Recollections  -  Edinburgh Old Town

Dumbiedykes

Houses and Streets

   ©

List of Subjects

1

George C R Stevenson
Livingston, West Lothian

Prospect Place and Arthur St.

-  The Balconies

-  The Scotchie

-  Wells o' Wearie

-  Memories

-  Down the Hill

Facing St Margaret's Church

with replies from

Bryan Gourlay
Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Ian Stewart
London

2

George C R Stevenson
Livingston, West Lothian

with replies from

Jeanette Boon
Canada

Ian Mycko
Gilmerton, Edinburgh

Janice Brodie
Brisbane, Australia

Lower Viewcraig Row

3

Jeanette Boon
Welland, Ontario, Canada

Dumbiedykes Road

-  Shops

Robert B McNeill
The Inch, Edinburgh

Dumbiedykes Road

-  Demolition

-  Our Tenement

Jeanette Boon
Welland, Ontario, Canada

Dumbiedykes Road

-  Shops

Billy McCuaig

Dumbiedykes Road

-  Beside Queen's Park

Lorraine Gulam

Dumbiedykes Road

-  No 63

4

Danny McGhee

with reply from

Lloyd Graham

Prince Albert Buildings

-  Our tenement

5

Isa Paulin
Cheshire, England

Holyrood Square

6a

Eric Gold
known to many as
Eric McKenzie,
East End, London, England

with reply from

Bryan Gourlay
Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland

East Arthur Place - 'Eastie'

After leaving Dumbiedykes

Working Class

Christmas 1959

Money Manages

The Pawnbroker

6b

Questions and Answers

David Woolard

with reply from

Eric Gold
East End, London, England

East Arthur Place

- Family

- School

- Bonfire Night

- The Scotchie

- King's Park

Reply

- Dumbiedykes in 1920s

- Bonfire Night

- Gas Light in Arthur Street

6c

Question from

Eric Gold
East End, London, England

with replies from

Bob Henderson
Burdiehouse, Edinburgh

Houses Demolished

 - Arthur St + West Arthur Place

Prospect Street - demolition

Arthur Street - demolition

6d

Questions and Answers

Bob Henderson
Burdiehouse, Edinburgh

Houses Demolished

 - Arthur St + West Arthur Place

7

Bryan Gourlay
Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland

with reply from

Charles Kelt Bottomley
Ferniehill

Fergusson's Buildings

8

Bryan Gourlay
Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland

1881 Census

9

James Morton-Robertson
Sevenoaks, Kent#

with reply from

Charles Kelt Bottomley
Ferniehill

Heriot Mount  'aggressive kids'

10a

Stan Urbaniak
Planning to return to Edinburgh

and comment from

Cath Tuff (nee Hay), Warwickshire, England

Ken Miller
Edinburgh

Joyce
Cheshire

Saint Mary Street

Doctors

Holyrood Road

Shops

My Ancestors

Rag & Bone Man

Fond Memories

10b

with comment from

Eric Gold
known to many as
Eric McKenzie
East End, London, England

Tardis

Isa Wass

More Rag & Bone Men

Fond Memories

10c

and comment from

Jane Jones
Cambridgeshire, England

Arthur Street Families

11a

Brian Finnen

with replies from

Margaret McBride
Cape Town, South Africa

Eric Gold
East End, London, England

Middle Arthur Place

11b

and questions from

Eleanor Macintyre

and

Colin Macintyre

with reply from

Eric Gold
East End, London, England

11c

Janette
Wokingham, Berkshire, England

11d

Tam Harrison
Buckstone, Edinburgh

11e.

Michael Stanford
South London

12

Jane Jones
Cambridgeshire

Dr Gordon

13

Jean Rae
Edinburgh

Dumbiedykes Road

-  'The Brickies' + 'The Balconies'

14

Cath Tuff
Warwickshire, England

Pleasance

East Arthur Place

15

Charles Kelt Bottomley
Ferniehill, Edinburgh

Holyrood Square

Dumbiedykes Road

Coconut

Fernhill

16

Joe Coyle
The Inch, Edinburgh

East Arthur Place

Leaving Dumbiedykes

17

George T Smith
The Inch, Edinburgh

Gas Lighting

18

Isobel MacIver

Dumbiedykes Road

19a

Eric Gold
known to many as
Eric McKenzie,
East End, London, England

Gas Pokers and Fires

The Grate

Frying Pan

19b

What happened to Prospect St?

20

John Ballantyne
Boswall, Edinburgh

Arthur Street

21

Hugh Kinnaird
Corby, Northamptonshire, England

East Arthur Place

'Little Scotand'

22

Matthew Watt
East Calder, West Lothian, Scotland

Beaumont Place

23

Tam Harrison
Buckstone, Edinburgh

Middle Arthur Place

24

Eric Gold
East London

Gas Meter

25

Bill Cockburn
Comely Bank, Edinburgh

Prince Albert Buildings

26

Bryan Gourlay
Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Prince Albert Buildings

St Leonard's

27

Theresa Carthy
(nee Lapping)
Cork, Ireland

Slum Housing, 1961

28

Theresa Carthy
(nee Lapping)
Cork, Ireland

Slum Housing

29

Eric Gold
East End, London, England

Arthur Street  -  Film Clip

Fire

30

Catherine Rogers Simpson

  Dod Dicken shop

  Coal Motor

31

Jim Hildersley
Western Harbour, Leith, Edinburgh

  Upper Viewcraig Row

Home

Shops

32

James Morton-Robertson
Sevenoaks, Kent, England

Chimney Sweeps

Dumbiedykes Houses and Streets

More pages

Bob Cockburn

Pleasance  Tenements

George C R Stevenson
Livingston, West Lothian

with replies from

John Gibson
 Australia

Penny Tenement
in Carnegie Street

Jim McNeill,
Livingston, West Lothian

Penny Tenement
in Carnegie Street

Emmerline Aris
(nee Pardy)

Dalrymple Place
Beaumont Place Collapse
Move to Craigmillar
Dumbiedykes Community

Eric Gold
East End, London, England

'The Scotchie
Arthur Street
St Patrick's Chapel

James Morton-Robertson
Sevenoaks, Kent, England

My Paternal Grandfather in the Army
My Grandparents at Heriot Mount
My Maternal Grandfather
My Parents
My Aunt
My Education
Shops
Deliveries
Fires
Pub
Church
Hospital and Doctor
Play
Friends
Youth Clubs
The Plaza
Gullane Bay
Return to Edinburgh

1.

Message from George C R H Stevenson

and

Replies from Bryan Gourlay and Ian Stewart

Prospect Place and Arthur Street

Thank you to George C R H Stevenson, for sending some memories of life in the Dumbiedykes district of Edinburgh from 1953 to 1962.

Prospect Place

"Your photos of the Dumbiedykes took me back to my childhood, especially the one of Prospect Place.

   ©

There were balconies at:

-  Upper Viewcraig Row.

-  Lower Viewcraig Row.

-  Prince Albert Buildings.

-  Dumbiedykes Road.

I stayed just adjoining Prospect Place,  in Lower View, Craig Row Balconies."

The Balconies

"My brother got his head stuck in the balcony railings a few times.  He even got a skelp from Dad with his head stuck in the railings.  The problem was solved with Dad putting up chicken wire."

'The Scotchie'

©

"The hill in the photo was called 'The Scotchie', where we played 'Cowboys and Indians' and 'British and Germans'."

Wells o' Wearie

"We used to visit the 'Wells o' Wearie' Railway House in the Park.  It was my Uncle Andrew's till it was condemned. 

Do you have any photos of the Wearie Railway Cottage?

Unfortunately, No.  -  Peter Stubbs

It might amuse you to know that when he and my auntie got shifted to St John's Hill, 3rd floor tenement, they had two dogs, cat , pigeon, budgies and a chicken  - a mini zoo."

