Edinburgh History - St Cuthbert's Milk Horses

Recollections
1.	Bryan Gourlay Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland	- Priestfield - Bellevue
2.	Susan Fraser Luxemburg	- My Grandfather
3.	Kim Traynor Tollcross, Edinburgh with reply from Bryan Gourlay Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland	- Horse-drawn Carts - Roofed Cart - Other Types of Cart
3.		- Roofed Cart - Film Clip
4.	Ian Mycko Gilmerton, Edinburgh	- Answer: Morningside Road - Horses
5.	Danny Callaghan Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland	- My Uncle
6.	John Tait Edinburgh	- From Age Seven - Ginger
7.	John Boal Edinburgh	- Gypsy - Stockbridge
8.	Danny Callaghan Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland	- 'Whitson Mick'
9.	Jocelyn Ghani Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland	- Bellevue
10.	Jim Patience Alberta, Canada	- East Claremont Street
11.	Danny Callaghan Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland	- Broughton Point
12.	Val Innes	- Workers - Question
13.	James Corrigan Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia	- Paddy Boy
14.	Caroline Carse Edinburgh	- James Hume
15.	M Wilkinson	- Paisley Crescent

Recollections

Bryan Gourlay

Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Thank you to Bryan Gourlay for the following memories.

Bryan wrote:

Priestfield

"When I lived Priestfield, the St Cuthbert's milk horse and delivery man were best pals with every kid in the area.

It was a grey horse that was totally in love with the milkman and vice versa. Needless to say the horse knew the milk round as well, if not better than, the delivery man - and followed him tirelessly up and down the streets with very few words or signals passing between them.

Of course, they were out in all weathers and I recall the horse being fitted with special 'crampon-type' shoes to avoid it slipping on the snow and ice."

Bellevue

"Years later, when I lived on the corner of McDonald Road and Bellevue Road, next to Broughton School, the St Cuthbert's milk horse got his food nose-bag right outside our door every morning

The horse would wander his way slowly along the length of McDonald Road from Leith Walk, keeping a close eye on the milkman as he went in and out of the tenements. When the horse got to nose-bag territory, he froze on the spot, his hooves super-glued to the ground - totally immoveable, until the nose-bag was produced and its contents lovingly devoured. Then, and only then, could the horse be persuaded to resume the delivery round."

"Here are a couple of photos one of a dairy horse around 1900 and one of the St Cuthbert's farrier and Silver in 1985."

c.1900.

c.1985

Please click on the photos above to enlarge them.

Bryan Gourlay, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland: May 15, 2006

Recollections

Susan Fraser

Luxembourg

Recollections - 2

Thank you to Susan Fraser who wrote:

My Grandfather

"In his days at St. Cuthbert's co-op, Sean Connery delivered milk together with my maternal grandfather (now deceased), James Shedden of Oxgangs.

I can remember when I stayed with my grandparents, my grandad often brought the horse's nose-bag home with him, though I can't tell you why. We were fascinated by it and liked to give apples for the horses during their deliveries.

Recollections

Kim Traynor

Tollcross, Edinburgh

Thank you to Kim Traynor who wrote:

Horse-drawn Carts - 1985

"It’s marvellous to have captured the St Cuthbert’s milk carts as late as 1985. I knew of their continuing existence then but didn’t feel sufficiently moved at the time to think of recording the survivors."

Roofed Cart

"What’s interesting for me is that the cart I rode as a boy was roofed. One sat high up alongside the driver on a step-like structure.

As a boy in the 1950s, one could fantasize that one was Dale Robertson on a Wells Fargo stagecoach. I loved the sound of the brake being applied when the handle was turned high up on the cart."

Other Types of Cart

"Are you aware of any photos of that type of cart?"

Kim Traynor: Tollcross, Edinburgh: September 19+20, 2009.

Reply to Kim

I don't know of any photos of the type of St Cuthbert's cart that Kim asks about. If you know of any, please email me, then I'll pass on your message to Kim.

