Recollections of TL Devlin - Trawler Owners, Granton Harbour

Recollections TL Devlin Trawler Owners, Granton
1.	Darney Devlin Edinburgh	Thomas L Devlin (2) Newhaven Fishmarket Thomas L Devlin (2) Outside the Fishmarket Granton Devlin's Yard The Trawling Fleet Grace Devlin's Family Tea Robert Darney Devlin Railway Wagons Robert Darney Devlin Private Observation Car
2.	Grant King Aberdeenshire	Devlin's Yard
3.	Jack Wilson Sussex	Devlin's Yard
4.	Question Walter Lyle Hume Cowes, Isle of Wight with reply from John Stevenson Trinity Edinburgh	Devlin's Yacht at Sandport Street, Leith
5.	Question Jockey Sturgeon Edinburgh with reply from John Stevenson Trinity Edinburgh and Eddie Collie North Bay, Ontario, Canada	Edwards' Bakery
6.	Eddie Collie North Bay, Ontario, Canada	Devlin's Yard
7.	John Edwards Sun City, Florida, USA	Devlin's Yard Devlin Business
8.	John Edwards Sun City, Florida, USA	Murder in Devlin's Yard Devlin Business - History
9.	Alice Mitchell	Murder in Devlin's Yard
10.	John Fraser The Inch, Edinburgh	Granton Harbour

Recollections

Darney Devlin

Edinburgh

Darney Devlin (b.1921) is grandson of Thomas Leishman Devlin who built up the Devlin business between the early 1890s his death in 1919.

Darney is also the son of Robert Devlin. Robert Robert managed the Devlin Head Office and repair yard at Granton, also Oban and Aberdeen.

Darney told me about several aspects of T L Devlin's business. See below.

Thomas L Devlin (2)

Newhaven Fishmarket

"I have always known that Thomas Devlin had a first class reputation as a clever and strictly honest business man.

For years of dealing in the fish market at Newhaven, people wondered why he walked the whole length of the building, a few minutes before the bell to start the auctions, when he had water in his Market Office.

A buyer told me that, one day on returning to his stance, he overheard him say to a salesman: "Don't sell any sole until I tell you."

Word then got round that he had a photographic memory, and as all the owners piled fish boxes leaving the top box open, to display the type, he was able to survey and retain the overall size of landings by competitors."

Darney Devlin, Edinburgh, December 15, 2006

Thomas L Devlin (2)

Outside the Fishmarket

"Initially, probably from religious prejudice, he was refused a stance in the Market. Nothing daunted, he stood up on two fish boxes in the street and asked if anyone would like him to sell their fish. A number of foreign skippers were there and accepted. That was the start.

He was an ardent supporter of the Catholic Church and received an Honour from the King of Spain, but strangely, his wife Grace did not convert until after his death in 1919."

Darney Devlin, Edinburgh, December 15, 2006

Granton

Devlin's Yard

T L Devlin's yard was situated on the south side of Lower Granton Road, across the road from Granton Eastern Harbour.

The yard included:

- Engineering shop

- Boiler works

- Blacksmiths

- Wheelwrights

- Plumbers

- Sail Makers

- Stores

- Offices

The company also made its own fish boxes, and made and repaired nets. Ladies made the new nets, retired trawler men repaired the nets then dipped them in oil.

The Devlin Yard and Office at Granton was managed by Robert Devlin until he died, aged 37 in 1926. Robert's son, Darney recalls:

"I was aged 4 when my father died. For over three years after his death we lived with my mother's parents. As a child, I was told very little of the business.

On returning to our own house, it did not take me long to discover the boat yard locally, which became a Mecca, as all the men who had known and respected my father welcomed me warmly. They were always keen to show me how the various trades should be worked."

Darney Devlin, Edinburgh, December 15, 2006

John D Stevenson also knew the Devlin Yard at Granton well. He believes that, at one time there were probably over 50 women working in Devlin's Net Works and another 70 in the yard at Granton. New apartments have now been built on the site of the old Devlin Yard in Lower Granton Road.

Grant King remembers Devlin's Yard

The Trawling Fleet

"Thomas L Devlin began to build up his fleet of steam trawlers in the 1890s. He bought both second-hand and new trawlers, negotiating between boat-builders in Aberdeen and Edinburgh to achieve the best deal. Trawlers then cost about £10,000 each.

By 1900, T L Devlin had 16 in service. He continued to build up his fleet until the outbreak of World War 1."

Devlin's trawlers continued to sail out of Granton until 1962. The trawler 'Madden' (GN101) was broken up by Malcolm Brechin at Granton in December 1962, after 45 years' service."

Darney Devlin, Edinburgh, December 15, 2006

Grace Devlin's Family Tea

Darney Devlin, grandson of:

- Thomas Leishman Devlin who founded the trawling business and

- Grace Devlin who owned the business following the death of TLD

remembers family meals at his grandmother's house.

