Edinburgh History - Old Town - Castlehill Primary School

Castle Hill School © Recollections
1.	Jim Currie Sarnia, Ontario, Canada	- School Dux
2.	Jim Robertson Berlin, Germany	- School Photo
3.	Jim Currie Sarnia Ontario, Canada	- School Photo
4.	Anita Razzell (nee Canale) Qualicum Beach, British Columbia, Canada	- School Photo 1950-51
5.	Kathleen Crawford (nee Matheson)	- Grannie's Green - Dux
6.	Jim Currie Sarnia, Ontario, Canada	- Basher Thomson - School Pupils
7.	Florence Broderic (nee McGhee) Muriston, West Lothian, Scotland	- Milnes Court - Family and Schools - Friends - Return Visit - Tattoo
8.	Jim Cairns Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland	- School Photo - First Year
9.	John McCall Murrayburn, Edinburgh	- School Friends
10.	Florence Broderic (nee McGhee) Muriston, West Lothian, Scotland	- Castle Hill School
11.	Jim Currie Sarnia, Ontario, Canada	- Castle Hill School
12.	Jim Cairns Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland	- When did the school close?
13.	Bryan Gourlay Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland	- The school closed in 1951
14.	Ronnie McGrouther Prudhoe, Northumberland, England	- Castle Hill School, 1946-50
15.	Alf Douglas Edinburgh	- Castle Hill School, c1942-49
16.	Alex Guild Rocky Hill, Connecticut, USA	- Home and School - Teachers - Pupils - Games - Religion - The Pictures - Move to USA - Return to Edinburgh
17.	Marion Marshall (nee McLaren)	- School Closed - Jim Cairns
18.	Lorraine Beach Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, England	- Walter Mcgrouther

Recollections

Jim Currie

Sarnia, Ontario, Canada

Thank you to Jim Currie, now living in Canada, who sent me the following message:

School Dux

"My name is Jim Currie. I attended Castle Hill Primary School when I lived in the Lawnmarket at # 1 Upper Bow. Around 1949/1950.

I was lucky enough to be the 'Dux' boy that year and received £3 and a Book at a School Ceremony for my efforts.

Unfortunately the £3 are long gone as you can imagine and the book which I had left with my Ma and Dad also disappeared after I emigrated to Canada.

Any chance there might be a record of this achievement to be found, or a picture of the graduating class?

I do have a small cutting out of the Edinburgh Evening news from that time, but no other documents.

I would be very surprised but happy if you came up with anything. Thx."

Jim Currie, Sarnia, Ontario, Canada: 3 January 2006

If you have any comments for Jim, please e-mail me so that I can pass them on to him.

Thank you. - Peter Stubbs: January 2006

Recollections

Jim Robertson

Berlin, Germany

Thank you to Jim Robertson who replied:

School Photo

"I thought the photo below might interest Jim Currie who was at Castle Hill Primary School. The photo comes from a friend of mine who came from the Upper Bow.

His Name is Ian Kerr. He now lives in Berlin, a few doors away from me. The photo was taken also around 1948-50.

Jim Robertson, Berlin: March 16, 2008

Castle Hill Primary School

Around 1948-50

A note on this photo says that it includes the Kerr twins, Inez and Ian.

Recollections

Jim Currie

Sarnia Ontario, Canada

After reading Jim Robertson's comments and seeing the photo above, Jim Currie wrote:

"Jim:

School Photo

I really appreciate seeing the picture you sent of a class at Castle Hill Primary School. Alas it's not the year i was looking for. I'm still looking for 1949 or 1950.

Please tell your friend that we lived in No.1 Upper Bow for several years before moving to a housing development at Broomhouse in the West of Edinburgh - not a great experience - then to Stevenson Drive where I lived until emigrating to Canada in April 1960.

Here are some names that you may recall from the Upper Bow area:

- Alec Lauder

- ,Donald Reid

- Bobby Gibson

- Sandy Cornelius

- John Middlemas

- James Lindsay

- Donald Urquhart.

We played a lot in Princes Street Gardens, Riddles Court, and Milnes Court, just across the 'Lawnie'.

My claim to fame if you want to call it that, was that I spent a lot of time in a wheel chair in my early years attached to the railing at the top of the Bow, as I had been born with a club foot."

Jim Currie, Sarnia, Ontario, Canada: March 21, 2008

Recollections

Kathleen Crawford (nee Matheson)

Thank you to Kathleen Crawford for sending this message to Jim Currie in reply to 1 above.

Kathleen wrote:

"Jim:

Grannie's Green

I believe I was in your sister Margaret's class at Castle Hill School. My teacher was Miss Mowat. My brother, John, and I lived in the army barracks at Johnstone Terrace. We used to play in Grannie’s Green, and used to be scared of the local policeman — Basher Thomson."

