Edinburgh History - Recollections of Waverley Market

Recollections
1.	Yvonne Cain (née Dorr) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia	- Ride and Slide Shows
2.	Tony Ivanov Bo'ness West Lothian, Scotland	- Waverley Carnival
3.	Lyndsay Montgomery Old Town, Edinburgh	- Ideal Home Exhibitions - Mod Ball
4.	Donald Grant Bo'ness West Lothian, Scotland	- Christmas Fun Fair - Ideal Home Exhibition - Closing Night - Civic Exhibition
5.	John Clark Bo'ness West Lothian, Scotland	- Circus - Rides - Safety Shows - Flea Circus
6.	George Smith British Columbia, Canada	- Circus
7.	John Simpson Calgary, Alberta, Canada	- 1950s - Fruit and Vegetables
8.	Danny Callaghan Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland	- Ideal Home Exhibition - Carnival - Gardens
9.	Jack Craig Silverknowes, Edinburgh	- Side Shows
10.	John Gray Stenhouse, Edinburgh	- 'Wall of Death'
11.	Alan Dodds Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England	- Indoor Fairground - Popcorn
12.	Frank Ferri Newhaven, Edinburgh	- Big Band Gig
13.	Alan Dodds Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England	- 1961 Exhibition
14.	Alan Dodds Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England	- 1961 Exhibition
15.	Brian Townsley Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England	- C19 Cycle Races
16.	Danny Callaghan Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland	- Wall of Death - Ideal Home Exhibition
17.	Alan Dodds Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England	- 1961 Exhibition
18.	Linda Turner	- Waverley Carnival
19.	Tom Andrews Cockburnspath, Berwickshire, Scotland	- Waverley Carnival - Wall of Death - Girl in a TANK

Recollections

Lyndsay Montgomery

Old Town, Edinburgh

Lyndsay wrote

Ideal Homes Exhibitions

"I was reading Yvonne Cain's few lines about her memories of the Waverley Market, and she was right. Not only the Carnival and circuses, but I'm sure that every few years (I can't remember if it was every year) there was the Ideal Home Exhibition as well. All the latest inventions (mod cons) of the day were there to be demonstrated and sold if the sales people were smart enough.

There was even a complete home built inside, supposedly, with all the latest gadgets etc. I was only young at the time, and thought a lot of it was weird."

Mod Ball

"However, a few years later, I was at the Waverley Market again, to go to the Mod Ball, a big difference !!

I think there were some local bands playing. I was there to see and be seen, and of course to see the headlining band of the night, 'The Pretty Things'.

This was so many years ago that I don't remember much about it, other than my friend Heather Gibson, that I went with and I, met these two lads that we knew from the Beatle Queue - the all night queue to buy tickets for the first Beatles concert in the Regal on Lothian Road.

I later met a boy from outside Edinburgh (the sticks) who was extremely fashionably dressed in a cord suit with a fancy shirt and tie, I was very impressed, and I walked him to his bus- stop, he having to leave early to get back home before the last bus left.

Later my friend and I walked home full of talk of this, to us, fabulous evening."

Lyndsay (formerly Linda) Montgomery: July 21, 2008

Recollections

Donald Grant

Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland

Donald wrote

Christmas Fun Fair

"There was a Fun Fair held at Waverley Market every Christmas and New Year in the1960s, as far as I remember but I don't recall a circus there.

Maybe there was a circus but I didn't pay attention, it was the rides I was interested in."

Ideal Homes Exhibition

"The Ideal Home Exhibition was an annual event, organised by the Edinburgh Evening News.

They used to sell a few extra papers during the exhibition as they had a sort of random spot competition. If you were seen to be in possession of a copy of that day's paper and were lucky enough to be picked there was a small cash prize.

They also used to hide stars on some of the stands and if you managed to find one there was a prize for that too."

Closing Night

"I used to work a nightshift for House Of Clydesdale at the show. It was the one and only night shift available for the year and it was always offered to the younger apprentices because they were cheaper to pay double time to.

On the closing night of the exhibition all I had to do, along with a couple of colleagues, was be in attendance on the stand to ensure nothing was stolen.

We used to clear our stand on the Sunday morning but others worked through the Saturday night stripping theirs down. They didn't start until after the football highlights programme was finished though.

Quite a number of men gathered on our stand where we had kept the televisions switched on to watch the football, usually the Home Internationals as the Ideal Home show was usually held in May.

Rather a good arrangement evolved. We supplied the TV and something to sit on (usually a fridge or freezer) and they brought the beer. We were never short of food as there was loads that was just going to get thrown away by other exhibitors, so it 'migrated' towards our stand when the show closed."

Civic Exhibition

"I can also recall, sometime in the early 1960s, the then Edinburgh Corporation mounted a Civic Exhibition at Waverley Market.