Darney recalls:

"My grandmother had a genuine interest in and caring for all the grandchildren. On a Sunday afternoon, we all gathered with my mother, the only adult, to have an enormous Scottish Tea.

Once we were all seated around the table, Grace would make a theatrical entrance into the room, dressed magnificently 'like a ship in full sail'.

The teas consisted of what was known as bakers' pies (mutton enclosed in light pastry sandwiches), bread, butter, pancakes, chocolate biscuits, fruit cakes and French cakes. She was an excellent cook and kept the whole family in soup, tarts and puddings.

She had a three-flatted house located in a large garden with an orchard, fruit garden with every berry, and a vine in the conservatory. There was no embargo on us picking anything in season. There was also a large park with goats that she milked herself, but could never understand why nobody else would drink the milk.

Christmas and Birthdays were always marked with a crisp banknote.

Darney Devlin, Edinburgh, December 15, 2006

Robert Darney Devlin

Robert Darney Devlin, managed the business of TL Devlin, trawler owners, Granton, until his death in 1926.

Robert's son, Darney Devlin comments:

Railway Wagons

"T L Devlin & Sons were good customers of the railway companies and had a fleet of railway trucks, marked 'Devlin' on the side.

Arrangements were made with the railways for these to be added to trains as required, to transport fish, and coal for the trawlers."

Private Observation Car

Each year, my father would travel to Oban on holiday when the fishing fleet was in. He would let it be known when he intended to travel, and the railway company would add an observation car for his private use, complete with a steward.

I was aged only four when his father died, but I still remember one of these journeys, playing with a toy tip-up truck on the carpet in the observation car, and looking up and seeing the steward, dressed in white and serving drinks from a silver salver."

Darney Devlin, Edinburgh, December 15, 2006

Recollections

Grant King

Aberdeenshire.

Darney Devlin (b.1921) is grandson of Thomas Leishman Devlin who built up the Devlin business between the early 1890s his death in 1919.

Darney is also the son of Robert Devlin who ran the business from 1919 until his death in 1926.

Darney told me about several aspects of T L Devlin's business. See below.

Devlin's Yard

"I used to pass Devlin's yard in Lower Granton Road, close to Granton Harbour just about every day on my way to school. It always caught my eye as it was the only place left at that time that still had cobbles down.

When looking into the yard, the cobbles used to lead up to a grass mound which had a flag pole mounted which looked like a ship's sailing mast.

I remember, in my younger years, in the early 1960s, standing outside the entrance to Devlin's yard waiting on the car he had in those days pulling out, just to see the fantastic bonnet mounting.

Never mind your Jaguar or Rolls Royce. This was a replica trawler. That man knew how to spend his money. That was the way to spend it!"

I now wonder, when he wafted by in his car in this period, whether or not he had a rye smile on his face as just about all the house doors along Lower Granton Road to about the Wardie Hotel were painted Devlin green. (I wonder where the paint come from ??????)"

Grant King, Aberdeenshire, now working in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil:: December 13+14, 2006.

Recollections

Yacht: 'The Darney'

Question

Walter Lyle Hume, Cowes, Isle of Wight recalls seeing a vessel named 'The Darney' in a yard on the Water of Leith at Sandport Street, Leith in the 1950s.

Walter believes that the yacht left Leith for Oban in the west of Scotland in the mid-1950s. He asks what else is known about this vessel.

Answer

Thank you to John D Stevenson, Edinburgh for finding the following connection with the Devlin family in a 1957 edition of Lloyds Yacht Register.

Note: Several members of the Devlin family have been named Darney, the family name of Grace Devlin (née Darney) who married the founder of the Devlin Trawler owning business, Thomas Leishman Devlin.

'The Darney'

ON 163884

ex-MTB 'Messines' (MTB = Motor Torpedo Boat)

Built 1940 by J. Thorneycroft & Co Ltd., Southampton

64.39 GRT

73.6ft L, 16.9ft B, 7.4ft D

Two six cylinder General Motor's diesel engines

Owners : Thomas L. Devlin & Sons

Port of Reg : Granton

Member of Royal Scottish Motor Yacht Club

Extract from Lloyds Yacht Register (1957) by John D Stevenson, Trinity, Edinburgh, February 20, 2007

Recollections

Edwards' Bakery

Question

Jockey Sturgeon, Granton, Edinburgh also wrote about Edwards' Bakery.

Jockey asked:

"I was wondering if you knew anything about Mr Edwards and his bakery on Lower Granton Road.

It is no longer a bakery as it was used only for a post office when he retired. It is now only a house.

I am looking for photos and more information from when it was a bakery. I visited the bakery when I was just a lad and I was born in 1970.

