|
Recollections St Ann's School Blackfriars Street / Cowgate, Edinburg and St Patrick's School St John's Hill, Edinburgh and nearby Catholic Churches |
2007
© Joe Coyle, 2007
Canon Turner and Tony Ivanov at St Patrick's Church, Cowgate
© Tony Ivanov, Bo'ness, West Lothian, Scotland
|
St Patrick's Church Cowgate |
||
|
1. |
Eric Gold |
St Ann's and St Anthony's |
|
2. |
Eric Gold |
Nursery Nuns Chocolate Shop Confirmation Rocking Horse Dante Cemetery |
|
3. |
Catherine McKinsley |
Teachers |
|
4. |
Karen Byrne |
St Ann's School |
|
5. |
Tony Ivanov |
St Ann's School - 1951 - Victorian Style - Slates |
|
6. |
John Bisset |
Guthrie Street Schools Edinburgh Friends |
| 7. |
Bob Henderson |
Schools Teachers Pupils |
|
8. |
Ellen Wood (née
Bailey) |
First Communion School Dinners Friends |
|
9. |
Jim Robertson |
St Ann's School St Pat's School St Anthony's School |
|
10. |
Frank Ferri |
St Anthony's School St Mary Star of the Sea School |
|
11. |
Margaret Inglis |
St Ann's and St Pat's Schools |
|
12. |
St Ann's and St Pat's Schools |
|
|
13. |
Kathleen O'Donnell |
1948 to 1956 |
|
14. |
Betty Myers |
Miss Burnie Canon Turner Fr McQueen |
|
15. |
Bob Henderson |
Miss Burnie |
|
16 |
Mike Melrose |
St Ann's and St Pat's Schools Miss Burnie Other Teachers |
|
17 |
Rick Evans |
Family St Ann's and St Pat's Schools Other Schools St Patrick's Church |
|
18. |
Bob Henderson |
St Francis' Church |
|
19. |
Paddy Brock |
School Pals |
|
20. |
Dougie McLeod |
Request for Photos |
|
20. Reply 1 |
Peter Stubbs |
Request for Photos |
|
20. Reply 2 |
Tony Ivanov |
St Pat's School Nearby Journey to St Pat's |
|
20. Reply 3 |
Tony Ivanov |
St Pat's School - 1893 Move across the Street St Pat's School - 1950s When did the school move? |
|
20. Reply 4 |
Bob Henderson |
St Pat's - St John's Hill - Lane to Dumbiedykes |
|
20. Reply 5 |
Bob Henderson |
St Pat's - No school badge |
|
20. Reply 6 |
Bob Henderson |
St Pat's - School Building - Playground - 1925 Map |
|
20. Reply 7 |
Tony Ivanov |
St Pat's - School Building on Old Maps |
|
20. Reply 8 |
Bob Henderson |
Conservative Club |
|
20. Reply 9 |
Eric Gold |
St Pat's - School Building |
|
20. Reply 10 |
Dougie McLeod |
Request for Photos |
|
20. Reply 11 |
Sarah Martin |
St Pat's School Uniform and Badge |
|
21. |
Jim Robertson |
Early-1920s |
|
22. |
Peter Butler |
Boys' School Teachers Margaret Sinclair Hall |
|
23. |
Norma Cullen Sinclair |
St Ann's Teachers St Pat's Teachers Kids in My Class |
|
24. |
Eric Gold |
Dumbiedykes St Anne's St Pat's Teachers St Patrick's Day Boys' Home Memories |
|
25. |
1941-48 - Pupils - Teachers |
|
|
26. |
Louise Fleck (née
Sutherland) |
Freda Bowman - School + Home - Friends - After School |
|
27. |
- 1940s - St Ann's School and Nuns - Health |
|
|
Recollections 1. Eric Gold [known to many as Eric McKenzie] East London |
|
Thank you to Eric Gold for sending the message below. Eric used to attend St Ann's school together with Joe Coyle who took the photo above Eric wrote: |
|
St Ann's and St Anthony's "St Ann's is situated in the Cowgate at the bottom of Blackfriars Street. It is now used as a drop-in centre for old folk . When I attended the school, my class was the door at the end on the left on the lower level and Joe was up the stairs. He was a bright guy, and so was his brothers. We both later attended Leith St Anthony's school. They kept Joe in the main school in Lochend Road. He was top of his class. They moved me to 'Strangs', the annex in Hawkhill Avenue where, just before I left, I was the top of the lowest class!" |
|
Eric Gold, East London: 2007 Eric appears as one of the Monsters in the latest 'Dr Who?' series. He was the 'evil spirit' in a recent episode. |
|
Recollections 2. Eric Gold [Eric McKenzie] East London |
|
Eric followed up with more memories of St Ann's. See below. |
|
Nursery "In 1953, the Coronation year, I left the nursery at the top of Arthur Street, on the Pleasance, which I think is the Pleasance Fringe Theatre today." |
|
Nuns "The teachers were all nuns who taught us at St Ann's. They were great. They were good to all the pupils. We had Sister Gabriel who was a pleasant lady. Miss Ward was the head mistress. She had a brother who was our art teacher at St Anthony's. My auntie Nancy, who lived in the old Waverley buildings opposite near the High School Yards area, had her family there too and they were more or less the same age group as me. When Miss Ward realised that I was Nancy's nephew she was nice too me. All the teachers were afraid of my auntie Nancy but she got on well with the Nuns." |
|
Chocolate Shop "In St Mary's Street we would go to the chocolate shop and I would get the chocolate frogs and as previously mentioned, I scored a hat trick and picked 3 pink frogs so I got a few free ones which I shared with my class mates." |
|
Confirmation "On confirmation day at St Patrick's chapel in the Cowgate you have a sponsor and as my mother and family knew Dante Lanni well, he sponsored me. Dante had several fish and chip shops and Cafés also a lot of properties in Edinburgh. I remember when we all stood outside the chapel waiting for our sponsors a Godfather-like figure, Dante pulled up in a big Jaguar which he had only bought a few weeks previous, and Miss Wards face fell, I will never forget that (ha ha ha) as she thought I would have been sponsored by some bum in the Cowgate out of one of the local Hostels (ha ha ha). As Dante came from Naples, or Napoli, it was like a scene out of the Godfather movie, a real Mafia looking guy." |