Dux

"We had Australian accents then. Did you find out information regarding your Dux medal? I was Dux as well and have nothing to show for it, so I sometimes think it is all in the mind as I have no proof of It.

If I remember correctly a boy named Eric McKean was Dux boy. It was either him or Alfred Douglas."

Kathleen Crawford (nee Matheson): July 30, 2008

Recollections

Jim Currie

Sarnia, Ontario, Canada

Thank you to Jim Currie, now living in Canada, who sent me the following message:

Basher Thomson

"The most recent message from Kathleen Crawford (4 above) took me back a few years with comments about the Barracks down Johnstone Terrace, Grannie's Green and 'Basher Thompson" the Bobby who kept us all on our toes. I have him as a character in a wee book I'm writing about my early days in Auld Reekie."

"To Kathleen:

School Pupils

I remember Alfie Douglas, but my sisters name was Betty, not Margaret. She did have a close friend called Margaret Aitken who lived on the top flat in No.4 Upper Bow, where my Granny Fell and Auntie Jean also lived in those days.

I also had two cousins that went to our school, Ann Currie and Elisabeth Gibb. they were about our age.

Thanks for the memories

PS. I'm a diehard 'Hibee' fan, ever since the 'Famous Five' days."

Jim Currie, Sarnia, Ontario, Canada: 3 January 2006

Recollections

Florence Broderick (nee McGhee)

Muriston, West Lothian, Scotland

Thank you to Florence Broderick who wrote:

Milnes Court

"I lived at 1 Milnes Court, Lawnmarket from 1943 untill 1968. Then the court was taken over by the University and we were all re-housed."

Family and Schools

"I had 4 sisters, Norma, Violet, Mina and Dorothy, and two brothers, Robert who was killed in the war in 1942, and Alistair.

Alistair, went to Castle Hill School from 1947 until the school closed, then he went to James Clark School. I went to South Bridge School, then to Darnoch, up Gilmore Place."

Friends

"I remember Alfie Douglas, Alex Anderson, Donald Reid, Bobby and May Gibson, John Middlemass; also Grace Mowat, who died aged only 5. Her dad was a bookie. Her uncle had the Eagle Bar with back windows facing onto Milnes Court."

Return Visit

"I took my grandchildren around the area on Monday. It has all been done up with big wooden doors and windows in the stair.

Castle Hill School is now a Whisky Heritage Centre.

Being Festival time, the Royal Mile was very busy, with stalls and slide shows."

Tattoo

"My family are taken us to the Tattoo this Saturday. The tickets sell out quickly and are hard to get.

We always used to go when we were kids. My dad worked in the castle and was a piper with the Royal Scotts."

Florence Broderick Muriston, West Lothian, Scotland: August 14, 2008.

Recollections

Jim Cairns

Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland

Thank you to Jim Cairns for providing a photograph of his Primary 1 class at Castle Hill school, taken in 1949.

Jim wrote:

School Photo

"Here is a photograph of my Primary 1 class at Castle Hill school in 1949.

I think my teacher was Miss Mowat. I was only there a year when the school closed, and I then went to South Bridge school.

Please click on the thumbnail image above to enlarge the photo and read some of the names of the pupils.

First Year

"I don't remember much about that first year. I was dunted in the back going downstairs and was only saved by rugby-tackling one of the female teachers. Very embarrassing!

We used slates to practice writing on, and brown plasticine for art lessons.

We used to get a free bottle of milk every morning. It was ok in the winter when it was cold, but not so nice in summer. We used the foil tops with marbles to make 'racing cars' which we
used on the sloping playground.

The classrooms were heated with coal fires, and when it rained the coats were piled on the fireguard to dry. If it was very wet, all of the pupils would march about in the rain at playtime chanting:

'We want a halfie, we want a halfie!'

It usually didn't work though."

Jim Cairns, Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland: September 21 + October 10, 2008

Recollections

John McCall

Murrayburn, Edinburgh

Thank you to John McCall, who wrote:

School Friends

"I lived at Riddles Court from 1940 until 1955 when we moved to Longstone. I went to Castlehill from 1945 until the school closed.

My mates were:

- Shugie Docherty and

- Tam Munro

I also remember:

- John Middlemas

- Alfie Reid

- Alex Anderson

- Donald Reid

- Allie

I then went to Jimmie's until 1955. I did a lot of travelling, and now I'm back hame for good.

(Jimmy's = James Clark School, St Leonard's)

John McCall, Murrayburn, Edinburgh: February 20, 2009

Recollections

12.

Jim Cairns

Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland

Thank you to Jim Cairns, now living in Dunfermline, who wrote:

Question

When did Castle Hill School close?

"I was looking at Jim Currie's recollections (11 above).

They suggested that the school was still open in 1952/53. My memory is that the school closed in 1950 or maybe 1951.

I was moved to South Bridge School, and remember getting my Coronation mug and a packet of Duncan's Merrols there in 1953. I had already been there a couple of years, I think.