Thank you. - Peter Stubbs: September 19, 2009

Answer

Recollections

Bryan Gourlay

Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Thank you to Bryan Gourlay who replied to Kim Traynor's request in 3 above.

Bryan wrote:

Roofed Carts

"Like Kim Traynor, the St Cuthberts milk carts I remember best of all had a roof. I think it was only in their latter days that the roofs disappeared for some reason."

Film Clip

"The horses and milk carts can be seen very well on a Scottish Screen Archives 1967 film clip on the National Library of Scotland website."

Bryan Gourlay, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland: September 21, 2006

Bryan added:

"It will be interesting to see if anyone recognises the road the horse is travelling along at the beginning of the clip - or even the chap driving the cart and reversing it in the depot.

Although the road looks familiar to me, I can’t quite place it."

Bryan Gourlay, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland: September 22, 2006

Recollections

Ian Mycko

Gilmerton, Edinburgh

Thank you to Ian Mycko who responded quickly to the comments above.

Ian wrote:

Answer: Morningside Road

"The street in the film is Morningside Road."

Horses

"I was part of the team that took over St Cuthbert's Milk. I had worked for Manchester-based co-op (CWS).

My job was to organize the transport. This meant, sadly, that the horses had to go. All the horses went out on loan to as far away as Shetland. They went out on loan so that we could check that they were being looked after."

Ian Mycko, Gilmerton, Edinburgh: September 23, 2009

Recollections

Danny Callaghan

Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland

Thank you to Danny Callaghan for telling me about his dad, uncle and other members of his family who worked at The Store. Speaking about the milk deliveries, Danny wrote:

My Uncle

"My dad's brother, Mike Callaghan started as a Cart Boy and went on to be a Store milkman with Saughton area as his patch.

He loved his horses. One day, his horse and cart ran away and in the effort to stop the horse running into the Water of Leith he grabbed the reins and fell and the cart went right up his side.

I remember him being in hospital for a considerable time and he was never able to go back to his milk round.

One of my Uncle Mike's milk laddies was Tom Connery. My uncle signed off his first time sheet."

Danny Callaghan, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland: October 20, 2009

Recollections

John Tait

Edinburgh

Thank you to John Tait who wrote:

From Age Seven

"I worked with the milk horses from the age of seven and know all about them. I also worked in the stables."

Ginger

"Ginger was the first milk horse that I worked with. The milkman was called John the Miner. After that, it was Jimmy Hume (Wally)

Ginger had a great life after he finished with the milk. He ended his life at a children family park in Leven. He died at a good age of 35 years.

I have such a good story to tell about how i taught him to beg and how i found out that he was in Fife."

John Tait,, Edinburgh: May 26, 2010

Recollections

John Boal

Edinburgh

Thank you to John Boal who wrote:

Gypsy

"When i was 15, in 1968, I used to go every weekend to St Cuthbert's in the early morning in the hope of being chosen as a delivery helper.

I became friends with Jimmy Small who was the driver doing the Stockbridge run. The horse was called Gypsy and he knew every start and stop on the delivery run."

Stockbridge

"Often, I would deliver the milk to 17A Danube Street and Dora would ask me to nip up to the shop for some messages, and she would give me a 10 bob tip.

Jimmy, the driver, lived somewhere around The Inch in Edinburgh.

I became friends with a guy who lived in Leslie Place who's mother had a 3 wheel disability car. When I told my mother I'd been in Stockbridge, she told me she was brought up in a single end house in Cheyne St. I just happened to deliver milk to the exact same house.

I recently went on a walk there but the only thing left of the flat is the fireplace embedded on the wall of houses still standing.

My German shepherd dog who recently died after 12 years with me was named Gypsy after the horse I worked with, back then.

I used to hang about after we got back from deliveries so I could walk the horses back round to Grove St stables as I loved horses. These were great days."

John Boal, Edinburgh: December 20, 2010

Recollections

Danny Callaghan

Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland

Thank you to Danny Callaghan who wrote:

'Whitson Mick'

"Many have commented on the site about the store milkman in the Whitson area, my Uncle Mick, a man always with a smile.