Prospect Place

"I was ten when the photo of Prospect Place.  Your photos brought back happy memories  -  Chatty but happy!"

I joined the Merchant Navy in 1965 and am still in the Merchant Navy.

What sticks in my mind is that I have been all over the world, but I've never seen a street like Arthur Street, which was so steep, with large buildings, and so densely populated."

Down the Hill

"I watched Leckies, the coal merchant, chasing after his lorry in Arthur Street.

Also, there was a  Sunblest bread van careered down and hit the wall at the bottom.

We got our photos taken by a newspaper, having an egg fight, which came out the van."

George C R H Stevenson: Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland,  May 2005

George wrote these notes while working  on the 'Aberdeen to Shetland' ferry.

Thank you to Bryan Gourlay for sending the following response:

Down the Hill

"It was interesting to hear George Stevenson’s recollections of Leckie, the coal merchant’s lorry careering down Arthur Street. I knew Brian Leckie, the owner’s son, who eventually went into the business. The Leckies lived in Dalkeith Road near to the junction with Prestonfield Avenue.

My father, David Gourlay, used to deliver coal to Arthur Street in the 1930s.  On replacing the horse and cart, he made the mistake once, and only once, of taking the loaded lorry down to the bottom of the street and couldn’t get back up again.

They had to offload the lorry and get lots of help from the locals to push and pull the lorry back to the top. From then on, his coal deliveries to the lower half of Arthur Street were made by pony – 'shank’s pony'."

St Leonard's Coal Yard

"Listening to my dad’s stories, there seemed to be a great friendship amongst the many coal merchants that operated from St Leonards coal depot that lasted for decades.

  ©

Thanks for the pictures of this on your site."

Bryan Gourlay,  March 29, 2006

Thank you to Ian Stewart (Teeny), formerly Ian Martinussen, now living in London, for the following comments.

Ian wrote:

Arthur Street

"My name is Ian Stewart   [Teeny].   I was born in 1944 and used to play in Arthur Street.  I was brought up at:

-  32 Carnegie Street, for (1946-53)

-  6a Roxburgh Street (1953-56)

-  Nicolson Street (1956-66).

I have lived in London for the past 37 years, but come back home as often as I can.  Your site brought back many happy memories.  We were poor but very happy.  I would love anybody who knew me to make contact."

Ian Stewart,  August 30, 2006

Please e-mail me if you would like to contact Ian, and I will pass on your message to him.    -  Peter Stubbs

Note for Ian Stewart

Unfortunately, your e-mail address has vanished from my computer.  I have received a message from Harry Marshall ('Peets') who was hoping to contact you.  If you send me another e-mail, I'll pass on Harry's e-mail address to you.

-  Peter Stubbs:  March 19, 2007

2.

Lower Viewcraig Row

George wrote on 29 November 2005, his birthday and the day before he returned to sea again:

65 First Balcony

Lower Viewcraig Row

©

"Amazing!  We stayed in the same house as Jeanette Boon (formerly Jeanette Keighren) at 65 First Balcony, Lower Viewcraig Row."

George Stevenson, Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland:     29 Nov 2005

Please see the Lower Viewcraig Row page for George's memories of some of the other people who lived at Lower Viewcraig Row.

3.

Message from Robert B McNeill

Dumbiedykes Road

Thank you to Robert B McNeill, Edinburgh, for the following:

Robert writes:

Dumbiedykes Road

Demolition

   ©

"The photographs of Dumbiedykes Road and surrounding area above brings back fond memories.  My grandfather (Joe McNeill) raised my father, two brothers and two sisters there after my grandmother died in the early 1920s in a first floor flat at number 144 Dumbiedykes Road — situated between Carnegie Street and Brown Street).

After my granddad died in 1953, my aunt Mary took over the flat and my father and mother moved into the flat next door in 1956.

I think your photograph above shows a view of the corner of Dumbiedykes Road and Brown Street.  This must have been taken around 1961-62, as my aunt Mary (who died in 2003) was one of the last to move out in 1961.   I was staying with her at the time.

I was then, and still am, a keen photographer and remember taking a number of photographs at the back green of Dumbiedykes (which had a view of the rear of the Deaconess Hospital). I'm sorry to say these photographs have been lost in the intervening years."

Robert added:

Dumbiedykes Road

Our Tenement

©

"I have now identified the tenement and the flat where we stayed!  It can be seen in the picture above.  I'm absolutely delighted to have found this picture.

The first floor flat we tenanted is just visible bottom left of the block in the middle of the photograph.

There was a yard to the left of this block, and the communal back green, bounded by Carnegie Street, that section of Dumbiedykes Road, and Brown Street, can be seen above the yard's back partition.

Clearly, not all tenants had yet moved from Brown Street ... someone's washing is still visible!"

Robert B McNeill.  The Inch, Edinburgh, 31 August 2005

Billy McCuaig wrote

Dumbiedykes Road

beside Queen's Park

"I lived at 119 Dumbiedykes Road from birth until we had to move in 1968. 

The flats we lived in faced directly up Brown Street and as I remember the square you mentioned was not Brown Street Square but Salisbury Square.

Salisbury Square

   ©

it was a fantastic place to live as a child.  My fathers family the McCuaig's lived there as did my mothers family the Morans

When my granny McCuaig moved we got her house in the top flat of 119 Dumbiedykes Road. There was only a wall separating our back green from the Queens Park. That was our playground.  Who could ask for more?"

Billy McCuaig:  13 March 2006

Lorraine Gulam wrote

No 63, Dumbiedykes Road

"i was born in 1957 at no. 63 Dumbiedykes Road, then moved over the road.  My granny was Betsy Haig.  My mother was Irene Gray.

Somebody may remember me or my family."

Lorraine Gulam:  July 25, 2007

If you remember Lorraine and would like to contact her, please e-mail me and I will pass your message on to her.    Thank you.  - Peter Stubbs

4.

Message from Danny McGhee

Prince Albert Buildings

Thank you to Danny McGhee and Lloyd Graham for the following comments:

Danny writes:

Prince Albert Buildings

   ©

Our Tenement

"I have just found this web page  and found myself instantly transported back to the Dumbie Dykes.

My name is Danny McGhee.

I have four sisters  Rhoda, Hannah, Carol and Sandra.  I also had  two brothers Gerry  who unfortunately died about five years ago, and Billy.

 I lived down at the Dumbie Dykes from around 1960 to 1969,  at 42 Prince Albert Buildings

A lot of the names that you mention and the shops,  e.g. Yardley's, still seem fresh in my mind  - like walking up Bulls Close to go to school,  and making dens up the Scotchie.

I would love to read more if anyone has any more recollections or if anyone remembers me or any one in my family"

Danny McGhee, 13 September 2005

Lloyd Graham writes:

Response to Danny McGhee's message (above)

"I was born and brought up in Dumbiedykes, Edinburgh 1955 to 1968.  It was a great place and I had a wonderful childhood lots of great memories.

I was surfing your site and can't believe that my best friend Danny (dirty dungus) McGhee ! was on.  I haven't heard from you in thirty years.  Unbelievable.

I remember Danny as my best pal we went to school together Norton Park and went to Rangers games every fortnight!  Remember the Ibrox disaster game?

I never wanted to leave Dumbiedykes.  It always comes up in conversations and will never be forgotten.

My brothers were Raymond (Raymo), Ian and  Paul.  I remember Charlie McCormack who lived upstairs from Ian Mycko, Gordon Rose and Craig Mitchell."

Lloyd Graham, 23 October 2005

5.

Message from Isa Paulin

Holyrood Square

Thank you to Isa Paulin for sending me the photograph of Holyrood Square above, and a photograph of another side of the square.