I can't really remember too much about the content other than the chassis and cab of a Leyland Tiger Cub being there. You could get into the driving seat and 'have a shot' behind the wheel. Great fun for a small boy.!

The police also had a road safety stand with a 'talking' Belisha Beacon. The stand was manned by the same officers as used to go round the city primary schools doing road safety demonstrations.

I suppose there would have been representatives from all the Corporation departments at the show with their own stands but I really can't remember now."

Donald Grant, Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland: July 24, 2008

Recollections

John Clark

Canada

Thank you to John Clark who wrote:

Circus

"To Yvonne and Tony and others who wrote about the Waverley Market - There certainly was a circus there. I went there in 1949 or 1950. with the North Merchiston Boys' Club."

Rides

"There were also many rides there, and the Home Show too.

I remember one particular ride called 'The Rotor'. It was cylindrical, and you stood with your back against the wall, then it started to spin faster and faster, then the floor dropped down and you were stuck to the wall by centrifugal force.

I came off it and threw up immediately."

Safety Shows

"There was also safety shows by the Police, and you could guide a car around a series of blocks by an electrical wire which was attached (state of the art at that time)."

Flea Circus

"I also remember there was a flea circus, where you could see fleas walking a tightrope and riding a bicycle and doing all kinds of silly things. I've told people about this over the years, and hardly anyone believes me.

There was even an ad in the paper saying that they would pay as much as £2 for a good sizes flea. No kidding!"

John Clark, Canada: February 5, 2008

Recollections

John Simpson

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Thank you to John Simpson who wrote:

1950s

"I spent time in the early 1950s at the Ideal Home Exhibition at Waverley Market. I was on Thornton's stand where we offered a selection of garden furniture and camping gear.

I always found the old market a rather grubby and unfriendly place. It did not draw large crowds except when there was a special feature offered.

I recall the shows being there and the lorry generators lined the lane next to the station."

Fruit and Vegetables

"On the south side of the station were the delivery sidings for fruit and vegetables, I think Rankins was the operator and that their lorries did the distribution to local fruiterers' stores."

John Simpson, Calgary, Alberta, Canada: November 23, 2009

Recollections

Danny Callaghan

Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland

Thank you to Danny Callaghan who wrote:

Ideal Home Exhibitions

Gadgets

"I remember trips to the Waverley Market to the Ideal Home Exhibition. My dad was a sucker for gadgets and seldom would come home from the show without one. I still have a few of the kitchen gadgets that he bought.

The most useless one I remember him buying was the waterless cooker. It came with two different bases, for gas or electric cookers. I don't know how it was supposed to work, but food cooked in it tasted terrible. It ended being a second soup pot.

The gadget my dad did buy that was used to almost destruction over 40 years was a crinkle cut chip cutter. Whisks, veg choppers, etc, we had them all.

Everyone left the show with a bag of brochures and leaflets which never got looked at again."

Gadgets

I bought a 'cucumber slicer' at the show one year, after being impressed by how well it worked in the demonstration.

It was only when I got home that I realised just how easy cucumber was to slice with a knife!

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: December 14, 2011

House

As Lyndsay Montgomery said, there was the 'sow house' that had been built there. There were always big queues for the house, going in one door and sometimes out through a window opening.

Gardens

The Waverley Market had gardens on top and there are many old pictures of them in use. I believe it was the mid-50s when they were closed as they were found to be unsafe.

Waverley Market Gardens

Here is a photo of the gardens on top of Waverley Market in the 1930s:

... and what remained of them in 1950:

Peter Stubbs: November 28, 2009

Danny Callaghan: Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland: November 24, 2009

Recollections

Jack Craig

Silverknowes, Edinburgh

Jack Craig wrote:

Side Shows

"It was interesting reading the various recollections of the Waverley Market. I frequented it during the Second World War.

I recall many side shows where you ran pennies down slotted sticks in the hope they would land in a particular square to get a prize.

There were also cranes inside a glass cases. They were operated by two handles. It was almost impossible to pick anything up - but if you did manage to, you would attempt to drop the item into a space and it would fall into a tray.

I also remember a man who was called Fagan. He would call out 'Everybody gets a prize!' then out of the side of his mouth he would mutter 'Some get a surprise.'

Happy days."

Jack Craig, Silverknowes, Edinburgh: November 25, 2009

Recollections

11.

Allan Dodds

Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England

Thank you to Allan Dodds who wrote:

Indoor Fairground

"I don't remember a circus at the Waverley Market, but I do remember driving a dodgem car there at an indoor fairground. I also recall 'waltzers' and being sick when I got off one."

Here are two of my photos taken at the indoor fairground."

Shooting Gallery

Funfair

Popcorn

"My Mother was most impressed when, in the mid-1950s, I brought home from an Ideal Homes Exhibition a packet of dried sweetcorn which, when heated in a pan of boiling butter, would miraculously, albeit noisily, produce popcorn.