We have trawled through the family photos to find one of Mick with his beloved horse and we hit the jackpot. Guessing from the dress of the child, my uncles age would probably have been taken late-50s.

Uncle Mick always wore his cap and great coat to keep out the weather and his 'milk bottle' glasses and of course the smile. No Gore-Tex protective work wear with fluorescent stripes in those days!

Maybe you recognise yourself as the lucky child or know exactly where picture was taken and when. We would be interested to hear.

Danny Callaghan, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland: January 20, 2011

Reply to Danny?

Please email me if you'd like to send a reply to Danny. Then I'll pass your message to him. Thank you.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: January 27, 2011

Recollections

Jocelyn Ghani

Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland

Thank you to Jocelyn Ghani for posting a message in the EdinPhoto guestbook.

Jocelyn wrote:

Bellevue

"How wonderful, I've just found a picture of the horse and cart that used to deliver our milk at Bellevue.

I still remember patting him, and feeding him when I was a child. I bet he was completely spoiled. I've recently been telling my children about it and now I am looking forward to sharing this my family.

A small glimpse of the end of an era."

Jocelyn Ghani, Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland
Message posted in EdinPhoto guest book: February 8, 2011

Recollections

10.

Jim Patience

Alberta, Canada

Thank you to Jim Patience for adding a reply to Jocelyn Ghani's comments above in the EdinPhoto guest book.

Jim wrote:

East Claremont Street

"I worked in St. Cuthbert's on East Claremont Street from 1952 until 1956 and used to get a ride home to Jamaica Street on the co-op milk cart.

Bert was the milkman's name."

Jim Patience, Alberta, Canada: Message posted in EdinPhoto guest book: February 9, 2011

Recollections

11.

Danny Callaghan

Alberta, Canada

Thank you to Danny Callaghan for sending this reply to Jim Patience's comments in 10 above.

Danny wrote:

Broughton Point

"Jim Patience mentions having worked at the store in East Claremont Street.

I thought he might be interested in this photo that I took in November 2009.

The store, at Broughton Point, has now become a fabric shop and restaurant. Previously, I believe it was a tool hire shop or similar.

On the right-hand edge of the photo. you can see the St Cuthbert's crest on the end of the building - 'Established 1859'."

Danny Callaghan, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland.

Recollections

12.

Val Innes

Val Innes wrote:

Workers

Question

"I'm trying to find contact details of anybody who worked at St Cuthbert's Dairy in the final days of the horse-drawn milk floats.

I'd like to interview some of the employees and write about the dairy.

Can anybody help me to get in touch with any of these workers?"

Val Innes: August 29, 2011

Reply to Val?

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

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: September 1, 2011

Recollections

13.

James Corrigan

Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia

Thank you to James Corrigan who wrote:

Paddy Boy

"I was intrigued to see the photo of the Co-op milk delivery's on Gorgie Road.

I was a van boy on the particular route. The horse's name was Paddy Boy. I also think there was a movie made about the same horse.

I went on to join the London Police Band carrying the Kettle Drums."

James Corrigan, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia: September 14, 2011

Reply

14.

Caroline Carse

Edinburgh

Thank you to Caroline Carse who wrote:

James Hume

"I saw this picture and thought I'd let you know that the milkman on the right was James Hume, originally from Balfour Street, Leith. He was my Mum’s cousin, my second cousin.

Sadly, James died this year but I remember him well."

Caroline Carse, Edinburgh: December 12, 2011

Reply

15.

Muriel Wilkinson

Kendal, Cumbria, England

Thank you to Muriel Wilkinson who wrote:

Paisley Crescent

"Thank you for the lovely pictures of the milk horses, one of my favourite Edinburgh childhood memories.

The horse used to stop outside our house at Paisley Crescent, Willowbrae, and there was much jollity.

It gave us some manure as well, to help the vegetable patch that we'd dug in the lawn during the war."

Muriel Wilkinson, Kendal, Cumbria, England: March 21, 2012