Craighall Crescent

Photographed at 6 Craighall Crescent

Craighall Crescent

The Postcard

This postcard has been sent through the post, probably in 1924 but the date on the postmark is not very clear.

This postcard was published by E M Bell, Stationer.

QUESTION

Did E M Bell have a stationer's shop around Craighall / Newhaven?

ANSWER

Thank you to Walter Lyle Hume, Cowes, Isle of Wight who wrote:

"Yes:  Bell had the 'Paper' shop on Craighall Road, next to the corner shop at East Trinity Road.  The shop then became Rintoul's for many years.

I have another Bell postcard  taken from about where Bell's shop was, looking across to Stanley Road complete with early tram."

Walter Lyle Hume, Cowes, Isle of Wight  January 8, 2006

Craighall Crescent

Street Photographs

Walter Lyle Hume used to live at 12 Craighall Crescent.

He tells me that all the street photos were taken outside No 6, Craighall Crescent.   Here is one of them:

  ©

Walter Lyle Hume, Cowes, Isle of Wight  January 8, 2006

Craighall Crescent

Waste Ground

Thank you to Walter Lyle Hume who wrote:

©

The 'Bowlie'

"The piece of ground seen on the left hand side of this photo used to be known as the 'Bowlie'.  Its origins stemmed from the fact that it was intended to be a Bowling Green for the local residents, being entirely surrounded with railings.

There were two locked gates, key holders being elected committee householders (most houses were self-owned).  It was never used in my growing up time other than an unofficial  playground.

The piece of ground evidently belonged to all Crescent householders and to use it for some other purpose may have created a property mine-field"

Walter Lyle Hume, Cowes, Isle of Wight  January 8, 2006

Between the 'Bowlie' and the Railway

"During the war the stone works, between the 'Bowlie' and the railway,  had be requisitioned as a used tyre dump, thousands upon thousands piled as high as the tenement tops,  a potential fire hazard to all the houses around and a perpetual eye-sore to the residents above street level."

Walter Lyle Hume, Cowes, Isle of Wight  January 8, 2006

Fire Danger

The tyre dump was apparently not the only potential fire hazard in the area.

June Scott, Bonaly, Edinburgh, told me that an earlier member of her family, James Wood, owned Wood's Garage in Craighall Road, opposite Trinity School, close to where the tyres were stored (above).

From 1929 onwards, he repaired cars, sold cars and later sold petrol and diesel fuel from this garage.  On several occasions he had to speak to the scouts and warn them of the dangers of lighting fires in the area close to his petrol pump!

- Peter Stubbs:  January 10, 2007

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