|
Dante "Over the years Dante was good to me. The last time I saw Dante was in his bar at the top of Salisbury Street and the Pleasance in 1975. Sadly Dante passed away just after that with a heart attack, but every time I was in Dante's presence he would joke and say "I'm Eric's God Father and I got him a job on the Queen Mary as I have contacts in New York" (ha ha ha). He was a funny man and I would keep the joke running." |
|
Rocking Horse "Also St Ann's had a small Play Room with a big rocking horse, and I fell off it (ha ha ha). When I tell the stunt people in 'Doctor Who?' who do the James Bond Films and many other TV productions, they laugh, and nickname me Rocky (ha ha ha). The new girl in 'Doctor Who?', Freema, said: "So you are the guy who fell of a rocking horse!" |
|
Cemetery "Between St Ann's and St Patrick's chapel rumour has it that there was a medieval cemetery there. So if anyone has any concrete evidence about it I would like to hear from them." |
|
Eric Gold, East London: April 9, 2007 |
|
Recollections 3. Catherine McKinsley (née Calvey) Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England |
|
Cathy McKinsley wrote: |
|
Teachers "The photo of St Ann's School, that my cousin, Joe Coyle, sent in, brought back many memories. My first teacher at infants was, Miss McMann, ground floor, right hand side of the picture. There was also a, Miss Wheelihan's classroom upstairs. I don't know if this is the correct spelling of her name." |
|
Catherine McKinsley, née Calvey, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England: Sep 6, 2007. |
|
Recollections 4. Karen Byrne Edinburgh |
|
Question |
|
Karen Byrne wrote: |
|
St Ann's School "Our organisation has just moved into St Ann's School in South Grays Close, in the Cowgate. We are a school support unit. I'd like to find some info about the history of the building and the people who have used it, as part of a history project with the young people I work with. Can anybody give me any information?" |
|
Karen Byrne, Edinburgh: May 7, 2008 |
|
If you have any information for Karen, about St Ann's School, please email me then I'll pass it on to her. Thank you. - Peter Stubbs: May 20, 2008 |
|
Recollections 5. Tony Ivanov Bo'ness, Midlothian, Scotland |
|
Answer |
|
Thank you to Tony Ivanov for replying to Karen Byrne's request for information about St Ann's school, above. Tony wrote: |
|
St Ann's School |
|
1951 "I haven't a lot to say about St Ann's other than I was a primary school pupil there from the age of five in 1951 for about three years before moving up to St Patrick's School, which was the normal progression from St Ann's. |
|
Victorian Style "I do remember the school quite well though. It was still very Victorian style with the old wood and iron framed desks typical of that period." |
|
Slates "While I was at the school, the slate was still in use for writing on, no pencils, just another piece of sharpened slate which resembled a pencil was used for writing with. Once the slate was filled up you just wiped it clean with a cloth ready to start over again. Most likely this is where the expression 'Let's start with a clean slate' originated from. It was very eco-friendly, no paper wastage." |
|
Tony Ivanov, Bo'ness, West Lothian, Scotland: May 21, 2008 |
|
Recollections 6. John Bisset Los Angeles, California, USA |
|
The comments below are taken from a message that John Bisset left in the EdinPhoto guest book. John wrote: |
|
Guthrie Street "I was born in 1938, and just celebrated my 70th Birthday yesterday. I grew up, for most of my early years in Guthrie Street. which was between Chamber Street and The Cowgate. The Cowgate was never mentioned, of course, when I was asked where my street was. Always Chamber Street - it just seemed a posher address, with the University there, and The Scottish Museum where I spent many a happy hour." |
|
Schools "I attended St Ann's then St. Patrick's schools in Edinburgh, and finally St .Anthony's school in Leith. I have seen mention of my first two schools, but never about St Anthony's, although I had heard, it was no longer there. I've read of others my age, who attended St Anne's, but didn't recognise their names. I have seen a few I did know, as in Paddy Tansey, of Tron Square, not the Cowgate as listed, before - but as they say, just a spit away. I also spent many a day, in Arthur Street, with my friend, Jimmy Cunningham, who was transplanted to those new homes they built in the Canongate, managing, to keep the same front facade. I can't beleive, how well spread out, we are over the Globe. I'm surprised the whole world, doesn't have a Scottish Accent by now. :)" |
|
Edinburgh "Like most of the other guests here, who grew up during the war years and later, we all have very fond memories, of those years. It was a Marvelous City to have been born and raised in. We had history all around us, gardens and parks galore, and easy access to them all - and our playground in the street. We didn't have to worry about cars back then, did we? I too have fond memories of the Gaff, or Flea Pit, in the High Street and the Buckie Woman with her mussels and Buckies. Every time I have a meal with Mussels, that memory floods back." |
