Photograph of Coach and Horses - Where and when might it have been taken?

Coach and Horses passing a Railway Station

Questions

Where? When?

Please keep scrolling down to read the answer: "Passing Dalkeith Station on March 29, 1929."

Stuart Guild, who sent me this photo, wrote:

Coach and Horses

"This photo, which we think is circa 1920s, shows a carriage drawn by 6 white horses ridden by three RA Officers and one as coachman with a gunner in front.

The lead rider and the first Officer have WW1 medals. A moustache was de rigueur those days amongst officers."

Coach and Horses

"This was thought to be a wedding as the gentleman in the carriage is wearing a tile hat. It could be another occasion since the spectators just appear to be ordinary persons passing and not dressed as guests would be."

Railway Station - Which one?

"The carriage is passing a railway station. (See the canopy and 'Booking Office' sign). The coach seems to have a Taxi following, which could have a Midlothian number plate.

It could have something to do with a Colonel Hardie, who resided at Dechmont, near Bathgate for many years. He was connected with 78th (Lowland) Brigade RFA (TA), hence the Gunner riders. This is conjecture. Col Hardie's daughter who donated this photo to us does not know who or where it is.

There was another senior TA Officer who lived in Eskbank, so that may be the Station.

I wonder if one of your rail buffs might recognise the station. It appears to be suburban, or perhaps a peripheral village of Edinburgh."

Stuart Guild, Edinburgh: January 17+ 19 + 23, 2009

Answer?

If you can suggest when and where this photo might have been taken, please email me, then I'll pass on your message to Stuart Guild'

Thank you. - Peter Stubbs: November 24, 2007

Answers
1.	Bob Henderson Burdiehouse, Edinburgh	- Dalkeith Station
2.	Bob Henderson Burdiehouse, Edinburgh	- Eskbank Station
3.	Stuart Guild Edinburgh	- Location Identified - Col Hardie - Col Sturrock
4.	Matt Rooney Ayrshire, Scotland	- not Eskbank Station - Dalkeith Station
5.	John Hadden Edinburgh	- Dalkeith Station - Major Thomas Sturrock
6.	Forbes Wilson Edinburgh	- Dalkeith Station
7.	John Hadden Edinburgh	- Newspaper Report Major Sturrock's Wedding, 1929
8.	Peter Stubbs Edinburgh	- Scottish Film Archive Wedding was on March 28,1929
9.	Stuart Guild Edinburgh	- Capt. Cross and Major Sturrock

Answer

Bob Henderson

Burdiehouse, Edinburgh

Thank you to Bob Henderson who replied

Dalkeith Station?

"My first instinct was that this was the old Dalkeith railway station. There was a bus station built on this site when it was closed. The openings, off to the left, the large white building just beyond the shop next to the station, and the second white gable at the second opening off to the left,, coupled with the general look of the row of buildings going along the left side of the road all fit with my memory of this area.

The first large white gable would be the side wall of the black Bull public house, and the second gable is where the Edinburgh road leaves Dalkeith.

All of this would seem to fit in with an officer living in Eskbank. If the horses continued straight on they would end up at the Eskbank roundabout.

This of course contains a lot of guesswork but it does seem likely to me."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh: January 26, 2009

Answer

Bob Henderson

Burdiehouse, Edinburgh

Soon after sending the message above, Bob Henderson wrote again

Eskbank Station

"On further reflection and after further research, I am fairly sure this is Eskbank station, and that the building I thought was the Black Bull is in fact the Harrow Hotel."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh: January 26, 2009

Answer

Stuart Guild

Edinburgh

Thank you to Stuart Guild who replied:

Location Identified

"Well done to Bob Henderson for his eagle eye in identifying the station as Eskbank. The photo can now be added to the Regimental archives."

Col Hardie

"We had a vague thought that the location was south of Edinburgh. However we rather dismissed that because Col Hardie was not connected there.

He commanded 310 (2nd City of Edinburgh) Battery 1928-31 and 1936-39."

Col Sturrock

"However, Colonel T Sturrock, a local Dalkeith or Eskbank solicitor:

- commanded 309 (1st City of Edinburgh) Battery, 1920-28.

- was Second-in-Command of 78th (Lowland) Field Brigade RA (TA), 1928-32, then the Regiment's CO, 1932-34.

So I suspect that the photo was of Colonel Sturrock and would probably have been taken in 1932 or thereabouts. As CO, Col Sturrock could be justified in having a carriage and horses for some occasion, possibly his appointment to CO."

