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Children's Homes |
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Redhall House Slateford / Craiglockhart and Canaan Lodge Morningside |
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Children's Home Redhall House was a Children's Home from 1944 until at least the 1970s. It lies close to the Water of Leith at Slateford, in its own grounds with some mature trees, now on the western edge of the Craiglockhart estate. It is now, in 2004, a Training Centre for City of Edinburgh staff. |
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UPDATE House For Sale Redhall House is now being put up for sale. It is a B-listed property, built in 1758, that stands in its own large grounds. It is expected to sell for about £2m, possibly to a developer, to be converted into flats. The name Redhall dates back to the 13th century, and is believed to refer to the original Red Hall Tower built from local sandstone that was stormed by Cromwell in 1650. Edinburgh Evening News: August 2, 2007: p.18. |
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Photographs - 2004 |
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Question 1. Christina Bennett Preston, Lancashire, England |
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Christina Bennett wrote: |
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Redhall Children's Home "I was brought up in Redhall Children's Home, Edinburgh, around 1950s to 1960s." Question Searching for People Gerald Rafferty "I'm now looking for a family member, my uncle Gerald Rafferty. His dad's name is Dominic Rafferty. Gerald has a brother, David, now living in Wick, Scotland, and four sisters who were brought up in Carine/Karin Lane***, Edinburgh. Some went on to Quarriers Village at Bridge of Weir. Gerald last saw me when I was one month old. He would be around 53-55yrs old now, maybe older. Can anyone help me to trace him?" Christina Bennett: Message and email address posted in EdinPhoto guest book, April 20, 2011 |
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Reply to Christina? I don't recognise the name of the Edinburgh street, Carine/Karin Lane, that Christina mentions above. Perhaps you will recognise it, or might wish to send a reply to Christina. If so, please email me, then I'll pass on your message. Thank you. Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: April 21, 2011 *** Thank you to those who have replied. Please see 'Replies' below. |
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Reply 1. Terry McGuire Coventry, Warwickshire, England |
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Thank you to Terry McGuire who wrote: |
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Cannan Lane "Christina Bennett will be referring to Canaan Lodge children's home in Canaan Lane at Morningside, Edinburgh." Terry McGuire, Coventry, Warwickshire, England: April 22, 2011 |
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Reply 2. Frank Ferri Newhaven, Edinburgh |
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Thank you to Frank Ferri for sending me a reply at about the same time as Terry McGuire above. Both Frank and Terry reached the same conclusion. Frank wrote: |
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Cannan Lane "The spelling of the street name could be a phonetic problem, hearing the street badly pronounced. Could it be Canaan Lane?" Terry McGuire, Coventry, Warwickshire, England: April 22, 2011 |
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Reply 3. Lynda Maine Colinton Mains, Edinburgh |
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Thank you to Lynda Maine who wrote: |
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Cannan Lane "I remember the children's home in Canaan Lane. It closed down many years ago. I have a funny feeling that it was attached to St. Peter's School in Falcon Road West. I think the Ark Housing Association have now got the building." Lynda Maine, Colinton Mains, Edinburgh: April 22, 2011 |
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Reply 4. Yvonne McIntosh London |
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Yvonne McIntosh wrote: |
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Canaan Lodge Nuns "Canaan Lodge holds nice memories for me. I know where it was, but can find very little information about it. Every now and then I look for info. I remember that when I was about 3 or 4 years old, it was run by nuns. Later, when I was there, it was run by local authority staff." Yvonne McIntosh, London: July 10, 2011 |
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Reply 5. Elaine Reynolds |
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Elaine Reynolds wrote: |
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Canaan Lane Margaret and Jeanie Coote "My Mum, Margaret Coote, and her sister, Jeanie, were brought up in Canaan Lane Children's Home and then moved on to Redhall. It would be great if anyone remembers sharing that time with them. My Mum was born in 1942. I am not sure when she would have moved from Canaan Lane to Redhall" Yvonne McIntosh, London: July 10, 2011 |
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Reply 6. Scot MacLeod (originally Peter Baldwin) Dumfries, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland |
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Thank you to Scott for replying to Elaine Reynold's note above. Scott wrote: |
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Redhall Children's Home Margaret and Jeanie Coote "I am now aged 67. I lived at Redhall Children's Home from the age of 8 until I was 15. My sister, Helen, also lived there. This was at the same time as Margaret and Jeanie Coote (mentioned in Reply 5 above) were at the Home. Helen would love to be in contact again with Margaret and / or Jeannie, as she has fond memories of them both."
Scott McLeod (originally Peter Baldwin), Dumfries, Dumfries
& Galloway, Scotland |
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Contact with Margaret and Jeanie? I've now forwarded Yvonne's contact details to Scott for him to pass on to his sister. I hope that, through Yvonne, Helen will be able to get in touch with Margaret and Jeannie. Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: June 30, 2012 |
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Reply 7. Pat McKue Australia |
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Thank you to Pat McKue who wrote: |
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Redhall Children's Home Nuns "I remember being in Redhall Home, around 1954-55. The home was run by the Nuns. My brother and I were sent there after our Mother abused us. I really don't remember much, except that the Nuns took all our clothes and gave us different ones. The school that we attended was close by." Sixpence "We received sixpence a week pocket money. My brother, Daniel McKue (who now lives in Spain) and I were quite happy there, but I suppose we were lucky." Family "Our Aunt & Uncle in Glasgow heard we were there and came for us. I do remember the huge staircase and looking down at them. Our Father was in the Army and serving in Malaya so did not know what was going on. P.S. I got my original knickers back when I left!!" Pat McKue, Australia: April 21, 2014 |
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Reply 8. Steven Paterson |
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Thank you to Steve Paterson who wrote: |
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Redhall Children's Home John Swanson "I'm trying to help my dad, John Swanson. He stayed in Redhall Home as a young boy in the late-1950s / early-1960s. He would like to make contact with anyone who remembers him or who stayed there at the same time." Steve Paterson: April 28, 2014 |
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Reply to Steve Paterson. If you'd like to send a reply to Steve, please email me, then I'll pass on his email address to you. Thank you. Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: May 1, 2014 |
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Reply 9. Pamela Thomson |
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Thank you to Pamela Thomson who wrote: |
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Redhall Children's Home My Father "My father worked in Redhall Children's Home. He loved working there. He talked about the fun times he had at camp and had many pleasant memories. He worked as a Children's Officer, looking after the boys from 1948 to 1968. We lived in Redhall Cottage until 1962.
My Mother "My mother remembers:
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Tam Veale My Sister" "My sister and I were 7 and 11years old when we left Redhall Cottage. We don't have many memories of individual people. Everyone played together usually. We do remember: - playing rounders on the lawn - swinging from ropes on the big tree. - our dog, called Buster, who went swimming in the Water of Leith in the early days with some of the children. Memories "The grounds were beautiful to play in and we were lucky to live there. I remember the beautiful daffodils in the spring and sledging down the wood in the snow. - There was a play ground near our cottage. The girls and boys had cakes or buns every afternoon of the holidays. - There were parties at Halloween and Christmas and fireworks and a Bonfire on Guy Fox Night - The children had a Playroom. - They went to a camp in Eyemouth every summer for 2 weeks. - They went to the pantomime every Christmas. - They went to the Tattoo every year. We hope that anyone who lived in the home has happy memories . Good luck to you all." Pamela Thomson: June 22, 2014 |