|
Friends "As we do have a quite a few contributors about the same age as myself, or their offspring, I'm including the names of some of my chums in Guthrie Street. Here they are - Johnny Grant, Peter Quinn, Tommy Francis, Jimmy Coinvey (sp). My Grandmother's name, was Mary Bailey, née Lowrie. She and my cousins, the Logans, lived in Tron Square. I also had a pal from Upper Tron Square, Francis Moran. I hope to hear from someone who remembers me, or knows of my friends, That would be the icing on the web site for me. I know I will be back often, as there is so much to see and read on here." |
|
John Bisset, Los Angeles, California, USA: Message in EdinPhoto guest book: July 8, 2008 |
|
Messages for John Bisset If you'd like to contact John, please email me then I'll pass your message on to him. Thank you. - Peter Stubbs: July 15, 2008 |
|
Recollections 7. Bob Henderson Burdiehouse, Edinburgh |
|
Thank you to Bob Henderson for sending a reply to John Bisset's comments above. Bob wrote: |
|
Schools "I too was born in 1938 but a couple of months after John. I also went to St Ann's and St Pat's then to Holy Cross school. It was the mention of Paddy Tansey that caught my interest as he was in my class all through primary school. If you were too, John, you'll remember the Qually Class when there were only ten of us boys and we were joined by the first girls ever to go to St. Pat's." |
|
Teachers "Miss Mc Mahon was the teacher. As I remember, she was quite a large lady with silvery hair. Hugh Boyle was the head master. I remember him most for the time he lifted me by the ankles and tried to shake a steely I had swallowed out of me. There was also the time when we asked him for a Wednesday afternoon off to go to Easter road to watch the Hibs and he agreed as long as we carried bundles of books round from St. Ann's to St Pat's that Wednesday morning." |
|
Pupils "Here are the names I remember from that class, mostly the boys and only a couple of the girls: - Veronica Nimmo - Agnes Keppie. - Desy Mahon - Tony McCormack - Wullie Lennon - Rab Kerr - Wullie Ogilvie - Paddy Tansey, and of course me - Rab Henderson - Peter Brodie - Peter(?) Kelly That's not many out of a class of 10 boys and 30 girls. I hope you can maybe fill in some of the gaps." |
|
Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh: July 16, 2007 |
|
Recollections 8. Ellen Wood (née Bailey) New Zealand |
|
Cathy McKinsley wrote: |
|
First Communion and Confirmation "My cousin John Bisset USA sent me your website. It brought back some good memories. I remember being at St Ann's School in the 1946-49 period and making my first communion & my confirmation at St Patrick's." |
|
School Dinners "I lived in Holyrood Road, along with my brothers Paddy and Billy Bailey who went to St Pat's. We moved to London in 1949. I remember the school dinners, soup every Monday and fish or cheese pie on Fridays. I loved the smell." |
|
Friends "I don't remember many names from that time, but I do remember Agnes Kippie as she to lived in Holyrood Rd, and to this day we keep in touch, I remember Daria Sultairi, (sorry about the spelling), and wonder where she is now." |
|
Ellen Wood (née Bailey), New Zealand: July 21, 2008 |
|
Recollections 9. Jim Robertson Berlin, Germany |
|
Jim Robertson, formerly of Dumbiedykes Road, now living in Berlin, wrote: |
|
St Ann's School St Pat's School St Anthony's School "I see that John Bisset (6 above) stated that he was born in July 1938 and attended St Ann's, St Pat's and St Anthony's Schools. Well, like John and Bob Henderson, I was born Sept 1938, so we must have crossed paths at some stage of our education. The name Bisset rings a bell, but after so long I'm not to sure. However, I also attended St Anthony's, like John, so we must have known each other. I only wish someone had a school photo from one of the 3 schools. That would help us a lot. Any takers out there ?? The unfortunate thing is that in them days no one could afford a camera (ha ha). Well, anyway John, lets hope a photo will appear. I saw one of Bob Henderson and recognized him right away, so if you have any individual snaps of that time, maybe you could send it in. I hope you are the one missing boy that Bob and I could not remember." Jim Robertson, Berlin, Germany, Message left in EdinPhoto guest book: August 1, 2008. |
|
Recollections 10. Frank Ferri Newhaven, Edinburgh |
|
Thank you to Frank Ferri who wrote: |
|
St Anthony's School St Mary Star of the Sea School "Jim Robertson (9 above) mentions that John Bisset was born in 1938 and attended St Anthony's School in Lochend Road. I was born in 1935 and attended St Anthony's around 1947-50. My brother, Ian was born in 1940 and attended the school around 1952-55. We also attend St Mary's Star of the Sea in Henderson St / Giles St Leith" Frank Ferri: Newhaven, Edinburgh: August 17, 2008. |
|
Recollections 11. Margaret Inglis (née Foulner) |
|
Thank you to Margaret Inglis (née Foulner) who wrote: |
|