©

Please click here to enlarge the small image above:

-  to enlarge this picture
-  to read more comments from Isa on this picture
-  to read a verse from a poem about life in Holyrood Square

Isa wrote:

Holyrood Square

"Our house was the one with the wash house pram and old rug outside (in the large photograph above). 

We were probably one of the last families to leave. We moved to the Canongate but I was only there about 18 months when I left the area to get married."

 Isa Paulin, Cheshire, England:  5 November 2005

6a.

Message from Eric Gold

East Arthur Place

Thank you to Eric Gold for the recollections below.  Eric used to live in East Arthur Place and now lives in the East End of London.

Eric tells me that he had a part in the film The Elephant Man, and in the film A Tale of Two Cities, shot in London

Eric wrote:

East Arthur Place

"I was brought up in East Arthur Place or 'Eastie' as we called it.  I was born there in 1948.

Our family were the first to be moved out, in 1961, due to a huge crack in the kitchen and bedroom.  We moved to Craigmillar."

Arthur Street

      ©

After leaving Dumbiedykes

"I now live in London's East End near Canary Wharf.  I was at sea for many years and sailed out of London and Southampton.

I have travelled worldwide working on cruise liners for 20 years and I had a ball as a steward on them, but my happiest days are when I was brought up in East Arthur Place.  Your photos brought me back fond memories."

Working Class

"Everyone in Arthur street was working class like the people I know now in London's East End.

Things were tough, no Plasma TV flat screens or mobile phones or fancy microwaves or other mod cons such as satellite dishes, but we were all happy there.

As I have said when I worked aboard the Queen Mary and other huge liners for 20 years as a waiter I met the rich and famous, and I have been to a couple of their huge houses in the USA where they treated me great.

But give me Arthur Street any day as the memories for the 11 years when I stayed there are priceless."

Christmas 1959

"I remember Christmas 1959 well.  I found about  £150 in our ootside lavie (outside toilet).  It was a stroke of luck really, as about 4 families shared that lavie'.  I would say this was Jimmie Broadbent's stash as street bookies were not licensed.

As we were skint we had a great Xmas and as we were the only family who couldn't afford a TV.  Well we bought one.

Earlier Mr Linton, the TV guy up the brae had  tried to sell us a TV and when he turned it on the Lone Ranger was on then smoke appeared from the back of the telly.

My mum said it was faulty and Mr Linton, a great salesman, said it was special effects (ha ha ha) as the Lone Ranger was on his horse Trigger."

 Eric Gold, East End, London:  February 2 to-14, 2006

Here are more memories of East Arthur Place from Eric Gold:

'Money Manages'

"Money Manages were Shopping Clubs, or Christmas Clubs as they were called in the East End of London.

My mother would run the Manage.  It was a group of housewives from East Arthur Place or any friends that came around our house.

Say for example you have 25 women all putting a £1 in every week, then when their turn came up, they would get the quota of £25.

When the Manage started up my mother or Doctor Goldberg would cut a deck of cards and the winner would get the Manage of £25 but the £1 per week from all would still have to be paid in every week.

It was handy really as it would pay the tick man (debt collector) such as an insurance, gas or any other man that collected debts, which was always on a Friday.

I always liked when Ricky Fulton or Chick Murray would say in one of their sketches on TV or live theatre, 'You couldn't run a Manage' it made me laugh."

The Pawnbroker

"My mum would go to the pawnbroker in Hill Place near the Lascala cinema, and collect my older brothers suits also my father's too for the weekend. But on Monday, back to the Pawnbrokers with the suits we would go.

I remember Mr Rose in Richmond Street he was a great character, and being Jewish knew Doctor Goldberg.  My mum would get a little extra.

The last time I was in Edinburgh Mr Rose's son was still running the pawnbrokers in Richmond Street.

I remember the cubical where one would banter with Mr Rose or whichever pawnbroker they dealt with, then everything was wrapped in brown paper.

I remember my mum and I met a posh woman my mum knew, just after we came out of the pawnbrokers, and the woman would say, "Where have you been?" My mum said "Nicolson Street"

Then I let the cat out of the bag and said "the pawn", she though St Margaret's Loch (the pond), and said "Did you see the lovely swans and ducks?" and I said "No, only cubical and brown paper and people saying "Can you give me 10/- (10 shillings)" (ha ha ha)

Then the posh lady would laugh and would give a tanner (sixpence in old money) but as soon as we got to the top of the Brae, my mum would say "Give me the tanner" and I got a penny so I bought some sweets the bottom of the brae, a wee shop near Coppolas Cafe."

 Eric Gold, East End, London:  March 20, 2006

Thank you to Bryan Gourlay who replied:

The Pawnbroker

"Eric Gold's mother, and many others, helped Mr Rose the pawnbroker buy the bungalow next to ours in Kirkhill Terrace, Priestfield in the early 1960s."

 Bryan Gourlay, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland:  March 29, 2006

6b.

Message from David Woolard

East Arthur Place

Dave Woolard wrote:

Family,

"I am now aged 80.   I was brought up in a single-end with my three brothers and sister at 14 East Arthur place, then moved to 37 Arthur street then to Granton.

My gran stayed in East Arthur Place.  Her name was Swan. My aunt's name was Sharp and my other aunt's name was Seagal. Maybe somebody out there will rremember us."

School

"Most of us went to Drummond Street or South Bridge school."

Bonfire Night

"'Eastie' and 'Middlie' (East Arthur Place and Middle Arthur Place) used to fight each other so that we could steal each other's wood for Bonfire Night, November 5.

'The Scotchie'

"I, too, remember the Scotchie, sliding down the side, happy times."

King's Park

Now known as Queen's Park or Holyrood Park

"Also, we used to go to the Kings park  and climb the giant steps up to the Radical Road.

While we up there, we watched Cowans go up in flames.  It was a big fire."

David Woolard, Edinburgh:  February 3 +12, 2007

Thank you to Eric Gold who replied:

Dumbiedykes in 1920s

"Thanks for the updates on Arthur Street and East Arthur Place (Eastie) my stamping ground.

An entry was made from Dave Woolard and although I don't know the gentleman as he said he was 80 years old. I bet he knew my uncles who were either older or younger than him, they are the McMillan family and are all called Albert, Davie, Thomas (Cockie), John, George and the women were my dear old mum bless her Isabella (Bella), Nancy and Marion.  Their parents were called Thomas and Isabella (Belle), my grandparents.

Dave is right about Cowan's paper factory fire.  My uncle said to me that it was 'like the blitz ,flames everywhere'.  That, of course, was before my time but I heard my family mention it a few times."

 Eric Gold, East End, London:  February 7, 2006

Bonfire Night

"Dave is right about bonfire night as we would all fight each other for bonfire wood.  I can still see the big fires on November the 5th all over the brae and just by the Scotchie.  Those were the days.

 We used to put spuds in the fire that Dodd Dickson gave me and cook them.  I can still taste them to this day."

 Eric Gold, East End, London:  February 12, 2006

Gas Light in Arthur Street

"To this day can remember getting gas mantles for my mum.  The stairs had gas lit lights, and the man who came up the brae and lit the street lamps.  One was just outside our bedroom,

I can remember all these wee things clear as a bell."

 Eric Gold, East End, London:  February 7, 2006

6c.

Prospect Street

Houses Demolished

Question

Prospect Street Demolition

Eric Gold wonders why the houses were demolished on the west side of Prospect Street, where the steep slope of 'The Scotchie' stood.

Eric  writes:

"I bet it was a fire or an explosion as all the houses were gas lit."

Eric Gold:  East London

If you know the answer to this question, please e-mail me. 

Thank you.    -  Peter Stubbs

Answer 1

Thank you to Bob Henderson for giving more details about the west  side (Scotchie side) of Prospect Street.

