Old Edinburgh Club

Photographic Survey

In the early 20th century, several photographic societies in Britain turned their attention to making a photographic record of their neighbourhood.

Around this time, on 3 December 1907, a meeting was held at John Knox House in Edinburgh High Street,

"comprising gentlemen interested in the formation of a Reekiana* Club for the preservation of old Edinburgh lore in some permanent form". 

*   Edinburgh used to be known as Old Reekie because of the smoky haze or reek that used to hang over the city.

Members

There were 14 present at the 1907 meeting:

- JA Barrie

- Hugh Carbarns

- Robert Cochrane

- Andrew Edie

- WJ Hay

- John W Hewart

- JS Kay, Jun.

- LA Mackechnie

- AP Profit

- Alan Reid

- JC Robbie

- AW Sinclair

- Adam Smith

-  a reporter from The Scotsman.

W J Hay

Mr Hay was an Edinburgh Photographer who produced a range of post cards of Edinburgh scenes.  He lived and worked at John Knox House.  He stated that he:

"had felt the growing necessity for a society having for its objects the preservation of information regarding Edinburgh life in pre-railway days".

It was agreed to form a constitution, and to hold a Public Meeting.  At a meeting on 18 December 1907, it was agreed that the name of the society should be: The Old Edinburgh Club.

An inaugural meeting was held on 29 January 1908.  Subscriptions were set at 10s 6d for Members and 2s 6d for Associate Members.  At the meeting, WJ Hay commented:

"There is enough material in Grant's Old & New Edinburgh to keep the Club going for two years correcting its mistakes"  [Glasgow Herald:  30 Jan 02]

In February 1908, the Club's Council of the Old Edinburgh Club included the photographers WJ Hay and Hippolyte Blanc.
[Minutes of the Old Edinburgh Club]

2008

Since its formation, the Old Edinburgh Club has regularly published journals on the history of Edinburgh.  The club still exists  It continues to hold meetings and outings and to produce further editions of 'The Book of the Old Edinburgh Club'.

The Old Edinburgh Club reached it s Centenary in 2008.  Events in the club's centenary year include a conference and a walk around the city walls of Edinburgh.

The route of the 2008 walk will follow, as closely as possible, that followed when the walk first took place, on July 18, 1908.

On that occasion, the walk (or ramble as it was described) was organised by the Survey Section of Edinburgh Photographic Society, and members of the recently formed Old Edinburgh Club were invited to participate.

About 70 people wished to join the 2008 walk, so it was repeated the following day, with about 35 members joining each walk.  The leader in 2008 was Graham Cruickshank of the Old Edinburgh Club.