St Ann's and St Pat's Schools "Re- contributions from Jim Robertson, John Bissett and Bob Henderson: I believe my husband Andrew Inglis was at school with them. He went around with Peter Brodie and Desi Mann." Margaret Inglis (née Foulner): December 17, 2008 |
|
Recollections 12. Sheila Cairns |
|
Thank you to Sheila Cairns who wrote: |
|
St Ann's and St Pat's Schools
"My mother's
siblings all went to St Ann's then St Pat's. Her family were the Crawfords. They all lived at 35 Blackfriars Street: - Ann, born June 1922 - Susan, born May 1924 - Jimmy, born Feb 1926 - Julia, born Aug 1927 - Hugh, born May 1929 - Tommy, born Sep 1931 - Cathy, born Sep 1931 My grandfather, Mr Cairns, was Janitor at St Ann's. My mother married his son whom she met at a dance given for him when he returned home after being a POW for 5 years." Sheila Cairns: December 31, 2008 + January 10, 2009. |
|
Recollections 13. Kathleen O'Donnell San Antonio, Texas, USA |
|
Thank you to Kathleen O'Donnell who wrote: |
|
1948 to 1956 "I was raised in Chessels Court, 240 Canongate and went to St. Ann's and St Pat's schools from 1948 to 1956, then St. Thomas' at Lauriston. I've managed to see old friends from school: - Catherine Baker, from Arthur Street (best friend) - Marlene Davis - June Valente, now in New Zealand - Jim DiMambro - James O'Day. |
|
Kathleen O'Donnell, San Antonio, Texas, USA |
|
Recollections 14. Betty Myers (née Cooney) New York, USA |
|
Thank you to Betty Myers (née Cooney), now living in New York, USA, who wrote: |
|
Miss Burnie "In reply to Bob Henderson's comments (St Patrick's Church, recollections 3) I was wondering if anyone remembers Miss Burnie from St Pat's school. She was a toughie. Canon Burnie was her brother." Canon Turner "Thank you for the picture of Canon Turner. He was such a nice man." Canon Turner Fr McQueen "I also remember Fr McQueen (spelling?). At Mass, he would kind of wander off at times giving his homily then, all of a sudden he would shout and everyone would jump. I went to St Ann's to 1949, then to St Pat's, then to St Thomas." |
|
Betty Myers (née Cooney), New York, USA: July 16, 2009 |
|
Recollections 15. Bob Henderson Burdiehouse, Edinburgh |
|
Thank you to Bob Henderson for sending a reply to John Bisset's comments above. Bob wrote: |
|
Miss Burnie "Betty Myers (14 above) asks if anyone remembers Miss Burnie. No one who went to st Pat's could forget her. I wonder if Betty remembers my sister Rose she was in Miss Burnie's class in 1949-50 and went on to St Thomas' in 1951. She might remember a girl with red hair. There weren't too many gingers in the school then." |
|
Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh: July 16, 2009 |
|
Recollections 16. Mike Melrose Edinburgh |
|
Thank you to Mike Melrose who wrote: |
|
St Ann's and St Pat's "I was at St Ann's school in the Cowgate from 1959 to 1966. The buildings and layout have not really changed much since then. St Ann’s and St Patrick’s were essentially one school, the first few primary years were in St Ann’s and then it was up to St Pat’s. Miss Burnie "Miss Burnie was my last teacher at St Ann’s (the wee school) before we moved up to St Patrick’s (the big school). She came with us and was my first teacher at St Pat’s. Miss Burnie had a fairly severe demeanour. She would, I would guess, be in her late-forties or early-fifties when she was my teacher. She wore her hair in plaits wrapped up into a kind of 'bun' at the back of her head. When teaching, she wore a kind of patterned smock to keep the chalk from the blackboard going on her clothes. She was physically, what my Nana (grandmother) used to describe as, 'stout'' (an Edinburgh Slang expression). When I look back I always compare my recollections of Miss Burnie with later photographs of Queen Victoria!, I always think they looked very similar." Other Teachers "Other teachers at St Ann’s were Miss Davidson, Mrs Breckenridge, Sister Gabriel (I think) who was a nun, and a Franciscan Friar whose name I can’t remember. There were others." |
|
Mike Melrose, Edinburgh: July 18, 2009. |
|
Recollections 17. Rick Evans Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
|
Thank you to Rick Evans who wrote: |
|
Family "I was born in 1947 and lived with my granny, Mary Dickson, in the ground flat at 6 Brighton Street, off Lothian Street. Our cousins, the O'Gilvies lived in the top flat at No 6" St Ann's and St Pat's "I went to St Ann's then St Pat's schools. " I remember at St Pat's: - Hugh Boyle, headmaster - Mr Greco, teacher. I think he rode a motor scooter and the kids all mad fun of him. Other Schools Before St Ann's, I went to St Ignatius, Glen Street school for six months. After a few other moves, I ended up at St John's school near Portobello. We were then living at South Clerk Street, above Boots the Chemist on the corner of Montague Street." St Francis Church "I returned to Edinburgh in August 2009 for the Festival. It was my first visit for 38 years. I found St Francis' church in Lothian Street. It looked closed, or was being used for something else. I spent a lot of time there as an altar boy, and when I was in the cubs. When I walked past the side door, I remembered the 'Sale of Works'. All the kids would help to set up the tables and put the stuff out. Fr Pacificus was our favourite priest. He was always at my granny's house for cups of tea. It was just round the corner from the church." |