Can anybody say for sure when Castle Hill school closed?"

Jim Cairns, Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland: April 23, 2009

If you know the answer to Jim's question, please email me, then I'll forward your message to him.

Thank you. - Peter Stubbs: April 23, 2009

Recollections

13.

Bryan Gourlay

Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Thank you to Bryan Gourlay for providing the answer below.

Bryan wrote:

Answer

The School Closed in 1951

"It looks like Jim Cairns is correct. The Edinburgh City Archives has the school's log books from 1888 up until 1951."

Record Reference: NRAS3563/50/1

NRA catalogue reference: NRA 38890 Edinburgh CL

Bryan Gourlay, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland: April 23, 2009

I was surprised by the speed of Bryan's reply. It arrived only an hour after I had asked the question on the web site.

Recollections

15.

Alf Douglas

Edinburgh

Thank you to Alf Douglas who wrote:

1942-49

"I went to Castlehill School from about 1942 to 1949, then went to Darnoch and left in July 1952.

I have many fond memories of Castlehill school. In fact, it was our year which got the school to form a football team. Better not too talk too much about that!!"

Pals

I can confirm that it was my good pal Eric McKean who was Dux. I remember a lot of the boys and girls. Here are just a few names:

- Erin Anderson

- Ronnie Armstrong

- Bettie Currie

- George Downie

- Franny Duffy

- Bobby Ewing

- Freddy Hawkswell

- Charlie Holt

- Alex Lauder

- Wallace McLerty

- Kathleen Matheson

- Alec Ramsay

- Lena Walker

- Willie Waugh

Alf Douglas Edinburgh: December 8 + 9 + 10 +11, 2009

Recollections

16.

Alex Guild

Rocky Hill, Connecticut, USA

Thank you to Alex Guild who wrote:

Home and School

"I lived at 209 Jackson’s Close on the High Street, and went to Castle Hill School as did my siblings:

- Violet

- Marion

- Ina

- Janet (Nettie)

- Jimmy

- Maisie (Mary Jane)

- Billy.

I graduated the same year as Jim Currie. (See recollections 1, 3, 6, 11 above.) I think it was in 1950."

Teachers

"Teachers I recall were:

- Ms Mowett

- Ms Barton

- Mr Lowe

I also remember getting the strap for talking, chewing, running, and insubordination."

Pupils

"Some of my classroom students were:

- Frank Wilson

- Neil MacCann

- Rita Hartley

- Jimmie Currie

- Annie Currie

- Mary Elgin

- Elizabeth Elgin

- Janet MacFarlane

- Colin Calendar

- June Weir

- Jim Small

- George Guthrie

- John MacLaren"

Games

"I remember playing rounders, which was similar to baseball. The boys used to think it was a girls' game. The only reason the boys would play was to meet the girls."

Religion

"I remember going to the Hallelujah Hall on the High Street on Sunday mornings. It was run by Mr and Mrs Elliott. This was a precursor to joining St Giles Church.

Then there was Charlie Battle's, another religious group - and finally Carrubber's Close on a Sunday night where you got Perkins and hot cocoa."

The Pictures

I remember the pictures (movies) like:

- Blue Halls

- New Palace, on High Street

- Playhouse

- Salon, on Leith Street

- Regent, down by Easter Road

- Pools, at the back of the Castle

- New Vick

- Las Cala.

Move to USA

"After Castle Hill School:

- I went to James Clark High School for a short time

- Then, I then emigrated to America in 1951, and settled in Hartford Connecticut.

Return to Edinburgh

"The last time I was in Scotland was in 1997. I went to Register House to see if I could locate any of the people mentioned above, but had no luck.

I am now 71 years old and live live in Rocky Hill, Connecticut. If any of the people mentioned above see this I would like to hear from them."

"Go Hibs."

Alex Guild, Rocky Hill, Connecticut, USA: May 25, 2010

Reply to Alex Guild

If you'd like to send a reply to Alex Guild, please email me, then I'll pass your message on to him. Thank you.

Peter Stubbs, May 29, 2010

Recollections

18.

Lorraine Beach

Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, England

Lorraine Beach wrote:

Searching for a photo of

My Dad

Walter McGrouther

"I'm trying to find a photo of my Dad, Walter McGrouther, as a child. He was born in 1931 and went to Castle Hill Primary School then to James Clarks Secondary School, both in Edinburgh.

I've seen class photos from both schools that include my Dad's brothers, Ronnie and Rab McGrouther, but I've not yet found any photos of my Dad's class. Do you know where I might be able to find one?"

Lorraine Beach, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, England: April 25 + May 16, 2012

Reply to Lorraine Beach?

If you remember Walter McGrouther, or know of any photos of him as a child, and would like to contact Lorraine, please email me, then I'll pass on your message to her.

Thank you.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: May 16, 2012