Bob wrote:

Demolished before WWII

"I don't know anything of the tenements on the Scotchie side of the street but they must have come down before the the 2nd World War as we used to play on the tops of the shelters that were built there.

They were substantial brick built with concrete flat roofs"

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  November 29, 2007

Answer 2

Bob Henderson added.

Demolished - 1914 to 1939

"Looking at  the 1915 map you can see that Prospect Street and West Arthur Place were still complete, so for me that narrows the demolition of parts of these streets to some time between 1914 and 1939.

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  January 2008

NOTE:  These streets are near the lower-right corner of the 1915 map.

Answer 3

Bob Henderson added.

Demolished - 1914 to 1939

"Looking at  the 1915 map you can see that Prospect Street and West Arthur Place were still complete, so for me that narrows the demolition of parts of these streets to some time between 1914 and 1939.

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  January 2008

NOTE:  These streets are near the lower-right corner of the 1915 map.

Answer 4

Demolished - 1925 to 1939

Looking at  this 1925 map of Dumbiedykes [This map may also be slow to load] you can see that Prospect Street was still complete, with housing on both sides of the street, so that appears to  narrows down the date of demolition of the houses on the west side to some time between 1925 and 1939.

NOTE:  These streets are near the lower-right corner of the 1925 map. 

Demolished - Why?

So we seem to be narrowing down the time when the demolition took place, but we don't yet have a reason for the demolition.  However, much of the housing in nearby St Leonard's was demolished in the late 1920s under an improvement scheme.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  January 2008

Answer 5

Eric Gold, who asked the original question about the demolition of the houses in Prospect Street, wrote:

Still standing in 1918

"I was speaking to my auntie Marion last night, and she said when she was 10 years old in Arthur Street (1938) a man who lived in East Arthur Place came to my gran's house.

He said he had left the area 1918 to emigrate to the USA.  He reckoned that Prospect Street was standing on both sides when he left and the Scotchie was a park with a wee bandstand in 1918.  So, we're getting nearer on that mystery (ha ha ha )."

Eric Gold, East London:  July 17, 2008

Answer 6

Eric Gold, who asked the original question about the demolition of the houses in Prospect Street, wrote:

1891 Map

"Thanks for adding the 1891 maps to the web site yesterday.  I noticed Prospect Street and the lovely garden which then became the Scotchie after the houses on the west side of Prospect Street were demolished.

You can see were the wee bandstand was.  I bet it was a tranquil place to stroll and sit in the long summer evenings."

Eric Gold, East London:  July 26, 2008

Answer 7

Eric Gold added:

Demolished between 1918 and 1935

"My sister tells me that the houses on the west side of prospect street were knocked down before she was born, and that was in 1935."

Eric Gold, East London:  July 27, 2008

6d.

Arthur Street Street

Houses Demolished

Question

Bob Henderson added.

Arthur Street and West Arthur Place

"Eric Gold wonders about the open side of Prospect Street.

The same question needs answering for the houses demolished on the plot bounded by Westie, the top of Arthur Street and the top of the Pleasance.  On the maps of 1900  or thereabouts this area is shown completely built upon."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  December 6, 2007

Demolished - after 1925

Looking at  this 1925 map of Dumbiedykes [This map may also be slow to load] you can see that West Arthur Place was still complete.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  January 2008

7.

Message from Bryan Gourlay

Fergusson's Buildings

Bryan Gourlay, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland,  asks the question below.  If you can answer it please e-mail me and I will pass on your answer to him.  Thank you.

Question

"My grandfather was born in 1880 at Fergusson's Buildings Dumbiedykes.

I have not been able to find these buildings on any of the old maps.  Does anyone know where they were?"

Bryan Gourlay, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland, March 30, 2006

Answer

Thank you to Charles Kelt Bottomley, Ferniehill, Edinburgh who wrote:

"There were Adam Fergussons buildings at George Square, now demolished to make way for the  Edinburgh University buildings.

Maybe those are the buildings that Bryan is asking about."

Charles Kelt Bottomley, Ferniehill, Edinburgh:  January 15, 2007.
 Also known as Charlie or Chuck

8.

Message from Bryan Gourlay

1881 Census

Thank you to Bryan Gourlay sent me the following message after looking at the Scotland's People web site, the official site for birth, death, marriage and census information in Scotland.

Bryan wrote:

Dumbiedykes Population

"The number of people inhabiting the streets around the Dumbiedykes and St Leonards at the time of the 1881 census was horrendous - living a bit like battery hens:

Arthur Street - 1,682

East Arthur Place - 589

Pleasance - 4,001

St Leonards Street - 1,505

Prospect Place - 273

Prospect Street - 533

Prince Albert Buildings - 737

Carnegie Street - 1,356

Salisbury Street - 1,652

Gilmour Street - 1,513

This is the only census year that gives street counts."

Bryan Gourlay, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland, March 31, 2006

9.

Message from James Morton-Robertson

Heriot Mount

Thank you to James Morton-Robertson, formerly of Heriot Mount and now living in Sevenoaks, Kent for sending the following recollections.

James wrote:

Heriot Mount until age 12

"I was born in the Elsie Inglis Hospital on 11/8/1937.  My parents lived on the 5th floor right front of 4 Heriot Mount.  My parental grandparents lived on the rear ground floor right of the same stairs.

When I see the photos, I can hardly believe that I spent the first 12 years of my life there.  All the adjoining streets are well known to me as well.  These streets and the King's Park were my playground."

'Aggressive Kids'

"We didn't penetrate far into the Dumbiedykes, just to the open area just down from the intersection between Carnegie St and Heriot Mount (backgreen to the odd numbers of Heriot Mount) as there were aggressive kids living further down. 

Their accommodation was not as good as ours,   The upper parts backing on to 1-5 Heriot Mount were newer and may have been built pre-war following a fire."

James Morton-Robertson, Sevenoaks, Kent:  March 28+29, 2006

Thank you to Charles Kelt Bottomley, Ferniehill, Edinburgh for his reply.

Charles wrote:

'Aggressive Kids'

"I'm not sure about the "aggressive" kids at the lower part.

 Is that us?

Well, maybe at bonfire time."

Charles Kelt Bottomley, Ferniehill, Edinburgh:  January 15, 2007.
 Also known as Charlie or Chuck

Thank you to James Morton-Robertson for sending many more recollections of the time he spent at Heriot Mount.  Please click this link to read them:

Heriot Mount

10a.

Message from Stan Urbaniak

Saint Mary Street

and other memories

Thank you to Stan Urbaniak who wrote:

Saint Mary Street

"My mother, Mary Hay, was born at 14 East Arthur Place.  She moved from there to Holyrood Square and then on to 32 Saint Mary Street where I was born in 1948.  My mother, now aged 83 still owns this flat.

Other people in the stair at number 32 were Mrs Duff, Mrs Fraser and Maggie Alison.

Doctors

My doctors were Dr Gordon and Dr McQueen, at the the surgery in the Pleasance. 

Holyrood Road

"My grandfather, Alexander Hay was the attendant at the gasholder in Holyrood Road."

Shops

"I remember in Saint Mary Street:

-  Horsburgh, the chemist

-  Mr Wightman, the grocer

-  Mr Simon, the baker

I also remember:

-  Robinson's dairy

-  Tusi's ice cream shop

-  Badenoch's newspaper shop"

My Ancestors

"My grandfather, Alexander Hay was the attendant at the gasholder in Holyrood Road.

My great-grandparents lived at Abbeymount in a cottage owned by Younger's Brewery in Holyrood. My great-grandfather, Thomas Degnan was a foreman at the brewery and worked there with his step-brother Johnny Prior.

My mother worked for Liddell's pawnbrokers, run by Fanny Liddell, in the Lawnmarket and College Street, where my great-granny Hay lived. 

