Jerome Limited

Studio in Edinburgh

When?

Location

Thank you to Dave Pattison of Edinburgh for sending me the photograph above. Dave believes that this photograph is probably of Jerome's studio in Leith Street, Edinburgh. (Others have confirmed that it is indeed the Leith Street Jerome Studio.)

Dave's grandmother used to be Manageress of Jerome's Leith Street and also worked in other branches of Jerome.

Date?

The Leith Street branch of Jerome operated from 1934 until 1970. When might this photograph have been taken? Please see answer in Recollections 9 below.

Recollections

Maisie Knox

Edinburgh

The 1930s

Maisie Knox of Edinburgh remembers Jerome's studio in the 1930s. She recalls leaving school and getting her first coat, hat, gloves and handbag:

"The first thing our mother done was to give you sixpence to go up to Jerome's to get your photograph taken, and everybody got their photograph taken at the same pillar. It was a big pillar."

Maisie Knox (born 1920) - 'A Patchwork of Memories'

George Smith, now living in British Columbia, Canada, saw one of the portraits, from Jerome's studio in Edinburgh, on this site and wrote:

"I recognised a shot in Jeromes Studio - a white pillar with black banding in the background. I have a photo of myself dated 1936 with that background."

Maisie Knox (born 1920) - 'A Patchwork of Memories'

Recollections

Liz Black

California, USA

Thank you to Liz Black, who wrote:

1940s

Retoucher

"My grandmother Mary Harrison of Holyrood Road, Edinburgh worked as a re-toucher at Jerome's Edinburgh studio during World War II.

Liz Black: July 8 + 10, 2008

Liz used to live in Edinburgh but has now lived in California for over 40 years.

Recollections

Eric Gold

East London, England

The pillar still seems to have been in Jerome's studio two decades later. Here is how Eric Gold, formerly of Dumbiedykes, remembers the studio:

1950s

"I remember Jerome's photographic studio in Edinburgh very well. Everyone in Edinburgh who had their photo taken there, male or female, either sat on the chair or stood by that pillar.

I was at sea when Jerome's shut in Leith Street and I wonder what happened to the pillar and chair, I remember knocking the pillar over one day as it was a prop and made of a cardboard substance, but he did not mind.

I also got my passport photos done there.

Eric Gold, East London

Jerome Limited

Studio in Edinburgh

When?

Location

Thank you to Dave Pattison of Edinburgh for sending me the photograph above. Dave believes that this photograph is probably of Jerome's studio in Leith Street, Edinburgh.

Dave's grandmother used to be Manageress of Jerome's Leith Street and also worked in other branches of Jerome.

Date?

The Leith Street branch of Jerome operated from 1934 until 1970. When might this photograph have been taken?

Recollections

Maisie Knox

Edinburgh

The 1930s

Maisie Knox of Edinburgh remembers Jerome's studio in the 1930s. She recalls leaving school and getting her first coat, hat, gloves and handbag:

"The first thing our mother done was to give you sixpence to go up to Jerome's to get your photograph taken, and everybody got their photograph taken at the same pillar. It was a big pillar."

Maisie Knox (born 1920) - 'A Patchwork of Memories'

George Smith, now living in British Columbia, Canada, saw one of the portraits, from Jerome's studio in Edinburgh, on this site and wrote:

"I recognised a shot in Jeromes Studio - a white pillar with black banding in the background. I have a photo of myself dated 1936 with that background."

Maisie Knox (born 1920) - 'A Patchwork of Memories'

Recollections

Liz Black

California, USA

Thank you to Liz Black, who wrote:

1940s

Retoucher

"My grandmother Mary Harrison of Holyrood Road, Edinburgh worked as a re-toucher at Jerome's Edinburgh studio during World War II."

Liz Black: July 8 + 10, 2008

Liz used to live in Edinburgh but has now lived in California for over 40 years.

Recollections

Eric Gold

East London, England

The pillar still seems to have been in Jerome's studio two decades later. Here is how Eric Gold, formerly of Dumbiedykes, remembers the studio:

1950s

"I remember Jerome's photographic studio in Edinburgh very well. Everyone in Edinburgh who had their photo taken there, male or female, either sat on the chair or stood by that pillar.

I also got my passport photos done there."