Stuart Guild, Edinburgh: January 27, 2009

Answer

Matt Rooney

Ayrshire, Scotland

Thank you to Matt Rooney who wrote:

Not Eskbank Station

"The photograph of the Gunners of The Royal Artillery cannae be at Eskbank Railway Station as the Entrance to the Station was off the main road from Lasswade to Dalkeith.

Originally the buses used to go to the Station Entrance to drop off passengers for the trains."

Dalkeith Station

"There were not any Hotels on that Road. Bobs original idea was Dalkeith, and that's where it is"

Matt Rooney, Ayrshire, Scotland: January 28, 2009

Answer

John Hadden

Edinburgh

Thank you to John Hadden who wrote:

Dalkeith Station

"Yes, I agree mostly with Bob Henderson and recognised the view as soon as I saw it. The photo was taken on Eskbank Road, Dalkeith.

The railway station is Dalkeith railway station (not Eskbank station).

The white building is the Harrow Hotel and it looks almost identical today. The building set back from the road, between the Harrow and the station was knocked down in the mid-1970s to make way for a new Dalkeith Post Office building."

Major Thomas Sturrock

"There was a notable social event in Dalkeith on 28th March 1929, when Major Thomas Sturrock was married. Major Sturrock and his bride were drawn through the town in an open carriage.

I'm sure I've seen a photo or movie of the event at some time. However, I should have more information to hand within the next day or two."

John Hadden, Edinburgh: January 28, 2009

Answer

Forbes Wilson

Near Guildford, Surrey, England

Thank you to Forbes Wilson for letting me know about the photograph of Dalkeith Station, below, taken in October 1960. There is now no doubt as to where the photograph of the coach and horses was taken.

Dalkeith Station - 1960

Dalkeith Station - 1929

Acknowledgement: Forbes Wilson, near Guildford, Surrey, England

Answer

John Hadden

Edinburgh

Thank you to John Hadden and to Alex Smith for providing the further details below

John wrote:

Newspaper Report

April 4, 1929

"Here is the information I was hoping for.

Alex Smith, a local researcher, located the relevant article from the Dalkeith Advertiser archive for 4th April 1929. It describes the wedding of 'Major Thomas Sturrock (T.A.), M.C. and Miss Isobel Margaret Paxton' in some detail."

'Lieut. Col. R. S. Reid, T.D., Commanding Officer of the 78th (Lowland) Brigade, R.A., acted as best man."

After the ceremony a six-in-hand open carriage, under the charge of Captain N. P. Cross, R.A., and driven by officers of the 309th (City of Edinburgh) Battery of the 78th (Lowland) Brigade, R.R., of which Major Sturrock is the Officer Commanding, conveyed the happy couple to Elginhaugh, where they transferred to a motor car, on their way to Edinburgh.

The scene in Buccleuch Street and vicinity was one of great animation, but the traffic arrangements under the direction of Inspector Noble went like clockwork. There were present a regular army of photographers, and a cinema film operator. The picture is being screen this week in the local Pavilion.'

John Hadden, Edinburgh: January 31, 2009

Answer

Peter Stubbs

Edinburgh

The film that John Hadden mentions (7 above) is now part of the Scottish Film Archive.

It is a 3-minute silent black + white film. The National Library of Scotland holds a copy of the film. Its title is: 'Dalkeith Wedding' (2819)

The event took place on March 28, 1929.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: January 31, 2009

Answer

Stuart Guild

Edinburgh

Stuart Guild who provided the photograph at the top of this page wrote:

"The whole matter of identifying this photograph has concluded very satisfactorily.

I can only add that Capt Cross (see 'Answer 7' above) succeeded Major Sturrock to command 309 Battery, and that Major Sturrock succeeded Lt-Col R.S. Reid as CO in 1932."

Stuart Guild, Edinburgh: January 31, 2009

Answer

Rab Leishman

Dalkeith, Midlothian, Scotland

Rab Leishman wrote.

"I agree. This photo was definitely taken as the coach passed Dalkeith Railway station. (See 6 above.) The address will be something like 19-23 Eskbank Road, Dalkeith,

There used to be a Post Office there, next to the First bus garage that now occupies some of the site but is soon to be a Somerfield supermarket. I actually work in the First bus garage.

You can see the Harrow Hotel today. There is now a walkway just up the road towards Eskbank on what used to be the railway line."

Rab Leishman, Dalkeith, Midlothian