|
Rick Evans, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: September 8+9, 2009 |
|
Recollections 18. Bob Henderson Burdiehouse, Edinburgh |
|
Thank you to Bob Henderson for responding to one of the points in Rick Evans' message above. Bob wrote: |
|
St Francis' Church "For many years St Francis' Church in Lothian Street has been used as a hostel for the homeless, run by the Friars. I have many fond memories of the church as my father played bowls for the church team after the War, and I was something of a mascot to them as he usually took me with him to games. I was always cheering them on hoping for a win as my mascot's fee doubled to sixpence if they did so." |
|
Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh: December 29, 2009 |
|
Recollections 19. Paddy Brock Liverpool, Merseyside |
|
Paddy Brock wrote: |
|
School Pals "I am trying to find pals that went to school with me at St Patrick's in the Cowgate, Edinburgh. I now live in Liverpool, Merseyside." Paddy Brock, Liverpool, Merseyside: Message posted in EdinPhoto guest book: January 2, 2011 |
|
Reply to Paddy Paddy left his email address in the message that he posted on in the EdinPhoto guest book on January 2, 2011, so you could either post a reply to that message or else send an email to him. If you have difficulty finding the message that he left in the EdinPhoto guest book, please email me to let me know. Thank you. Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: January 3 ,2011 |
|
Recollections 20 Dougie McLeod Broughton, Edinburgh |
|
Dougie McLeod wrote: |
|
St Pat's Request for Photos "I'm looking for old photos of St Pat's school, or of the school badge. Do you have any?" Dougie McLeod*, Broughton, Edinburgh: January 5, 2011 |
|
Recollections 20 Reply 1. Peter Stubbs Edinburgh |
|
St Pat's Request for Photos Unfortunately, I don't have any photos of classes from St Pat's or any photos of the school badge. However, I've just a photo of the school. Here it is: *** St John's Hill - 1959
© Reproduced with acknowledgement to Edinburgh City Libraries and Information Services Neg. C919F |
|
If you have any photos that you think may be of interest to Dougie, please email me. It would be good to be able to add some to the EdinPhoto web site for Dougie and others to see. Thank you. Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: January 9 ,2011 *** UPDATE: Please also see Reply 2, below |
|
Recollections 20 Reply 2. Tony Ivanov Bo'ness, West Lothian, Scotland |
|
Thank you to Tony Ivanov for keeping me right. |
|
Tony wrote: St Pat's School is Nearby "The location is correct, but St Pat's School is not in this photo. ** St Pat's School is out of shot on the right-hand side of the photo, directly opposite the building in the centre which has the protruding entrance and lamp post." Journey to St Pat's "I used to live in Chessel’s Court in the Canongate when I attended this school. My journey took me down a close behind Chessel’s Court between the breweries on to Holyrood Road where I crossed over then went up the road which ended at the wall with handrail in the photo. There, I crossed over St John’s Hill **, turned left and walked along a little to get to St Pat’s which was on my right. The group of children playing in the street on the right of the photo are probably just outside the entrance to the school Tony Ivanov, Bo'ness, West Lothian, Scotland: January 10, 2011 |
|
** = But see 'Reply 3' below ** St John's Hill is the road on the right in this photo. |
|
Recollections 20 Reply 3. Tony Ivanov Bo'ness, West Lothian, Scotland |
|
Tony wrote again: |
|
St Pat's School - 1893 "I've been trying to get more information on St Pat's school. I've now come across this 1893 map on the National Library of Scotland web site." Please click on the link above to see the map. The area being discussed is St John's Hill, one of the roads in the upper left quarter of the map. (Press space and left-mouse-key to move around the map.) "This map shows: - the building in the old photo above, with the doorway jutting out into the pavement, to be 'school: boys and girls' - the building across the road from it, that was St Pat's school when my brother and I attended in the 1950 to be a Free Church Manse." Move across the Street "I think, at some time between 1893 and 1950, the school must have needed to move to larger premises, so moved across the street to the south side of the street." St Pat's School - 1950s "I remember that at the south side of our school, in the 1950s, we had a large wall-enclosed tar macadam playground which certainly couldn’t have been accommodated within the ‘original’ school grounds. Our school toilets were also on the southern side of this playground. When did the school move? I’d like to hear from other contributors, what they remember. Perhaps we may be able to find out when the school moved to the south side of the street." Tony Ivanov, Bo'ness, West Lothian, Scotland: January 11, 2011 |
|
Recollections 20 Reply 4. Bob Henderson Burdiehouse, Edinburgh |
|
Bob Henderson added: |
|