My uncle Alec Hay and his wife, Janet Gallagher lived in the Dumbiedykes with their two children, Alexander and Margaret before moving to a Wimpy-built flat at Firhill."

Rag & Bone Man

"I recall my grandfather talking about Asa Wass, a Jewish* rag and bone man in Holyrood Road."    * But see comments from Ken Miller below

Tailor

"My mother used to have her clothes made by a Jewish tailor called Dick, also in Holyrood Road."

Fond Memories

"I have vivid, fond memories of life as it was.  They go with me everywhere.  It was a privilege to be born and raised in such a community of warm people and I am very proud of my origins.

I return to Edinburgh frequently to visit family and friends.  I will eventually return to live in Edinburgh as I haven't found anywhere else i can call home.  I have travelled the world far and wide but not a day goes by without me thinking about the place.  It's where I belong."

Stan Urbaniak:  June 23 + 29, 2006

10b.

Reply  to Stan Urbaniak from Eric Gold

Thank you to Eric Gold, now living in East End, London, for the reply below:

Tardis

"Yes I knew the Jewish man, Isa Wass, was a good friend of Doctor Goldberg, also Dick the tailor.

Goodness me, this is better than Doctor Who's Tardis as with your website I can travel back in time (ha ha ha)."

Eric refers to Dr Who's 'Tardis' time machine.  Eric played one of the Monsters in the 2006 series of Dr Who.

Isa Wass

"Isa Wass had many cousins.  In Arthur street, we called him 'Isa Wassie'.  His main place was in Tollcross but I'm sure he had premises elsewhere, including a yard in the Pleasance, opposite St John's Hill.

I always got our brickets (compressed coal blocks) and fire lighters off Isa Wass and I sold him leed (lead, copper or brass) to get the brickets.

His shop was on a ground floor in a street  opposite McCowans toffee factory in Fountainbridge and I understood  that Tom (Sean) Connery lived in a flat above the shop at the time of  his schooldays  -  coffin polishing. milkman and body-building days.   The  street seems to have been Fryer Street (*Freer Street - see below.) and I suspect it has long been  demolished."

More Rag & Bone Men

"Rag and bone men used to have a horse and cart and announced their  presence for rags and old junk - now called re-cycling, with a quick  blow on an old bugle. It may be perhaps that 'Isa Wass' was simply a  collective name for rag and bone men?

There was apparently a rag and bone business, described as 'Asa Wass and Family' in Colinton, now a suburb in the South of Edinburgh, in 1881

Another toot man (Rag and bone man) called Mr Armstrong had his shop in the Cowgate opposite St Patrick's chapel.  I saw his shop, still open in 1996, when I was up there."

Fond Memories

"I totally agree with you, Stan.  I have travelled the world on cruise liners for over 20 years, working as a steward. I have seen some beautiful places in my life, but my heart goes to 4, East Arthur Place in the Dumbiedykes area."

10c.

Reply  to Stan Urbaniak from Jane Jones (nee Richardson)

Thank you to Jane Jones (nee Richardson), Cambridgeshire for the reply below:

Jane wrote

Arthur Street Families

"I read with interest  Stan Urbaniak recollections of Arthur Street.  I wonder if his Great Grandfather married an Elizabeth Parkinson;  if yes then we are related."

11a.

Message from Brian Finnen

Middle Arthur Place

Thank you to Brian Finnen for sending this brief message.  If you remember the Finnen family, please e-mail me and I'll let Brian know.

Brian wrote:

Question

"Hi.  Do you remember the Finnen family from 10 Middle Arthur Place?"

Brian Finnen:  September 12, 2006

Reply 1

Thank you to Margaret McBride (nee Carlin) who replied:

"Yes, I remember the Finnen family. I went to school with Alice Finnen and we were good friends.

My name is Margaret McBride ( nee Carlin).  We stayed in 3 East Arthur Place.

Alice and I went to St Ann's School in the Cowgate.

I used to love going up to her house in Middlee. We moved to Craigmillar and the Finnen Family to Bingham."

Margaret McBride, Cape Town, South Africa:  December 14, 2006

Reply 2

Thank you to Eric Gold who replied:

"I lived in 4, East Arthur Place. I knew Alice Finnen well as we were classmates at St Anne's and St Patrick's School, small world, eh!"

Eric Gold, East End, London, England:  January 20, 2007

11b.

Message from Brian Finnen

Middle Arthur Place

Message from
Eleanor and Colin Macintyre

Eleanor wrote:

Question 1

"My husband, Colin Macintyre, was born in January 1957, but never knew his mother and father.

Colin's father's name was Donald Macintyre.  He lived at 5 Middle Arthur Place and was employed as a general dealer.  Would you know if this was a house or a shop?

Colin's mother's name was Theresa Raeburn, maiden name Cassidy. Her father lived at Dunbar Close Canongate.

Would you know anyone who may have known either Donald Macintyre or Theresa Raeburn?

Sorry to ask but I know nothing and it would be nice to tell grandchildren a bit of my history."

Eleanor Macintyre, Portobello, Edinburgh:  February 5, 2007

Colin wrote:

Question 2

"Does anyone have any more information on the Cassidy family, including James Cassidy, who owned the shop at the end of Middle Arthur Place? 

Does anybody have any details on the family, or know  the number of the shop?  Was it 5 Middle Arthur Place?

It would be great if someone has any memories of this family, or about no 5 Middle Arthur Place.

Colin Macintyre, Portobello, Edinburgh:  February 5, 2007

If you can help to answer the questions above, please e-mail me and I'll pass on your message to to Eleanor or Colin. 

Thank you.  -  Peter Stubbs,  February 6 + July 30, 2007

Reply to Question 1

Thank you to John Pantling for sending recollections of the MacIntyre family to me.  I've now forwarded John's message to Eleanor MacIntyre.

John Panting:  July 19, 2008

Reply to Question 2

Thank you to Eric Gold who replied:

"James Cassidy was a friend of mine.  His parents had a wee shop in Middle Arthur Place on the right hand side coming in from the brae, he was the same age as me, 59 years old, and had an older sister about 4 years older than him.

His mother was a smallish lady and I think but not certain was Irish like his father, hence the Irish name Cassidy. His friends and mine were:

-  Donald Bertram

-  Brian Fallan

-  Tam Gugan

-  Stewart Farmer

-  Ricky Day

-  Michael Duffy

-  Willie Law

-  Duncan Macdonald.

When we all moved to various housing schemes in Edinburgh due to the demolishing of the Dumbiedykes in 1961 - 1963 we all lost touch and I went to sea then settled in London"

Eric Gold, East End, London, England:  July 30, 2007

11c.

Messages from Janette

Middle Arthur Place

Thank you to Janette for leaving the following message in the EdinPhoto GuestBook.  Janette now lives in Berkshire, England.

Janette did not leave her full name, but somebody may recognise her from her comments below.

Janette wrote:

'Middlee'

"I am sure that I was told I lived in Middle Arthur Place [Middlee] as a child. I couldn't find this name in your pictures.  Am I mistaken?"

No, you'll not be mistaken Janette.  The street certainly existed.  I just don't have any old photographs of it.    -  Peter Stubbs

'Middlee'

Update:  December 2006

 I've now found a photo that shows Middle Arthur Place.  Please click on the picture below to see it.

  ©

-  Peter Stubbs.  December 17, 2006

Full House?

"My mother lived there with her five brothers and four sisters, my grandmother and grandfather, in one of those 'houses', before we left for England.

[Later?], my parents and their three children lived in a 'house' above. Granny, Uncle Jimmy and Aunty Margaret lived below."

No more Washhouse

"Granny and Grandad were moved in 1950 to Broomhouse, inside bathroom, height of sophistication, not going to the bathhouse anymore, and a garden to hang washing out. 

