store, but we've jumped to the week in 1962 just before King Olav's State Visit to Scotland. I'd welcome any photos or reminiscences from that time from your contributors." Irene Beaver (née Brown), Kirkliston, West Lothian, September 29, 2007 |
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Irene added: Family "I was brought up in the South Side attending Preston Street School and Boroughmuir and going to Buccleuch Parish Church for Sunday School and Brownies and Nicholson Street Church for Guides. My Dad, Bobby Brown, was also from the South Side and was the Display Manager in St Cuthbert's Bread Street Store and a Director on the board of St Cuthbert's. I met a lot of his old colleagues whilst researching my last play and met up with many stalwarts of the Store who contacted me after an article in the Evening News. Dad met my mother in the Store and they married during the war spending their two day honeymoon in North Berwick." Irene Beaver (née Brown), Kirkliston, West Lothian, September 29, 2007 |
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If you have any photos of reminiscences for Irene, please e-mail me and I will pass them on to her. Thank you. - Peter Stubbs: September 29, 2007 |
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Recollections 8. Irene Day (née Sharrock) Wigan, Lancashire, England |
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Thank you to Irene Day (née Sharrock) who wrote: Guides "I remember Irene Beaver (née Brown) she was in the same guides as me at Nicholson Street . I was interested reading about the plays she has mentioned connected with Bread Street Store. My Granny lived in St Leonards Hill so I know the South side well." Irene Day (née Sharrock), Wigan, Lancashire: September 29, 2007 |
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Recollections 9. Lynda Philpott |
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Lynda Philpott wrote seeking more information to pass on to her mother-in-law who used to live in Drummond Street Lynda wrote: |
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Question 1 Drummond Street "My mother in Law talks happily about growing up in Portobello then, from around the early-1930s, at 1 Drummond Street, Edinburgh. Her name, then, was Elizabeth Glancy. She had two brothers, Michael and Joe, and twin sisters, Isabelle and Euphemia. Her father hired out rowing boats in Portobello. When she lived at 1 Drummond Street, she went to school with a girl called Margaret Marshall. Can anybody tell me more about Drummond Street, or the people who lived around there who meant so much to her? I'd love to find out more. She in Portobello." Lynda Philpott: September 10, 2010 |
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1 Drummond Street No.1 Drummond Street was on the corner of Drummond Street and South Bridge. That was the address of 'The Central School of Ballroom Dancing' in the 1960s and 1970s. Peter Stubbs: September 15, 2010 |
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Reply to Lynda? If you'd like to send a reply to Lynda, please email me, then I'll pass on your message to her. Thank you. Peter Stubbs: September 15, 2010 |
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Recollections 10. Irene Day (née Sharrock) Wigan, Lancashire, England |
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Thank you to Irene Day (née Sharrock) for writing again. Irene wrote: Guides "As you know I got in touch with Irene Beaver. We've decided to try and get a girl guide reunion going. Here is a note about it hat Irene Beaver has put in the Edinburgh evening News:
The reunion would be held in April 2012, at an Edinburgh venue to be arranged." Irene Day (née Sharrock), Wigan, Lancashire: September 6, 2011 |
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Recollections 11. Lily Croal Edinburgh |
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Question Can you help Lily Croal to find a photo of her brother Tucker Croal, or do you have any information about him? (See below.) Lily wrote: |
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Tucker Croal "I have been searching for information on my brother, Tucker Croal. He lived in West Richmond Street with: - his mother and father, Thomas and Lily Croal. - his brothers, Davy (Joker), Wullie, Robert, Albert, Charlie. - his sister Lily. He worked at Anderson's the Butcher in South Clerk Street, and was a member of the White Heather Cycling Club in the South Side of Edinburgh. He died, aged 18, in 1936, I was only 8 when he died, and I've never seen a picture of him. I'd give anything to hear even the tiniest snippet of news about him." Lily Croal, Edinburgh: November 21, 2011 |
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Reply to Lily? Here is a photo of two of the brothers of brothers of Lily and Tucker. They are Wullie and Robert. The photo was taken in Holyrood Road during a house move in the 1950s, and was sent to me by Wullie's son, Tam. However, I've never seen a photo of Tucker Croal. If you know of any such photo, or if you remember anything about Tucker, please email me, then I'll pass on your message to Lily. Thank you. Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: November 21, 2011 |
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Recollections 12 Alan R Hall Sedgefield, County Durham, England |
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Thank you to Alan R Hall who wrote: |
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South Bridge Mundell's Shoe Shop "I wonder if anyone remembers Mundell's Shoe Shop on South Bridge. My maternal grandmother, Marion (usually known as May) Barclay worked there over a period of many years. After originally working there as a young woman, she continued to work there off and on (mainly to cover holidays, I believe) after she married my grandfather in 1917 and became Marion Dewar. When all ladies under a certain age were forced to work during the last war, she returned again on two or three days a week. My mother remembers being told that her first pair of shoes came from Mundell's - a gift from Mr Mundell himself. I would be interested to read anyone's recollections of the shop or to see a photograph of it and would love to know when it actually ceased trading. As with Steele Coulson's Brewery, I suppose there may not be anyone still around who remembers the shop but you never know." Alan R Hall, Sedgefield, County Durham, England: January 9, 2012 |