St Pat's St John's Hill "St John's Hill is actually the street you are looking along as you look directly into this photo. The building seen at the end of the road was a men's club. I think it was a Conservative Club. ** Lane to Dumbiedykes "St John's Hill was, in fact, a cul de sac which ended with the building seen and the school opposite but there was a lane whose entrance can be seen on the left hand side of the road just beyond the projecting entrance to the men's club. This lane led round to the balconied houses, Dumbiedykes and Prospect Place, then of course through to Arthur Street. This is the route we took to and from school every day." Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh: January 13, 2011 |
|
** I wouldn't have thought that a Conservative Club would have done much business in that area! Peter Stubbs |
|
Recollections 20 Reply 5. Bob Henderson Burdiehouse, Edinburgh |
|
Bob Henderson added: |
|
St Pat's No School Badge "As far as I know, St Pat's never had a school badge, at least not in my time there. When I was there, there from late-1945 to 1949, no one wore school uniform. In fact, we were a very assorted 'rag bag', coming mostly from the Dumbiedykes, High Street, Canongate and Pleasance areas, and all points in between." Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh: January 13, 2011 |
|
Recollections 20 Reply 6. Bob Henderson Burdiehouse, Edinburgh |
|
Bob Henderson added: |
|
St Pat's School Building "St Patrick's school was definitely a purpose built school, complete with a swimming pool. It was built in the style of so many of the Edinburgh primary schools, of limestone with red sandstone corners and window facings. Playground "Tony Ivanov's recollections about the playground are similar to mine, but in my day it was divided in two with a high wall running north-south. This separated the younger boys from the older boys, and in my last year there girls from boys. 1925 Map This 1925 map shows the school as an industrial school. Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh: January 15, 2011 |
|
Recollections 20 Reply 7. Tony Ivanov Bo'ness, West Lothian, Scotland |
|
Tony Ivanov wrote: |
|
St Pat's School Building on Old Maps "I've been trawling the net and looking at old books and old maps to discover more about when the location of the school changed. I found some maps on the Old Maps web site that show: - 1896 map: St Pat's school is on the north side of the street. - 1908 map: St Pat's school is on the south side of the street. So, some time between these two dates it appears that either the school moved to the opposite side of John's Hill or the school closed and a new school that I went to, St Pat's, came into existence. I notice that it has now become some sort of club. Tony Ivanov, Bo'ness, West Lothian, Scotland: January 18, 2011 |
|
Recollections 20 Reply 8. Bob Henderson Burdiehouse, Edinburgh |
|
Bob Henderson responded to my comment at the bottom of 'Recollections 20, Reply 4' (above). Bob wrote: |
|
Conservative Clubs "I vaguely remember that there was a brass plaque on the door to the building at the end of this road. I think that it read: 'Working Men's Conservative Club' or words to that effect. There was another such club in Nicholson Street, where the Italian Institute is now situated. This, too, was not what you would call an upmarket area. It also had a large brass plaque on the door with similar wording." Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh: January 20, 2011 |
|
Recollections 20 Reply 9. Eric Gold East End, London, England |
|
Eric Gold wrote Bob wrote: |
|
St Pat's School Building "It has been great to read and see the maps of the location of St. Patricks School in St. Johns Hill just of the Pleasance. My big brother, Jimmy (now deceased) and my teachers told me that St. Patricks was originally a home for boys. I've looked up maps for different periods and they show it as a workhouse or home for women and then boys." Eric Gold, East End, London: January 21, 2011 |
|
Recollections 20 Reply 10. Dougie McLeod Broughton, Edinburgh |
|
Douglas who asked 'Question 20' (above) wrote again to say: |
|
School Badge "It's good to see the interest in the old school. We're still looking for a photo of the St Pat's school badge. We know it existed, but it seems to be very elusive to find." |
|
Hibs Football Supporters Club "I'm looking for a copy of the St Patrick's badge because I have started a St Patrick Branch of the Hibernian Supporter club. It's in its infancy but we hope it will take off. Hibernian Football Club was started in St Patrick's in 1875, and as a branch, we are trying to keep the connection. All the club members are Hibs fans, obviously. They are mostly made up from ex-pupils or parish members or supporters who belonged the Southside. Please use this email link to the branch if you'd like to join the club or know of anyone who would be interested in joining." |
|
Dougie McLeod, Broughton, Edinburgh: January 10+23, 2011 |
|
Recollections 20 Reply 11. Sarah Martin Florida, USA |
|
Thank you to Sarah Martin for posting a message in the EdinPhoto guestbook. Sarah wrote: |
|
St Pat's School Uniform and Badge "I was a pupil at St Pat's school from 1952 to 1956. I remember the school uniform being introduced in 1955. It consisted of: - bottle green blazer - white shirt / blouse - navy skirt / trousers - bottle green tie with thin white stripe The badge on the blazer was white, with the initials 'SP' in green." |
