Putting the Shot - Who? When? Where?

Putting the Shot

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.

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?

Answers?

If you know the answer to any of these questions, please email me.

Thank you.

Peter Stubbs: November 24, 2009

Answer

John Gray

Portobello, Edinburgh

Thank you to John Gray who wrote:

Edinburgh University Playing Fields

Craiglockhart Terrace

"That photo of the shot putter picture looks as though it was taken in the same playing fields as the picture of the high jumper. The pavilion in the background looks like the same one."

John Gray, Portobello, Edinburgh: November 28, 2009

Thanks John. I agree.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: November 28, 2009

Answer

Neil Lawrence

Fountainbridge, Edinburgh

Thank you to Neil Lawrence who emailed me again to say:

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.

Playing Field and Pavilion

© Reproduced with acknowledgement to Neil Lawrence, Fountainbridge, Edinburgh

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

Was the 'Putting the Shot' photo taken at Myreside?

I think it is still possible that the photograph of the shot putter may have been taken at Myreside, and that the clubhouse has been modified since the photo was taken.

On the early photo:

- The left hand gable 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 shot putter, 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!

Peter Stubbs: December 5, 2009

Answer

John Gray

Portobello, Edinburgh

Thank you to John Gray who wrote:

Edinburgh University Playing Fields

Craiglockhart Terrace

"That photo of the shot putter picture looks as though it was taken in the same playing fields as the picture of the high jumper. The pavilion in the background looks like the same one."

John Gray, Portobello, Edinburgh: November 28, 2009

Thanks John. I agree.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: November 28, 2009

Answer

Peter Rankin

Morningside, Edinburgh

Thank you to Peter Rankin who wrote:

Edinburgh University Playing Fields

Craiglockhart Terrace

"I’m virtually certain that this photo is taken on what was at the time the Edinburgh University Playing Fields at the top of Craiglockhart Terrace (what is now Watson’s Craiglockhart Pitches) on the south side of the railway line.

The view is looking over the railway line, facing almost directly north, and the building in the background is what is now Watson’s Myreside pavilion, on Myreside Road, viewed from the south.

Here is an aerial view of the general area and a view ."

Peter Rankin, Morningside, Edinburgh; February 1, 2012

Myreside

I think we can be confident that the photo of the shot putter was taken at the Edinburgh University Playing Fields at Myreside, as Peter Rankin explains. Several other photos in the same series have already been identified as having been taken here.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: February 5, 2012