Baker in 1850s

John Baillie was considered to be one of the foremost bakers in Portobello, and seems to have started his business in the 1850s.

He supplied the Portobello Cooperative Society for a few years when it began in 1864 until it founded its own bakery.

Archie Foley, Portobello, Edinburgh, Scotland. 15 September 2005

Family

John Philips Baillie was born in Dundee in 1839 and by the time he married Mary Laing Ovens in 1862 he was already a Master Baker with an address of 34 Portobello High Street.

In the 1891 Census the home was at 21 Tower Street and a family of three sons, one having died in childhood, and six daughters had been born.

John Philips Baillie died in 1892 but his widow and sons George and John continued the business.

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1895-96

In the advertisement in the Portobello Directory of 1895-1896, the business is well established with two premises:

-  one at  51 "High Street (opposite Tower Street)"
-  another at "86 High Street (adjoining National Bank)".

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1900-01

In the advertisement in the Portobello Directory of 1900-1901, the wording of which is virtually unchanged, the premises are listed as:

-  "95 High Street (opposite Tower Street)"
-  "160 High Street (adjoining National Bank)"
-  "Morton Street, Joppa".

It would seem that a re-numbering of the High Street had taken place.

Business Closed

1934

George Baillie having married Emma Eva Rutherford Thomson, a Teacher of Singing, is found with his young family at 54 Regent Street, in 1901.

He continued the business until his death in 1934 but as both his sons were in the Merchant Navy the business was closed and became the Melrose Dairy.

Milk Deliveries

Pony and Cart

My husband remembers that Mrs Melrose delivered milk from a churn on a pony and cart and he was given a ride on the cart down into Portobello from his home in Wakefield Avenue.

Elizabeth Baillie, Lincolnshire, England.  November 18, 2005