Jockey Sturgeon January 7, 2007

If you remember anything about the bakery, or have any photos of it, please e-mail me and I will pass on the information to Jockey.

Thank you. - Peter Stubbs

Answer 1

Thank you to John Stevenson, Trinity, Edinburgh, who answered:

"Ernest Edward ran the "Baker and Grocer" business at the shop (which later became a Post Office) from around 1946. From memory he lived in Portobello.

A relative (not sure of the relationship), James Edward, operated a garage east of the Wardie Hotel ( - there is still one there now ) in the 1930's.

The business was best known for its "rolls". In the late '40's and '50's people used to go to there around midnight and buy rolls direct from the doorway of the bakery which was behind the shop - I was one of their best customers at the weekends !!

They had a large "wholesale" trade in rolls , with at least two vans delivering around the town.

If you think how well known "Mason's Pies" were a few years ago then "Edward's Rolls" were in the same category."

John D Stevenson, Trinity, Edinburgh: January 9, 2007.

Answer 2

Thank you to Eddie Collie, Ontario, Canada who added:

"I just came across your article regarding Edwards Bakery in Granton and I may be able to add a few bits of information for you ."

The 'Works House'

"First. I was born in 1932 and actually lived in the 'works house' at TD Devlin's. My father ,Charlie Collie, drove a lorry Devlin's that delivered parts etc. to the trawlers. That's is why we lived in the house."

Air Raids

"I have many memories of Edwards during the war as when there was an air raid all the people in the street were allowed to use Devlin's air raid shelter which was next to the bakery.

I should add that in these times as a kid we did not object to having air raids as it meant we could stay up late and did not have to go to school the next day until 10am.

The men would stand outside together and the women would have a good gossip inside

The air raids lasted a reasonable time as it was usually the German planes going over to bomb Glasgow so we had to wait till they made their return trip home."

Edwards' Bakery

"Where Edwards Bakery came in was that as kids we would get money from our mothers and run over to the actual (back shop) bakery and buy the rolls that were being made for the next day. Did they taste good, wow!

I remember that my cousin from Canada was in Bomber Command and when the crew went on leave they would spend it with us. From what I heard at the dinner table my father had taken them in to Edwards one (could have been more) night and the family made the crew most welcome. I'm sure they had a few "nippy sweeties". Unfortunately the crew were later killed over Germany.

Eddie Collie, North Bay, Ontario, Canada, September 9, 2007.

Recollections

Eddie Collie

North Bay, Ontario, Canada

Thank you to Eddie Collie who added

The 'Works House'

"We lived in the works house at Devlin's yard at Granton. It was on the third floor of Devlin's works.

The 1st floor was the Engine Shop and the second was the Net Shop where the women made and repaired the fishing nets.

I believe we lived rent free (a guess) as my dad also was watchman for the property when there was nobody working.

Devlin's Yard

I have many memories of the yard as it was my playground, There were not many children at Easy Cottage (Lower Granton Road) and most of the time my brother and I played with Sandy Smith in the next building.

My uncle, Lauchlin Neil, was head joiner (carpenter).

Grant King (recollections 2, above) mentioned a big green at the entrance with a flag pole. That's where the air-raid shelter was during World War II.

While the war was a bad time, we kids had fun in the shelter. The women all gossiped inside while the men preferred to stay outside. We kids also had time to go next door to Edwards the baker and get some freshly baked rolls which we ate without butter on them,

I probably know more about Devlin's yard etc. and would be happy to answer any question anyone has if I possibly can. I also attended Granton school and later Bellevue

Eddie Collie, North Bay, Ontario, Canada, September 9, 2007.

If you have any questions for Eddie, please email me, then I'll pass them on to him.

Thank you. - Peter Stubbs: July 13, 2008

Question from

John Edwards

Sun City, Florida, USA

John Edwards, a member of the branch of the Devlin family that emigrated to the USA wrote:

Question

Murder in Devlin's Yard

"Do any of your readers have any information about the murder of a Night Watchman in the Devlin yard some years ago?

Apparently, the suspect was found guilty and sent to prison. It appears that he was also found guilty of another murder."

John Devlin, Sun City, Florida, USA: July 27, 2008

Answer 1

Thank you to Andy Hall, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, for providing the answer to this question. Andy wrote:

Murder in Devlin's Yard

"The night Watchman at Devlin's yard was a chap named Alan Fisher, aged 67. He was murdered by a trawlerman named Donald Ferguson Forbes aged 23.

I believe the murder took place on June 2/3,1958. It is reported he struck the watchman with a bolt or similar instrument and robbed him of his cigarette case, lighter and £11.10s.

He was sentenced to death to be carried out on October 16,1958 at Saughton Prison Edinburgh. He was married in prison and his sentence reprieved on the October 10, 1958.

[Acknowledgement: The Times Archive]"

Andy Hall, Newcastle -upon-Tyne, England