|
Sarah Martin, Florida, USA: Message posted in EdinPhoto guestbook, March 7, 2011 |
|
Recollections 20 Reply 12. Carol Bell (née Welsh) Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
|
Thank you to Carol Bell for sending me this photograph of her two boys dressed in the St Patrick's school uniform, complete with badge: Please click on the thumbnail image above to enlarge this photo and read Carol's comments about it. Acknowledgement: Carol Bell (née Welsh): Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: June 20+27, 2011 |
|
Recollections 21 Jim Robertson Berlin, Germany |
|
Thank you to Jim Robertson, Berlin, for posting a message in the EdinPhoto guest book. Jim wrote: |
|
Early-1920s "My Aunt, (Cathie Gormley of Lower Viewcraig Row) who is still living, remembers St Pat's School very well. Her brother, my Uncle Jim, was a pupil there in the early-1920s. She says that the school building was painted green. As it was a Catholic School this could be true. I am in contact with my Uncle Jim's family and hope they can produce some photos of the school." Jim Robertson, Berlin, Germany: Message posted in Edinphoto guestbook: February 7, 2011 |
|
St Pat's School Badge I've sent an email to Jim asking if his Aunt or any of his uncle's family remembers anything about a school badge. The search for a badge that started with 'Recollections 20' above has not yet found any badges or images of badges from St Pat's School. Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: February 7, 2011 |
|
Recollections 22 Peter Butler Hennenman, South Africa |
|
Thank you to Peter Butler, Hennenman, South Africa, who wrote: |
|
Boys' School "Whilst I was at St. Pat's school, it was not co-ed. There were ony boys there, and I remember how disgusted we felt at the thought of lassies invading our territory. I think the invasion took place the year after I left to go to Holy Cross. Is there a specific reason why no memories of Holy Cross appear on your site?" ** ** Peter: The only reason is that nobody has sent me any recollections of it yet, except for a brief comment from yourself, which I've added to the Bristo page. Peter Stubbs, February 11, 2011" |
|
Teachers "The teachers I remember were nuns of the Sisters of Mercy: - Sister Lucy was the headmistress, always scowling and handy with the belt. - Sister Margaret was short and dumpy, and inclined to weep when we got out of hand. - Sister Philomena was my favourite, very tall and beautiful. In another world, she could have been a model." |
|
Margaret Sinclair Hall "Directly opposite the school was the Margret Sinclair Hall, tho' I see some of your contributors have other names for that building." |
|
Peter Butler: Hennenman, South Africa: February 9, 2011 |
|
Recollections 23 Norma Cullen Sinclair Newington, Edinburgh |
|
Norma Cullen Sinclair who went to St Ann's school in 1953, then on to St Pat's a few years later, wrote: |
|
St Ann's Teachers "The teachers I remember from St Ann's were: - Miss Ward, Head Teacher. - Sister Mary Francis, my first teacher, a nun. - Miss Glass, the Art teacher. - Miss Grego. - Miss Davis. - Mrs Cochrane. |
|
St Pat's Teachers "The teachers I remember from St Pat's were: - Mr Boyle, Head Teacher. - Miss Burnie, my first teacher. (I've been traumatised ever since.) - Sister Gabriel. - Miss Givens, a young American, very unusual for those days! - Mr and Mrs Grego. She was formerly Mrs Capaldi - Mr Duggan. - Mrs Davis. - Miss Farmer, sewing teacher. - Miss MacLeish, remedial teacher. and - Mr Higgins the Janitor. |
|
Kids in My Class I remember: (boys) - Gerrard Hand, David Greg, John McHugh, Archie Small, John Walls, John Kelly, Robert Tansy, James Lavelle, Patrick Bryson, Douglas Lunn, John McVie, John Rosie, Henry Welsh, Hugh Gow, Danny Cormack, David Rintoul, Billy Munro, John Tomasso, Dennis Glancy, Denis Stanton, Robert Tattila, James Galbraith, Alan Welsh and another John ? Sorry, I forget his second name. (girls) - Elizabeth Wastle, Ann Calvey, Lucia Adamson, Maria Maconi, Lynne Mann, Angela Duggan (Mr Duggan's daughter) Pat Paterson, Theresa Mulvey, Theresa Carter, Pat Burns, Mary Leneghan, Kathleen Hunter, Mary Ferguson, Maureen Gillan, Vanessa Strachan, Christine Layden, Mary Lyons and Patricia Roccio Please forgive me if I've left anybody out - the ageing process is in progress! |
|
Norma Cullen Sinclair, Newington, Edinburgh: June 10, 2011 |
|
Recollections 24. Eric Gold East London, England |
|
After seeing this old photo of St Patrick's School, Eric wrote with some of his memories of the school. Eric wrote: |
|
