Photography in Edinburgh by Robert Blomfield

Where is it?

ANSWER:  Deaconess Hospital

Photo

3.

2 girls on a bench in the fog  -  1960

Photograph taken in Edinburgh, 1960  -  Where is it?

© Robert Blomfield                                                         Photo taken 1960

 

Photography in Edinburgh by Robert Blomfield

Photo 3

Where is it?

This is one of a large collection of photos taken by Robert Blomfield  in Edinburgh between 1956 and 1967.  Robert's brother, John is in the process of scanning and cataloguing the photos.

He'd like to discover where this photo was taken.  If you recognise the location, please email me, then I'll pass on the news to John.

Thank you

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  March 16, 2013

 

Photo 3

Reply

1.

Bryan Gourlay

Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Thank you to Bryan Gourlay for sending a quick reply.

Bryan wrote:

West Richmond Street

and

Richmond Lane

    Photograph taken in Edinburgh, 1960  -  Where is it? ©

"Could this view be looking towards West Richmond Street from the pavement across the road from the Deaconess Hospital behind the photographer - with Richmond Lane in front of the buildings?"

Bryan Gourlay, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland

 

Photo 3

Reply

2.

Graham Ferguson

Saudi Arabia

Thank you to Graham Ferguson for sending a quick reply.

At about the same time as Bryan wrote his 'Reply 2 above, Graham wrote:

Deaconess Hospital

Deaconess Gardens

    Photograph taken in Edinburgh, 1960  -  Where is it? ©

"The two girls sitting on the bench are in front of the triangular park in front of the former Deaconess Hospital.  I think it is named Deaconess Gardens."

Graham Ferguson, Saudi Arabia:  March 16, 2013

 

Photo 3

Reply

3.

James A Rafferty

Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland

Thank you to James A Rafferty for also sending a quick reply.

Before I had chance to add 'Reply 1' and 'Reply 2' above to the web site, James sent his own reply, reaching the same conclusion.

James wrote:

Deaconess Hospital

    Photograph taken in Edinburgh, 1960  -  Where is it? ©

"I think this could be the grass area opposite the old Deaconess Hospital.

The low building to the right of the photo looks like the Richmond Street Medical Centre."

James A Rafferty, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland::  March 16, 2013

 

Photo 3

Reply

4.

John Preece

John Preece also reached the same conclusion as in Replies 1, 2 and 3 above.

John wrote:

Deaconess Hospital

    Photograph taken in Edinburgh, 1960  -  Where is it? ©

"I think I can help confirm where Photo 3 might have been taken.  I think it’s at the top of the Pleasance, opposite the Deaconess Hospital.

Drummond street is on the left and the buildings behind the girls were on a lane which ran diagonally from Drummond Street to where the Pleasance became St. Leonard’s Street. There is now a health centre on the grassy bit."

John Preece::  March 17, 2013

 

Photo 3

Reply

5.

Benzyl

Edinburgh

Benzyl recognised this photo as having been taken in the same area as others have mentioned, but gave a slightly different description of the area.

Benzyl wrote:

Pleasance

    Photograph taken in Edinburgh, 1960  -  Where is it? ©

"This looks like the Pleasance, facing West towards the back of the school on Davie street where they may well have come from.

The window structure on the top left seems to match as do:

-  the park, fence, the angle and plantings

-  the two-story residential block on the top right."

Benzyl, Edinburgh: March 20, 2013

  

Photo 3

Reply

6.

Bryan Gourlay

Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Bryan Gourlay also agrees about the location of this photo.

Bryan wrote:

Deaconess Hospital

    Photograph taken in Edinburgh, 1960  -  Where is it? ©

"I think the photograph of the two girls on the seat would have been taken at the garden area across the road from the Deaconess Hospital which replaced this stretch of housing."

Pleasance

St Leonard's District, Pleasance  -  1920s

©   Reproduced with acknowledgement to David Gordon, Old Town, Edinburgh

"My great, great and great, great, great grandparents lived here between the 1840s and 1880s."

Bryan Gourlay, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland:  March 26, 2013

  

Photo 3

Reply

7.

Eric Gold

East End, London, England

Ian Gold. East End, London also recognised the photo of the two girls on the seat as having been taken across the road from Deaconess Hospital.

Eric wrote:

Deaconess Hospital

    Photograph taken in Edinburgh, 1960  -  Where is it? ©

"This photo with the two wee girls on the bench caught my eye as I recognised it straight away.  It's opposite the Deaconess Hospital in the Pleasance. 

The houses of my cousins and of the mother in law of my big brother, Tam, are in this photo, in the mist.

MacPherson's Pub

The bench is where that old pub, MacPherson's, stood in the 1920s.

St Leonard's District -  1920s ©

I remember my big brother's mother-in-law speaking about the old pub.  She said it was a classy Victorian pub and had a strict but fair landlord and landlady.  The men always got a good pint there.

The landlady was Cathy Finnan from Dublin, born in 1890s.  She was married at 18 years old and had her wedding reception there.  She knew every bar in the Southside in that era up until she passed away in the 1970s.  She told me all the pubs to go to, and the ones to keep out of too (ha ha ha ha).

Eric Gold, East End, London:  March 30, 2013

 

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Reply

8.

Margaret Twist

Southside, Edinburgh

Thank you to Margaret Twist, another contributor who reached the same conclusion about where this photo would have been taken.

Margaret wrote:

Deaconess Hospital

    Photograph taken in Edinburgh, 1960  -  Where is it? ©

"I'm pretty sure that this photo would have been tkaken just over from the Deaconess Hospital, on the perimeter of where the doctor's surgery now stands."

Margaret Twist, Southside, Edinburgh:  November 2+3, 2013

 

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