Edinburgh Recollections

1.	George Smith British Columbia, Canada	Fishwives from Musselburgh Stables Housing
2.	Catherine Taylor (nee Clark) Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England	Kindergarten and Schools Shops
3.	Bob Henderson Burdiehouse, Edinburgh	Fishwives from Musselburgh Stables Housing
4.	John Harris Peterborough, Ontario, Canada	St Leonard's Hill Fishwives Housing
5.	Bryan Gourlay Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland	East Richmond Street
6.	Bryan Gourlay Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland	My Ancestors' Shops Dog with a Message Chip Shops
7.	Lydia Munn Chatham, Kent England with replies from Peter Stubbs Edinburgh and Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh	The Craig Family 1936
8.	Tom Finnerty Joppa, Edinburgh	Home Family Neighbours
9.	Terry McGuire Coventry, Warwickshire, England	Polish Army Post Office

Recollections

George Smith

British Columbia, Canada

Thank you to Catherine Taylor (nee Clark) for sending a message to the EdinPhoto guest book.

Thank you to George Smith for sending me his recollections of St Leonard's.

George wrote:

Fishwives from Musselburgh

"The Newhaven Fishwives prompted a recollection of such a woman who had her pitch at the end of Beaumont Place in the late thirties. As a kid I was told she walked via Fishwives Causeway from, I always believed, Musselburgh.

I remember her black and white skirt-apron and the strong strap on her basket which she wore as a brow strap when hefting her goods (including her three legged stool). She sold 'buckies" complete with free pin and a shot of vinegar for, I think, 2d a cup."

Yes, the fishwives are likely to have come from Musselburgh. Both Fisherrow Harbour at Musselburgh and Newhaven Harbour, between Leith and Granton had fishwives with their own distinctive costumes.

- Peter Stubbs

George added:

Stables

"Also in that area were carriers stables. One horse 'Arrow" used to return unescorted through the streets to his stall from the St Leonards coal yard/ Goods yard each evening after being unharnessed. A memorable sight."

Housing

"Edinburgh seems to have had several housing incidents around that time. One in the corner of St Patrick's Square was of a staircase collapsing and I remember seeing pictures of baskets of 'messages' being hauled up by clothes rope to sustain the marooned tenants.

I think that particular building was demolished. It used to be over an arch (a 'pend'?) which led on in the direction of Buccleuch Place."

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

Recollections

Catherine Taylor (nee Clark)

Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England

Thank you to Catherine Taylor (nee Clark) for sending a message to the EdinPhoto guest book.

Catherine wrote:

Kindergarten and Schools

"Does anyone remember the kindergarten in East Adam Street?

I hear Drummond Street School is now apartments and South Bridge School is offices. I attended both from 1949-1956. I'd love to hear from anyone who attended then.

My last teacher was Mr Brown. We marched into school to rousing military band music and up stairs to our classrooms.

Does anyone remember Miss Woolard the sewing teacher - and her ttt ttt ttt?"

Shops

"My parents had a newsagent and tobacconist shop in St Leonards Street.

I wonder if anyone remembers Nicol the baker. The hot pies were wonderful the gravy ran down your chin. Many of the pupils from James Clarks spent their dinner money there."

Catherine Taylor (nee Clark). Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England.
Message sent to EdinPhoto guest book: July 14, 2008

Recollections

Bob Henderson

Burdiehouse, Edinburgh

Thank you to Bob Henderson who replied:

Kindergarten

"You can let Catherine Taylor know that the kindergarten is still there, in East Adam Street, and is still used by local children. From the outside it still looks the same.

I was there from 1940 to 1943 and still have memories of it, I've even even been in contact by email with Barbara Brown who attended at the same time as me. She lived across the road from me in 18 Arthur Street. and also went to St Ann's and St. Pat's schools."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh: July 17, 2008

Recollections

John Harris

Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

Thank you to John Harris for posting messages in the EdinPhoto guest book.

John wrote:

St Leonard's Hill

"I originated at 15 St. Leonard's Hill, top flat, from approx. 1938 until 1948, when I emigrated to Canada with my family. I am enjoying all the nostalgia concerning 'the Hill' and would like to hear from anyone of that era, so we can swap stories and talk of old times. By the way, I am still a Hibs supporter!"

Fishwives

"Yes, the fishwives are likely to have come from Musselburgh. Both Fisherrow Harbour at Musselburgh and Newhaven Harbour, between Leith and Granton had fishwives with their own distinctive costumes. "

John Harris, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada: July 17, 2008

John added:

1939 to 1948

"I enjoy looking up old haunts from around 1939 to 1948. I'd like to hear from anyone living in the area of St. Leonard's Hill during that time"

John Harris, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada: January 18, 2009

Recollections

Bryan Gourlay

Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Thank you to Bryan Gourlay who wrote:

Each Richmond Street

Great Great Grandparents

"My great great grandmother was born in No 10 in 1836, which seems to be above the Grocer and Spirit Merchant which is No 12. Incredibly, 81 folks lived at this address in 1881."

Great Grandparents

"My great grandparents lived in 16 East Richmond Street, on the corner with the Pleasance when they were first married, and my grandmother was born there in 1883. There were 36 people living in this building in 1881."