Dumbiedykes "Many thanks for Jack and Emma Gillon for sending Peter the link for those beautiful photos of my (and many peoples) stamping ground in the Dumbiedykes area. I went to St Patricks from 1955 until 1960, then St Anthony’s in Leith until 1963. Before all that, I went to St Anne’s in the Cowgate from 1953 until 1955." St Anne's "I remember that day that I started at St Anne's well, as it was a week after of the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11 in 1953." St Patrick's - Teachers "My teachers at St Patrick's were Sister Gabriel, Miss Davidson and the notorious Mr Greggo. The headmaster was Mr Boyle, a great headmaster. My cousins went there too and they had Miss Burnie. I was lucky with the teachers until I hit the iceberg like the ill-fated liner Titanic and got Mr Greggo for the last 2 years there (ha ha ha ha ha). We had a great music teacher called Miss Dale. She was heavy into Jazz and Blues like I was, and for the last 3 hours every Friday afternoon we would have music classes and it was great, as she played jazz and a classmate of mine would play his accordion and the girls would sing like the Andrew Sisters too. What memories!" St Patrick's Day "Every St Patricks Day, on March 17th, St Patricks closed so we all had a day off - so great stuff for us kids. Although Mr Greggo had his faults he was good in some ways as he took the whole class out to picnics in the Holyrood Park and Davidsons Mains and to the museum in Chambers Street. He also arranged our leaving dance before we went to our different secondary schools." Boys' Home "My big brother told me that St Patricks was a boys' home in the Victorian era. I've checked old maps and it comes up as a home, so he is right." Memories "In the dining room there was an old swimming pool that's not been used for years. It had beautiful marble carvings on it too. St Patricks school was great. It held a lot of memories for me, as did St Anne’s and St Anthony’s but I liked being with my mates, all from the Dumbiedykes and Cowgate and Canongate areas. We all got on great. When the school bell rang and it was time to go home, my mates and I would climb the big wall in the playground and go over to the Scotchie and play there. We played in the park too, after tea. It was a great school and had loads of memories there. So folks, those they were the days in the Southside of Edinburgh" Eric Gold, East London, England: April 3, 2012 |
|
Recollections 25. Margaret McGuinness |
|
Margaret McGuinness wrote: |
|
1941-48 Pupils "I've just spent a very interesting and enjoyable evening on the EdinPhoto website. I noticed that most of the recollections of St Ann's and Castlehill schools are around the late-1940s and early-1950s. I wonder if anyone who went to St Ann's in 1941-48 remembers me, Margaret Mc Guinness. It would be good to hear from them." Teachers "My first teacher, in infants, was Sister Mary Angela and the Head Mistress was sister Mary Theresa. The teacher who I had when I left in July 1948, to go to live in England, was Miss Brown." Margaret McGuinness: January 13, 2013 |
|
Reply to Margaret McGuinness? If you'd like to send a reply to Margaret McGuinness, please email me, then I'll give you her email address. Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: January 14, 2012 |
|
Recollections 26. Louise Fleck (née Sutherland) Newcastle, Northumberland, England |
|
Louise Fleck wrote: |
|
Freda Bowman School + Home "I've just introduced my Mother to this site. She was Freda Bowman and she went to St Ann's and then later to St Thomas'. She grew up in the High Street with her sister Emily Bowman. Her grandparents, the McKinleys, lived in Blackfriars Street." Friends "She'd love to hear from anyone who may remember her or her family. Names that come to mind from school are: - Dorothy Reid - Doreen McQueenie - Agnes Keppie (also mentioned in Recollections 7 above) - Cathy Tansy - and many more." After School "My Mothere first worked at PT's after leaving school. She loved going to the dancing at Stewarts and The Rooms at Leith where she met my Dad, Ian Sutherland, Though we all live in Newcastle now, Mum is always in Edinburgh visiting her mother. Louise Fleck (née Sutherland), Newcastle, Northumberland, England: October 2, 2013 |
|
Reply to Louise Fleck? If you'd like to send a reply to Louise Fleck, please email me, then I'll give you her email address. Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: October 3, 2013 |
|
Recollections 27. Drew |
|
Thank you to Drew who wrote: |
|
1940s "I was born 1942 in the Waverley Buildings, 25 yards from St Ann's school, and grew up up in the same area until I was 20. Half my family went to St Ann's, but I went to Drummond Street School 50 yards away. St Ann's School and Nuns "St Ann's was run by strict nuns under the influence of the Chapel next door. The kids in the area, like me, were poor, ill-fed and ill-educated. St Ann's was not a happy place for children, being run by women who thought they were, in fact, 'Brides of Christ' and on a mission to cleanse the world. During the summer school holidays, parts of the St Ann's school became the lunchtime feeding venue for all kids in the neighbourhood. The entrance was off Blackfriars Street via a medieval gable staircase. The kids Preferred the University Settlement facilities in High School Yards, 45 meters from St Ann's. Health Opposite St Ann's, then as now, was the City Morgue and Disinfection Centre, known locally as the 'Bugs Centre'' It was a big disgrace if you had their van turn up at your home. A hose was connected to the van and all your contents were subjected to some sort of gas purification, if there had been problems with scabies, ring worm, bed bugs or anything else. Infirmary Street Baths were used for the washing of human flesh, mostly on a Friday evening. It cost 2d for a bath with a 1-inch-cubed block of carbolic soap and a linen towel. Drew: 22 March 2017 |