No more washhouse. The smell and memory of the washhouse is still something I can conjure up today, warm, noisy, those women worked hard."

Janette, Berkshire, England:  Edinphoto Guest Book:  September 13, 2006

11d.

Messages from Tom Harrison

Middle Arthur Place

Thank you to Tom Harrison, Buckstone, Edinburgh, who wrote:

'Middlee'

"It was most gratifying to hear that former residents were proud of being brought up, or having lived for a short time in Arthur street area.

I, myself, lived at number 10 Middlee, with my mum and dad and wee sister Rose.  I was born in the Vennel next to the Flodden Wall, just off the Grassmarket. but moved to Middlee in 1939.

I lived their man and boy till 1961 when it was in process of demolition.  We moved to Gilmerton.

Friendships

I went to Saint Ann's then Saint Patricks and moved to James Clarks school. I will never forget my roots and great friendships especially my fitba days in the Scotchie.

I'm pleased to say I have kept my friends.

To Frank Ferguson, Henry Fallon, Brian Fallon from Eastie, Tam Kerr, brothers Rab and Frank. and the many others from the area, I wish you all the best.

I know that some have passed on.  They are always given a thought as the years fly by.  Many thanks again for the wonderful memories

Tom Harrison. Buckstone, Edinburgh:  February 12, 2007

11e.

Michael Stanford

Middle Arthur Place

1800s

Most of the questions that I have received about Middle Arthur Place have been about the early- to mid-1900s.  However, the street was built in the early 1800s, and here is somebody trying to trace his ancestors who lived there when the houses were new.

Michael Stanford wrote:

Dalgleish Family

"The family of my maternal grandfather lived in Middle Arthur Place,  Edinburgh,  certainly from 1810-1840 and possibly longer.

Their name  was Dalgleish.  The patriarch was George (about 1806-1855), who was  married to Harriett McMillan (1803-1870). He was a letter courier.  They had four sons and a daughter:
 — Robert, William, George, James  and Agnes.

 I am keen to find out all I can about Middle Arthur Place, particularly  where exactly it was."

Michael Stanford, South London:  February 13, 2007

Michael:

1.  Middle Arthur Place was close to the western edge of Holyrood Park.  Please click on the map below to see some maps of the Dumbiedykes district of Edinburgh, including a map that zooms in on Arthur Street (and on Middle Arthur Place).

©

2.  Please click on the photo below to see some of the streets of Dumbiedykes, including Middle Arthur Place.  The arrow is actually marked 'Mid Arthur Place'.

©

-  Peter Stubbs:  February 17, 2007

12.

Messages from Jane Jones

Dr Gordon

Thank you to Jane Jones (nee Richardson), Cambridgeshire for the sending the following message:

Jane wrote

Dr Gordon

I too remember Dr Gordon and Dr McQueen.  Dr Gordon was a bit of a character, and often visited our home in the Cowgate if he was in the area.

He loved children and especially my brother John, who at the time was aged about 2 years old. He would wrestle with Dr Gordon in the middle of our living room floor, which was quite a feat as the good Doctor was quite a large man, and our "back kitchen" was quite a small room.

If you went to his surgery, (in those days you didn't make appointments), you entered by the waiting room, and left by another door from the examination room straight on to the street.

People would  put there heads in the waiting room door and ask "McQueen or Gordon" if the answer was Gordon they usually made a quick exit.

Dr Gordon was well known to tell (in a very loud voice), any malingering man who wanted a sick note "Get yourself back to work man and feed your wife and bairnes, there's nothing wrong with you".  This was followed by a quick exit of the offending individual and a slamming of the street door.

When we moved to "England" my Mother visited the local Doctor after registering with him, and was very embarrassed to be shown a letter our new Doctor had received from Dr Gordon.  It said:

"It is a waste of time me sending the medical records of this woman and her children as she is a good Scots woman and will be back home as soon as she comes to her senses".

He was right we returned to Edinburgh three times before my Mother finally settled in Cambridgeshire. Over the years I have had many Doctors but none quite like Dr Gordon, we loved him and his straight talking ways.

13.

Messages from Jean Rae

Dumbiedykes Road

'The Brickies' and 'The Balconies'

Housing

Thank you to Jean Rae, who was born at 'The Balconies'  No 34, Dumbiedykes Road for sending the following details.

Jean told me:

'The Brickies'

"The Brickies were tenements on the east side of Dumbiedykes Road, opposite 'The Balconies'  They are at the extreme left of this photo.

These houses had balconies, but were known as 'The Brickies' because they were built of red brick.

  ©

They had been demolished by the time that this photo was taken.

©

They shared had shared outside toilets on each landing."

'The Balconies'

"The Balconies had inside toilets and a cold water tap in each house.

A fire in the kitchen ranges heated the houses and to provide hot water.  It was also used for cooking and  baking.  The range was polished with black lead.

  ©

Our house was lit by gas.  Around 1958 our gas mantle in the lounge was changed to electricity, but the other rooms continued to be lit by gas."

14.

Messages from Cath Tuff

Pleasance and East Arthur Place

My family

Cath Tuff writes from Warwickshire asking if anybody remembers any of her family.

Cath writes:

"I would love to ask if  anyone ever hears about my family, now long departed, who lived at Dumbiedykes.

Pleasance

Jessie Hay sold veg from her home in 86 Pleasance. She was my great grandmother.  She brought up three children there.

East Arthur Place

My grandfather, George Hay, was a tailor so he might have made something for some one.  He also liked a pint and dram.

My dad was born in 15 East Arthur Place then moved to Stockbridge."

Cath Tuff, Warwickshire, England:  December 14, 2006

15.

Messages from Charles Kelt

Holyrood Square and

Dumbiedykes Road

then Ferniehill

Thank you to Charles Kelt Bottomley, Ferniehill, Edinburgh who wrote:

Holyrood Square

"I'm Jean Bells brother - so you'll know about our family history.  My  granny Kelt lived in Holyrood Square on the first balcony 2nd from the left in Isa Paulin's photo."

©

Dumbiedykes Road

"I now lie in bed at night, mentally drawing out the Dummy from Holyrood to Heriot Mount to Waterson Ave to the top of Arthur Street (including back greens).

I'm a Bottomley, by the way.  I was born in 1940 and lived at 38 then 42 then 30, Dumbiedykes Road."

Coconut

"One of my cousins was abroad in the forces (1945-6) and sent a whole coconut out of the tree-.  It was painted black with the address in white.

As a kid of 5 or 6, I can remember a lot of hammering with a coal hammer and axe."

Fernhill

"I married  and moved to Fernhill when the Dumbiedykes houses were demolished.

We had bought our No 30 Dumbiedykes Road for £400 at £1 a week.  We lived there for about 6 years.  We paid it off and got £400 back from the council.

We had to take a council house at Fernhill so the cash paid for carpets etc."

Charles added:

"There's so many people know so many names from the Dummy it could go on forever and the best of luck Peter!"

Charles Kelt Bottomley, Ferniehill, Edinburgh:  January 15, 2007.
 Also known as Charlie or Chuck

16.

Messages from Joe Coyle

East Arthur Place

Thank you to Joe Coyle who wrote:

East Arthur Place

"Our name is Coyle.  We lived in 9 East Arthur Place from1950 until 1958.  We lived on the bottom flat which was also a fish shop called Geordie Bothwicks.

Do you or any one else have any photos of east Arthur place?  I would love to see them."

Joe Coyle, The Inch, Edinburgh  April 2, 2007

I don't have any photos of East Arthur Place myself, apart from this view looking down on Dumbiedykes which includes East Arthur Place and many other streets in the area:

©

If you have any photos of East Arthur Place that you would like to see added to this web site, to be shared with Joe and others, please e-mail me to let me know.