Now, that was progress and proof that post-war austerity in Edinburgh had come to an end!"

Allan Dodds, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England: March 9 + 10, 2010

Recollections

12.

Frank Ferri

Newhaven, Edinburgh

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh, wrote:

Big Band Gig

"Does anyone remember the big jazz band gig at the Waverley Market, circa 1957/58. There were several different bands on that night. Rock 'N Roll was the thing and was well represented, but at its peak was Trad-dad, Dixieland Jazz.

This is where I first heard live, Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band. A big 14-piece band of the Glen Miller ilk was also on, but the crowd were not interested, wanting Acker Bilk to continue instead. It was a great night.

Little did I know then that six years later I, and my band the 'Jokers', would share a stage with him at the Corn Exchange Haddington, East Lothian"

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh: March 9, 2010

Recollections

15.

Brian Townsley

Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England

Brian Townsley wrote:

Nineteenth Century

Bicycle Races

"Have you come across anything relating to the 19th century bicycle races that were held in Waverley Market.

I have managed to find some press clippings starting from 1880 and continuing up to 1892 but I suspect that there were more than those discovered so far.

Any photographs would, of course, be a big bonus."

Brian Townsley, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England: October 23, 2011

Reply to Brian

If you can help to answer Brian's question, please email me, then I'll pass on your message to him. Thank you.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: October 31, 2011

Recollections

16.

Danny Callaghan

Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland

Waverley Market Photos

For the past couple of days I have been adding some photos of events at Waverley Market to the EdinPhoto web site, including this one of the 'Wall of Death':

This has prompted Danny to send me more of his memories of the Waverley Market, below.

Danny wrote:

Carnival

'Wall of Death'

"I remember, in the 1950s and 1960s, going to the Carnival. That's the one and only time I have seen the Wall of Death, where motorcyclists raced round the walls of a large cylinder.

It was brilliant, although the noise was something else in the enclosed space. Having watched some recent videos, I still don't know how they just did not fall off the wall.

They also had a go-kart on the Wall of Death at the Waverley Carnival, if I mind correct."

Danny Callaghan, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland: December 10, 2011

Recollections

17.

Allan Dodds

Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England

Thank you to Allan Dodds for writing again.

Allan wrote:

Waverley Market Events

"It's good to see that people remember the variety of events that Waverley Market used to host of events that I avidly attended.

I recall:

- fairs,

- Ideal Homes Exhibitions and

- car promotions

- also some serious educational events

Events for Restless Youths

"The Waverley Market could always be relied upon to provide interest to restless youth attempting to escape from the clutches of the Church of Scotland with its innate and instinctive disapproval of anything new and threatening to the Old Testament."

Medicine and Exhibitions

"Edinburgh was always in the vanguard of new medical discoveries such as:

- X-rays (introduced at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary just one year after Roentgen discovered them)

- Richard Doll's discovery of the relationship between smoking and lung cancer in 1954, promoted by the Edinburgh City Fathers a decade down the line. This deserves acknowledgement, if not praise.

I was glad to read that Laurie Thompson was shocked by the image of the cancerous smoker's lung at the 'Two Hundred Summers in a City' exhibition in 1967.

I was a very heavy smoker myself in the 1960s but stopped immediately when I began work as a Ward Orderly at the Astley Ainslie Hospital during my undergraduate vacations, where I witnessed smokers dying and non-smokers surviving after similar surgical procedures. My survival today is due solely to the publicity that was given to the dangers of smoking then.

Allan Dodds, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England: February 26, 2015

Recollections

18.

Linda Turner

Thank you to Linda Turner who wrote:

Waverley Carnival

"I also remember going to the Waverly Carnival at Christmas time. Was it in a kind of under ground building?

I seem to remember standing on Princes street looking down on a glass roof covering the area. There were coconut shies, candy floss and a carousel with horses."

Linda Turner: June 15, 2015

Hi Linda:

Yes, Waverley Market was underground. It was between Princes Street and Waverley Station.

It was immediately to the west of Waverley Steps that lead down from Princes Street to the station, and to the east of Waverley Bridge.

Peter Stubbs: June 23, 2015

Recollections

19.

Tom Andrews

Cockburnspath, Berwickshire, Scotland

Thank you to Tom Andrews who wrote:

Waverley Carnival

'Wall of Death' and 'Girl in a Tank'

"Apart from the atmosphere of the 'underground cavern', the things I remember best about the Funfair at Waverley Market are 'The Wall of Death' and a girl who was apparently breathing inside a tank of water (like a giant goldfish tank).

You could see her moving. I have often wondered if she was a waxwork model with a moving part or if there was an invisible glass tube to her nose. Does anyone know how this magic was done?"

Tom Andrews, Cockburnspath, Berwickshire, Scotland: 25 November 2017