Eric Gold, East London

Recollections

Valerie Mills

East London, England

Thank you to Valerie Mills, formerly of Edinburgh, now living at Luss beside Loch Lomond, who wrote about a photograph taken around 1958.

Valerie wrote:

1950s

"I have a photograph of myself taken at Jeromes in Edinburgh when I was 6 months old.

My Mum tells me that in those days, Jeromes would not photograph a baby unless they were able to 'hold their own heads up' (and basically not fall over like a floppy doll).

But when my Mum went into enquire, it turned out that she knew the Receptionist from school, so the photo of me was taken with this girl squatting behind the block I was sitting on, and holding me upright.

It was my Mother's pride and joy for years, but she gave it to me a few years ago, and it has been put away in an Album, to keep it flat and safe. It still has a few bits or remaining tissue paper from the cardboard mount."

Valerie Mills, Luss, Argyll & Bute, Scotland: October 11 2007

Recollections

Doreen Barnett

Heriot, Midlothian, Scotland

Thank you to Doreen Barnett, Heriot, Midlothian, Scotland for adding these memories of work at Jeromes in 1959 to the guest book:

1950s

"I worked there in 1959. In fact I started on my 16th birthday. Saturdays were usually our very busy day and the metal spiral stairs to the basement stick in my mind as I had to race up and down between the studio and darkroom."

Doreen Barnett, Heriot, Midlothian, Scotland: March 11, 2006

Recollections

Bob Henderson

Burdiehouse, Edinburgh

Thank you to Bob Henderson who wrote:

1950s

"Just a wee point of interest. All the people of my generation will recognise the dance hall next to Jeromes in Leith Street.

It was Fairley's, a very daring place for us young things to go."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh (born 1938): December 19, 2007

Recollections

Peter Stubbs

Edinburgh

1970s

Jerome is listed at 79 Leith Street in the Edinburgh Post Office Directories from 1934 until 1974, the last year that the directories were published.

However, it appears that Jerome had moved out of their Leith Street premises perhaps as early as 1970, or perhaps in 1971 or the following year.

The Valuation Rolls list William McNally at 79 Leith Street in 1971. Was he acting on behalf of Jerome then?

Valuation Rolls: 1970-74

Recollections

Maureen Sheppart
(nee McNally)

Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

Thank you to Maureen Sheppart for leaving a message in the EdinPhoto guest book.

Maureen, who was born in Aberdeen then lived in Edinburgh, at Denham Avenue, Portobello, between the ages of 6 and 19, wrote:

Photographer in Jerome's

"My Dad, William McNally, worked as Photographer in Jerome's Studio in Edinburgh in the 1950s-60s I have some fond memories of the time I spent at the studio. I had many pictures taken there.

Hand Colouring

My Mum and Dad hand-coloured Jerome photographs. That was before colour photography was used. My Dad worked in the Aberdeen branch before being transferred to Jerome's in Edinburgh.

I'm sorry, now, that some of the coloured photos have been lost, as the hand painted ones were beautiful. I do still have some of my Mum. It certainly was an art in those days.

I emigrated from Edinburgh to Canada in 1967. Leith Street looked so different the last time I visited Edinburgh."

Maureen Sheppart (nee McNally), Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada:
Message posted in EdinPhoto guest book: February 2, 2009.

Recollections

Jim Suddon

Morningside, Edinburgh

Thank you to Jim Suddon who wrote:

1950s or 1960s

"The picture of Jeromes would have been taken in the late-1950s or early-1960ss as it advertises passport photos.

In those days the Passport Office for Edinburgh and area was in Rose Street."

1940s

"I have a picture of myself taken in Jerome's, about 1942. It was a favourite place for family portraits

The premises next door was Fairleys Ballroom. It was a popular place with members of the forces in the 1940s and as a child I thought it must be a really fun place, judging by the numbers who entered."

Jim Suddon, Morningside, Edinburgh: July 30, 2009

Recollections

10.

Jimmy Meikle

Leith, Edinburgh

Thank you to Jimmy Meikle who was brought up in Leith and wrote:

Visits to Jerome's

"I remember many visits to Jerome's, and have a number of photos in the chair by the pillar with my brothers and sisters. There was always a queue waiting to have their photograph taken people from all walks of life."

Jimmy Meikle, Leith: August 26, 2009

Jerome Limited

Jerome Limited

Jerome Limited

Jerome Limited

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