Thank you.  -  Peter Stubbs.

Joe added:

Leaving Dumbiedykes

"I am writing to you from The Inch in Edinburgh.  I moved back here 2 years ago after spending 27 years in Birmingham.  I always intended to return to Edinburgh.

My happiest memories were in East Arthur Place, perhaps because I was only a young boy, but the people then were much more friendly and mucked in together.

I hated to move from there.  When we did, it was to Craigmillar"

Joe Coyle, The Inch, Edinburgh  April 2, 2007

17.

Messages from George T Smith

Gas Lighting

Thank you to George T Smith who wrote:

"Even though I was cosseted in a 'tinnymint' with electricity, hot  water and an inside 'dunny'  -  we even had a bath!  -  I remember the gas lighting.

The  individual mantles came in little white pasteboard boxes. They  bore a picture in blue and red of men knocking down a tenement where  a gas light still burns strongly; with some sort of promotional statement  below.

It brings back memories of the 'Penny Tenement' where my  grandparents flat ('room and kitchen') had but one gas light in the  'kitchen'. I cannot recollect if the 'room' -  a much larger room  which included a windowless 'box bed' - also had a mantle.

The new  mantles were pliant and could be safely handled till first lit  whereupon they flared up to become incandescent as the porcelain(?)  fired, then they became delicate and brittle.

Gas light gave a  greenish tint to flesh tones, reminiscent of a rotted corpse, if CSI  and other forensic TV shows are anything to go by."

George T Smith, Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada:  April 4, 2007

18.

Messages from Isobel MacIver

Dumbiedykes Road

Thank you to Isobel MacIver who wrote:

"My  name is Isobel MacIver.  I have an older brother, William.  We lived at 115 Dumbiedykes Road, in one of the top flats with my parents, Joan and William (Billy) Reid.

Our neighbours were the Wallaces.  I used to play with their daughter Michelle.  I believe that I had a cousin called Mary Dixon.  I think she lived with her gran,  just down the road.

My mother worked in the La Scala  cinema  in the early 60s. have a few good memories up until we moved to Stevenson Drive.

I would love to find a photograph of our block before it was demolished."

Isobel MacIver  April 16, 2007

Isobel:  I have several photos of Dumbiedykes Road on the web site.  Here are some thumbnail images to click on.  I don't know whether or not any of them include the house where you used to live.

-  Peter Stubbs:  April 16, 2007

Reply 1

Thank you to Jim Robertson, Berlin, Germany, for leaving the following message in the EdinPhoto Guest book.

John wrote:

"Isobel MacIver, who lived at 115 Dumbiedykes Road, Edinburgh in the 1940/50s mentioned a few people who lived in the block, including Wallaces,

Im sure the Wallaces lived directly above my family, the Robertsons. I also remember these other families in the block:

-  Stantons.

-  Adams.

-  Chalmers.

-  Sutties.

-  Ross.

Jim Robertson, Berlin, Germany:  September 16, 2007

Reply 2

Thank you to Roberta Luciani, Ontario, Canada who wrote:

"Isobel MacIver who lived at 115 Dumbiedykes Road said she had a cousin, Mary Dixon who lived down the street. 

Well, Mary lived at 2 Prospect Place (across the street from my stair No. 1).  She lived with her Granny, and I seem to remember that she had relatives in Carluke.  She  was a very pretty, tall blond girl.

Roberta (Bobby) Campbell Luciani, Thorold Ontario Canada:  February 9, 2008.

19a.

Messages from Eric Gold

East Arthur Place

Thank you to Eric Gold, East London, who wrote:

Gas Pokers and Coal Fires

"I was fascinated by a contribution on the website on the fireside gas poker.  We had one too in East Arthur Place.

My mum would use a firelighter, a box which was a compound of wood and an inflammable mixture, and once lit, it would not stop.

My mum put the poker in with the orange tubing and light it, and off it went like a rocket (ha ha ha ha)."

The Grate

"Once the fire caught a hold of the coal, my mum, like all the housewives in the Dumbiedykes, had another trick up her sleeve.

She put a shovel on the grate (fireplace) and put a newspaper as the fire would catch a good draught, and it used to catch fire too (ha ha ha ha).

I will always remember this and my aunt in the Cowgate had a wooden board an through time it would catch fire too. "

These grates would be worth a few quid today as the were made of cast iron in the Victorian era.

On Friday nights, my mum would burnish the grate with a black substance called Zebo.  I'm not sure if the pad was made of an iron substance or not, but when she finished the grate was like brand new also.  There was a small seats either side of the grate and our cat, Toodils, would have one to sleep on."

Frying Pan

"The old fashioned frying pan that we had was called a skillet and was passed from generation to generation and my aunt has it in Mayfield, Edinburgh, to this very day.

Rumour has it was my great great grandmothers wedding present."

Eric Gold, East London:  June15, 2007

19b.

Messages from Eric Gold

Prospect Street?

Eric tells me that he's still trying to discover what happened to the section of Prospect Street, Dumbiedykes, that was demolished and later became 'The Scotchie' hill where he played.

Eric asked this question in 6b above, and now adds:

Whatever happened to Prospect Street

"Does anybody have any information on Prospect Street, the side of were the Scotchie was, and why it was knocked down?

It only stood for about 40 years.  I reckon there was a fire or an explosion as gas was fitted in to the tenements then."

Eric Gold, East London:  June15, 2007

If you can help to answer Eric's question about Prospect Street, please e-mail me and I'll pass on your message to him.

Thank you.  -  Peter Stubbs, June 19, 2007

20.

Messages from John Ballantyne

Arthur Street

John Ballantyne remembers living in Arthur Street, the steep street that led down to Holyrood Park.  In particular John remembers:

The Foot of Arthur Street

"At the foot of Arthur Street, thee were Capola's Cafe with the Penny Vantage sweet shop next door and two chip shops."

There was also The Bowlers' Rest, beside the bowling green in Holyrood Park.  This was popular with some of the members of the 'Heart of Midlothian Foresters' football club.  Several of the players came from the Arthur Street area.

  ©

John Ballantyne,  Boswall, Edinburgh:  August 31, 2007

Please click the thumbnail image below to read John's recollections of accidents in Arthur Street:

©

 21.

Messages from Hugh Kinnaird

East Arthur Place

Thank you to Hugh Kinnaird who left this message in the Guest Book.

Hugh wrote:

Move to 'Little Scotland'

"I moved to Corby, Northamptonshire in the 1950s.  It became known as 'Little Scotland' and still does to this day.

I moved from Edinburgh on a street called East Arthur Place and still feel much saddened by the leaving.  Is there anybody out there that may have known my parents, Dad James Mum Annie nee (McGuire)?"

Hugh Kinnaird,  Corby, Northamptonshire, England:  February 19, 2008

 22.

Messages from Matthew Watt

Beaumont Place

Thank you to Matthew Watt who wrote:

Beaumont Place

"I lived  in 12 Beaumont Place with my sisters, wee brother and Mum & Dad, Robert & Betty Watt, until the building fell down.

I think we were in the third flat up the stairs.  We had to share the toilets.  My grannie  & grandad, Mathew & Cathie Watt,  stayed  down the stairs from us.

I remember  the top of the  building fell down early in the morning.  We were all evacuated to the Salvation   Army Hall near Jimmy Clark's School.  Later, we moved to Broomhouse Place South.

I had a really great time living at Beaumont Place.  I remember the pub at the top of the road, Mrs Robertson's sweetie shop across the road from us, and  I'll always remember going down the road on a guider.

I went to Preston Street School."

Matthew Watt, East Calder, West Lothian, Scotland:  July 8, 2008

 23.

