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High Jump |
Answer: Is this Edinburgh University Playing Fields, Craiglockhart
Now part of the school sports grounds for George Watson's College
© Reproduced with acknowledgement to John Stirling, Currie, Edinburgh: November 6, 2009 Photographer not known
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High Jump |
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Old Photo Thank you to John Stirling for allowing me to reproduce this photo. The photo is taken from a collection of lantern slides that John rescued from being destroyed in 1974. The photographer is not known. Some of the other slides from this series are known to have been taken between about 1910 and 1920. |
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Who? When? Where? If you can suggest who this athlete might be, or when and where this photo might have been taken, please email me. The pavilion in the background might help to identify the location. There are also some high poles to the right of the pavilion. What are they? Something's not quite right here: the bar for the 'high jump' seems to be level but the horizon in the background seems to be sloping down to the left! |
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Answers? If you know the answer to any of these questions, please email me. Thank you. Peter Stubbs: November 24, 2009 |
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Answer 1. Neil Lawrence Fountainbridge, Edinburgh |
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Thank you to Neil Lawrence who wrote: |
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Edinburgh University Playing Fields Craiglockhart Terrace "This photo of the High Jump was taken at the old Edinburgh University Playing Fields, now used by Watson's School. *** I've played many a rugby game there. The pavilion with the steps is still there at the top of Craiglockhart Terrace. The Pavilion looks a bit different here from the one that appears in this photo of girls sprinting. |
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Neil added: Date "As for dates, the seating in front of the pavilion does not appear on the 1913-14 map but it is there on the 1931 map." Neil Lawrence, Fountainbridge, Edinburgh: November 25, 2009 So, if this photos shows the Pavilion before the seating was added in front of it, the photo would have been taken in 1931 or earlier Peter Stubbs: November 26, 2009 |
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*** But see 'Answers 3 + 4' below |
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Answer 2. Bryan Gourlay Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland |
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Thank you to Bryan Gourlay who wrote: |
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High Jump "I well remember that high jump apparatus. It was still around in the 1950s. There was no cushioned landing like the softies have to land on today. Any attempt at the Fosbury Flop, favoured nowadays, would have risked a broken neck." Bryan Gourlay, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland: November 26, 2009 |
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Answer 3. Neil Lawrence Fountainbridge, Edinburgh |
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Thank you to Neil Lawrence who emailed me again to say: |
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High Jump "I'd like to revise my opinion of where the photo of the high jumper was taken. Here are photos that I took, today, of the pavilion at the former Edinburgh University Playing Fields at Myreside, now part of the school sports grounds for George Watson's College. Craiglockhart Playing Fields and Pavilion
© Reproduced with acknowledgement to Neil Lawrence, Fountainbridge, Edinburgh Craiglockhart Pavilion (zoom-in)
© Reproduced with acknowledgement to Neil Lawrence, Fountainbridge, Edinburgh Now that I have had time to look at it, I find that it is quite different from the pavilion in the photo at the top of this page. So, we'll have to look again to find out where the high jump photo was taken." Neil Lawrence, Fountainbridge, Edinburgh: December 5, 2009 |
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Was the 'High Jump' photo taken at Myreside? On the early photo: - The left hand gable of the pavilion is certainly different - No steps can be seen in front of the pavilion - There is no clock, but there is room for a clock to be added However, there are some high poles in the photo of the high jumper, similar to the poles for the tennis court to the right of the pavilion on this photo of ladies racing at Myreside in the early-1900s: Myreside Pavilion - Early-1900s So, some further investigation is needed - and has, indeed been provided by Jonathan in his 'Answer 4' below. Peter Stubbs: December 5, 2009 |
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Answer 4. Jonathan Sheach Edinburgh |
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Thank you to Jonathan Sheach, a pupil at George Watson's College for shedding more light onto this photo, and other photos from the same series. Jonathan wrote: |
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Craiglockhart and Myreside Playing Fields "The playing fields and Pavilion in this photo are at Myreside, but they should be referred to as 'Craiglockhart Playing Fields', so as not to be confused with the 'real' Myreside fields that are right next door and are also part of George Watson's College. There was a change of ownership* of the Craiglockhart fields at in 1961. The education board of George Watson's College had requested the re-zoning of the fields, shortly before the amalgamation of GWC and George Watson's Ladies College." * George Watson's College: An Illustrated History |
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Craiglockhart and Myreside Pavilions "There are, in fact, two pavilions close together. The pavilion with the grey roof, multiple chimneys and spire in the 'High Jump' picture at the top of this page is Myreside Pavilion. Almost beside it, with a red roof, is the pavilion that Neil Lawrence photographed, above. That is Craiglockhart Pavilion. This Google aerial view shows how close together the two pavilions are to each other, and how confusion between the two may arise. |
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Jonathan Sheach, George Watson's College, Edinburgh: May 20, 2010 |
