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City Poorhouse

The City Poorhouse had buildings on either side of the main administrative block that had the tower and clock.  Some of the buildings to the west ot the administrative block can just be seen in the background in this photo.

Zoom-in

Here we zoom-in to have a closer look at the City Poorhouse administrative building:

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Recollections

1.

Bryan Gourlay

Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Thank you to Bryan Gourlay for writing about his family connections with the City Poorhouse.

City Poorhouse

Great Great Grandmother

"One of the things that happens when you research your family is you get unpleasant surprises.  One of my biggest surprises was to find my great great grandmother died in the City Poorhouse at The Steils.

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Elizabeth Buchanan had lived all her life in the St Leonards, in the streets that were opposite what was the Deaconess Hospital.

She died in the City Poorhouse in April 1909, presumably not able to afford to go to the Royal Infirmary. 

Looking at her death certificate, I see that the establishment was called Craiglockhart Poorhouse at that time."

Bryan added:

"I found the following chilling description of Craiglockhart Poorhouse from about the time that it opened:

'The male wing had divisions for:

-  old men of good character

-  dissolute men

-  doubtful old men

-  boys'

There were similar divisions in the women's quarters.

'The total number of pauper inmates for whom accommodation is provided is 1,000 — viz.

-  740 in the main poorhouse

-  260 in the infirmary.

The lunatic asylum accommodates a further 160 inmates.' ”

Further Information

Thank you to Bryan for also telling me about this web site that gives further information about the City Poorhouse, including more photos, a description of the buildings and a map.

St Cuthbert's Poorhouse

Western General Hospital

Bryan also discovered that Elizabeth Buchanan's father and mother had also died in an Edinburgh Poorhouse - The St Cuthbert's Poorhouse.

Bryan Gourlay, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland:  January 11 + 12, 2009

Greenbank Drive

Littlejohn Road

Rattray Grove

Around Edinburgh