Messages from Tam Harrison

Middle Arthur Place

Thank you to Tam Harrison who wrote who wrote:

Middle Arthur Place

"At Middle Arthur Place, we had a gas meter which took penny coins and coin shaped pennies made of lino, but you still had to pay meter reader.  The meter readers all had a great sense of humour.

The decor in our room was by McGill and son who lived on top flat  -  Eddie senior and Eddie junior.  They were great friends, along with brothers John and Jimmy.  John was called Zorro.  There was also Alec Farrel."

Tam Harrison, Buckstone, Edinburgh

 24.

Messages from Eric Gold

Gas Meter

Thank you to Eric Gold, East London, who wrote:

Middle Arthur Place

"I liked the entry made by Tam Harrison (23 above).  We, too, put foreign coins in the meter.  I used to collect old coins when I was wee and at school.  My prize coin was an Argentine peso with Eva Peron’s head on it.  It was worth a bob or two.

Years later, I was in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with a passenger ship I was working on, and a guy told me that coin was rare and would have been worth a lot of money in 1970.

When the gasman came to our home in East Arthur Place, and then in Harewood Road in Craigmillar, he would kill himself laughing as he counted out all the foreign coins.  He worked out what the market value was and said:  "You have more here than your bill is if you go to Thomas Cooks and change them." (ha ha ha ha).

To this very day I don’t know what happened to the Eva Peron peso, but my brother George came in with a new suit one day and said he found a £20 note in the High Street (ha ha ha ha).

 I always asked George about the coin, and he swore blind that he never sold it (ha ha ha ha). "

Tam Harrison, Buckstone, Edinburgh

Recollections

25.

Bill Cockburn

Comely Bank, Edinburgh

Prince Albert Buildings

"Bryan Gourlay mentioned (in Recollections 8 above) that at the time of the 1881 census,  737 people were living in Prince Albert Buildings.

When I stayed there, from 1955 until 1963, there were only 60 homes, so they must have lived like battery hens in 1881, as Bryan said."

Bill Cockburn, Comely Bank, Edinburgh: March 9, 2009."

Recollections

26.

Bryan Gourlay

Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Thank you to Bryan Gourlay who added:

1881 Census

Prince Albert Buildings

"I can understand Bill Cockburn's surprise at so many people living at Prince Albert Buildings in 1881.  I've checked the ScotlandsPeople web site and it is now showing 811 people living there at that time.  The house numbers listed there go up to the 130s."

St Leonard's

"My great and great great grandparents lived in the old part of St Leonard's, East and South Richmond Streets, just past the Pleasance from the Dumbiedykes.

Here, there were often between 60 and 80 people living in each tenement, so it didn't take many buildings to get to 1,000

Bryan Gourlay, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland, March 10, 2009

Recollections

27.

Theresa Carthy (nee Lapping)

Cork, Ireland

Thank you to Theresa Carthy for emailing me to tell me about a 4-minute film clip from a Panorama program, featuring Arthur Street, Dumbiedykes.

Theresa wrote:

Panorama Film Clip

Slum Housing

"Have you ever looked at this film clip from the 'BBC - Scotland on Film' web site?  It is a four-minute clip is from a Panorama programme.

Edinburgh Slums (1961)

My grandmother, Elisabeth Reid, is interviewed at the start of the clip.  She mentions in the clip that her husband is in hospital.  Within 6 months they were both dead, no doubt a product of the awful conditions they lived in for years."

Theresa Carthy (nee Lapping), Cork, Ireland:  March 24, 2009

This film clip includes:

-  comments from Elizabeth Reid

-  views inside one of the homes

-  brief views of some of the surrounding streets.

Recollections

28.

Theresa Carthy (nee Lapping)

Cork, Ireland

Thank you to Theresa for sending a further message.

Theresa wrote:

Slum Housing

"My mum lived in Arthur Street in Edinburgh until she married in 1952.  I can hardly remember the place, but my older brother remembers it.  He says he used to be terrified walking into the close  -  it was so dark.

Those houses where condemned when my mother was a kid - she was born in 1932!  I'm sure that the bad living conditions contributed to so many early deaths.  Sadly both mum and dad have passed away.

I was brought up in Gilmerton & moved here to Cork in Ireland 31 years ago"

Theresa Carthy (nee Lapping), Cork, Ireland:  March 24, 2009

Recollections

29.

Eric Gold

East End, London, England

Thank you to Eric Gold who viewed the Panorama film clip (27 above) then wrote:

Arthur Street  -  Film Clip

"I enjoyed the film on Arthur Street.  I saw:

-  my hoose

-  my Granny’s hoose

-  Hare's Bar (owned by the Richmond family) at the top of the brae

-  the backie (back green) where our cat, Toodles, would kill the rats

-  Cowan’s the paper factory

Fire

"The fire mentioned on the film clip, next door to the Humphries family, reminded me that there was a fire in the stair to the left of Willie Curran's shop in Arthur Street.

©

It was the top floor hoose on the right.  It was gutted and the heat was so intense that the windows blew out and the wee cat, Corky, was killed.  Thankfully, no one was injured.

The fire brigade had special chains and spikes pointing outwards to the ground on there wheels so they could mount the steep brae of Arthur Street in the wintery conditions."

Eric Gold, East London, England:  March 27+28, 2009

Recollections

30.

Catherine Rogers Simpson

Thank you to Catherine Rogers Simpson, formerly of 9 Prospect Street, who left a message in the EdinPhoto guest book.

Catherine wrote:

Dod Dicken Shop

"I remember the Dod Dicken shop.  I had a birthday party in the street.  We borrowed his bench out of the shop.  I remember playing kick the can."

Coal Motor

    ©

"I remember the coal motor going trough the park wall.

Catherine Rogers Simpson.  Message posted in EdinPhoto guest book:, July 27, 2009

Recollections

31.

Jim Hildersley

Western Harbour, Leith, Edinburgh

Thank you to Jim Hindersley who left a message in the EdinPhoto guest book.

Jim wrote:

Upper Viewcraig Row

"I've just been browsing the Dumbiedykes pages, and memories just came flooding back.

I used to live at 21 Upper Viewcraig Row.  My neighbours were Albert Booth and the Galloways, amongst others.

I went to Milton House primary and then on to Bellevue Secondary."

Home

"There were seven kids and my parents living in a house with one bedroom and abox room:

-  My parents slept in an alcove in the sitting room

-  My six sisters slept in the big bedroom.

-  I had the box room.

As there was only a WC, we had to go to Infirmary Street baths or to our Grannie's for a bath."

Shops

"I remember Yardley's shop.  I used to do a paper round for them. does anyone remember Jan's bakery on Holyrood road?"

Jim Hildersley. Western Harbour, Leith, Edinburgh.
Message posted in EdinPhoto guest book:, October 1, 2009

Recollections

32.

James Morton-Robertson

Sevenoaks, Kent, England

Thank you to James Morton-Robertson who wrote:

Chimney Sweeps

"I recall that my Granny, who lived in the bottom right rear flat, was having her chimney swept and she actually put the fire out.  That's the first time I seen no fire in the range.  She used to keep it on day and night, and had a trivet with a cast iron kettle on permanently.

The sweep could get onto the roof through a hatch on the top floor landing, then would scramble around the dozens of chimneys up there.  There were no 'Health and Safety' issues then.

He carried a very long rope with a wooden ball on the end with a sweep's brush attached above the ball.  His colleague would wait at the fireplace with the aperture sealed up with sacking and a sack inside to catch the soot. The top man would shout down the various chimneys with a “Hoooo” until he got an answering call from his colleague in Granny’s flat. 

Unfortunately, it was not the right chimney and someone else got a rich shower of soot everywhere!"

James Morton-Robertson, Sevenoaks, Kent, England.

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Edinburgh Recollections