Bryan Gourlay, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland: March 11, 2009

More Photos

I intend to add a collection of photos of the St Leonard's area, taken in the early 1900s, to the EdinPhoto web site at some stage. (See 'further information' at the foot of this page.)

However, I don't yet know when I'm likely to be able to find the time to do that.

Peter Stubbs: March 12 2009

Recollections

Bryan Gourlay

Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Thank you to Bryan Gourlay who wrote again:

My Ancestors' Shops

"I'd like to use the old trade directories to trace some of my ancestors’ shops in the St Leonards area."

Dog with a Message

"My great grandparents (Pringle) had a fish and chip shop in St Leonards Street and a coal shop in Buccleuch Street in the early 1900s with a dog that ran between them with messages in its collar."

Chip Shop

"There is a long-standing chip shop opposite the entrance to St Leonard's Goods Yard which is still there.

There is also another in one of the photos of St Leonard's Street you put on the site about a year ago, on the opposite side and just north of Rankeillor Street.

©"

Bryan Gourlay, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland: July 14, 2009

Recollections

Lydia Munn

Chatham, Kent, England

Thank you to Lydia Munn for posting a message in the Edinphoto guest book.

Lydia wrote:

The Craig Family - 1936

"My grandparents Alexander and Elizabeth Craig lived in St Leonard's Hill in 1936. There were four children at the time, Irene, Robert my dad, Ivor and Norman.

My grandfather died rescuing a child from a chip shop fire in Springwell Place, Dalry in 1937. My grandmother died in 1936."

Question

"Does anyone has any information about my family? If so, I would be grateful if they got in touch. My aunt, uncles and my dad are all dead now, so I am hoping that someone will read this and can help me."

Lydia Munn: Chatham, Kent, England

If you would like to reply to Lydia's request for information, please email me, then I'll pass on your message to Lydia.

Thank you. - Peter Stubbs: August 26, 2009

Recollections

Reply

Peter Stubbs

Edinburgh

'The Scotsman'
Archive

I've had a quick look at The Scotsman archive on the internet. I don't currently subscribe to this service, so am not able to view full details of the articles in this archive.

However, I can view the headlines, and I think this one may be relevant. It comes from The Scotsman, 20 September 1937, p.10.

Headline:

STOVE EXPLOSION
Edinburgh Man Fatally Injured
FISH RESTAURANT FIRE

Peter Stubbs: August 26, 2009

Recollections

Reply

Bob Henderson

Burdiehouse, Edinburgh

'The Scotsman'
Archive

Thank you to Bob Henderson for looking up the above article in 'The Scotsman' archive and sending me this brief transcript from it. The fire that is reported in this article is, in fact, the same fire as Lydia Munn refers to above.

Stove Explodes in Fish & Chip Shop

"Alexander Craig (45) of 8 St. Leonards Hill, a brewery worker, dashed into the burning shop to help.

He died in the Royal infirmary from severe burns.

His companion Alexander Smith went to his assistance and also suffered burns and cuts from broken glass.

A boy who was at the counter at the time of the explosion also survived.

The proprietor John Goodall went to the basement to turn off the gas main and was trapped. He escaped by breaking and climbing through a rear window."

The Scotsman: September 20, 1937

Access to
'The Scotsman'
Archive

Thank you to Bob for also telling me that the new system at Edinburgh Libraries allows library users to have free access to The Scotsman archive web site from thier computers at home.

Access to this archive is achieved by keying in their library card bar code.

Acknowledgement: Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh: October 15, 2011

Recollections

Tom Finnerty

Joppa, Edinburgh

Thank you to Tom Finnerty who wrote:

Home

"I was born in 7 Dalrymple Place in the early 1930s, then moved to more prestigious apartments in 18 Carnegie Street:

- top flat

- inside toilet

- three bedrooms

- cold running water

- panoramic view of the backgreen, where I watched the building of the air raid shelters, and the bomb blast brick walls at the stair entrances, back and front"

Family

"My mother and father lived there until 1959, when they were moved to a pensioners' house in Meadowfield.

Myself? Jimmy Clarks' school, merchant navy Ben Line, R.A.F. etc."

Neighbours

I have vivid memories of many of the kindly and gentle people who lived in that area:

- Kerrs

- Ritchies

- Turtons

- Sinclairs.

It seems as if we spent most of our time between The Kings Park, Infirmary Street Baths and the Pleasance Boy Scouts' Troop.

Are there any other dinosaurs like me still out there?

Tom Finnerty, Joppa, Edinburgh: February 25, 2010

Reply to Tom Finnerty?

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

Peter Stubbs: February 26, 2010

Recollections

Terry McGuire

Coventry, Warwickshire, England

Thank you to Terry McGuire for posting a message in the EdinPhoto guestbook.

Terry wrote:

Polish Army Post Office

"Does anyone remember the Polish Army Post Office housed in a Nissen hut at St. Leonards, roughly opposite The Nelson Hall Library?

It flew the Polish flag. The sign announced 'Postka Polska'."

Terry McGuire, Coventry, Warwickshire, England
Message posted in EdinPhoto guestbook: October 13, 2011