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Recollections 13 Bryan Gourlay Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland |
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Thank you to Alan R Hall who wrote: |
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South Bridge Mundell's Shoe Shop "I remember Mundell's Shoe Shop, mentioned by Alan Hall, very well. It was on the east side of South Bridge just north of the bridge over the Cowgate." Shoes and Sandals "My mother bought most of her shoes there, and I was dragged in there from time to time to get new school shoes, particularly sandals for the summer term. These used to come with yellowish crepe soles which I used to take to the nearest piece of dirty ground to 'run them in' before my friends caught a glimpse of them." *** South Bridge Shops "I'm not sure when Mundell's Shoe Shop closed, but I think it was still there in the 1970s. Sadly, the South Bridge is a pretty tatty place nowadays as far a shops are concerned. Long gone are such stalwarts as: - J&R Allans - Peter Allans - Blairs, Bairds - Starks and, of course: - Mundell's." Bryan Gourlay, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland: January 10, 2012 |
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*** Hi Bryan. I like your comment about 'running in' the sandals. I had a similar experience when I had my old caravanette re-sprayed about 20 years ago. When I got it back, the paint looked good but the tyres had been painted black! My first action on seeing it was to take it away and rub some soil over the tyre walls. Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: January 10, 2012 |
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Recollections 14. Jeannie Veitch The Inch, Edinburgh |
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Thank you to Jeannie Veitch wrote: |
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East Crosscauseway "I fondly remember the shop in East Crosscauseway! My dad used to take me there on a Sunday morning in the early-1970s before Mass at St Francis' Church. I always got into trouble from my teacher on the Monday morning, as she always spotted me eating the lovely sherbet straws or chewing nuts during the service. Ha! Ha! That's one of my best memories, as I haven't got my old Pa any more. Jeannie Veitch, The Inch, Edinburgh: October 10, 2012 |
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Recollections 15
Claire Culley North Island, New Zealand |
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Thank you to Claire Culley who wrote: |
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Hill Place "I lived in Hill Place (off Richmond Street and leading to Surgeon's Hall) until 1955, shortly before the tenements were demolished in the late-1950s." Single Ends "Our homes (penny tenements*) were classed as single-ends and consisted of a single room with a sink and a fireplace. My parents had 3 children when we were living there, so things were a bit tight."
High School Yards "I remember we had to go to the high school yards for a bath once a week. The baths were huge and they had a seat inside as they were so deep. This was before I was 5 years old, so everything looked huge." Home and Neighbours "I remember gas mantles were used for light. There was a cobbler underneath the tenements and the pawnbroker was across the road in Hill Square." Sweets "Around the corner, there was a small sweet shop. - I remember the small lollies that came in trays. - For a halfpenny, you could get two blackjacks. - For a penny, you had a tray of caramel lollies. - There were 'penny dainties', liquorice or spearmint chews. - In the summer, there were ice blocks - just frozen ice blocks with some cordial added for flavour. - Does anyone remember the Lucky Tattie? You ate around it then you came across some tin figure which was meant to be a lucky charm. - There was the sherbet dab. - Potato crisps came with its own twisty bag of salt. Kindergarten "I remember going to a kindergarten in Davie St where we all wore little floral smocks. There was a visit from the Queen to Edinburgh and all the kids were taken to Holyrood Park and given a Union Jack to wave to the Queen as she drove past. It must have been around the time of her Coronation as I remember a huge street party going on." Schools "I went to Drummond St School School, but I couldn't have been there long as my first school memories are of Peffermill School, after our move to Craigmillar in 1955." Claire Culley (née Williams), North Island, New Zealand: November 29, 2013 |
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Recollections 16. John Richardson Chilcompton, Somerset. England |
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Thank you to John Richardson who wrote: |
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Causewayside Barber Auld Geordie "My paternal grandfather, George Richardson, owned a barber shop in the Causewayside from the age of 17 until he was 79 in 1950. He would have carried on longer if he had not been hit by a drunken driver when he was locking up the shop one Friday evening! Although he was a hairdresser he always wore his hair flowing down to his shoulders which, coupled with the fact that he walked with a very pronounced limp and always wore a bowler hat, made him a sight to remember. Does anyone remember Auld Geordie? John Richardson, Chilcompton, Somerset. England: 14 July, 2015 |
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Reply to John Richardson? If you remember Auld Geordie, the barber, and would like to send a message about him to John, please email me to let me know, then I'll give you his email address. Thank you Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: 2 November 2015 |