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Recollections Greendykes
Greendykes lies about
3 miles to the SE |
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1. |
Lesley Conway |
- Prefab Housing - Photo |
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2. |
Sandra Givan |
- Prefab Housing - Photo |
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3. |
Bob Henderson |
- Burdiehouse - Greendykes |
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4. |
Carol Dodds |
- Prefab Housing - Sandy's Club |
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5. |
Brian Edwards |
- Prefab Housing - Sandy's Club |
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6. |
Peter Hainey |
- Prefab Housing - Wee Woods and Big Woods - Schools |
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7. |
John Wright |
- Prefab Housing - Wee Woods and Big Woods |
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8. |
Lyndsay
(formerly Linda) Montgomery |
- Sandy's Club |
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9. |
Irene Cordier |
- Prefabs - Wauchope Estate - Farmer's Fields - Not Much Money |
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10. |
Irene McHale |
- Greendykes Crescent |
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11. |
Stuart OGSTON Edinburgh |
- Greendykes House - Games - Traders |
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12. |
Margaret DOW |
- Local Shops - Gala - Traders |
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13. |
Jimmy
DICKSON |
- Greendykes Terrace - Play - Schools |
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14. |
Graeme
MacKAY |
- Greendykes House |
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15. |
Graeme
MacKAY |
- Greendykes House |
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Recollections 1. Lesley Conway Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
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Thank you to Lesley Conway for sending this photograph taken outside one of the prefab houses at Greendykes: Greendykes - 1957 |
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Recollections 2. Sandra Givan Craigmillar, Edinburgh |
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Thank you to Sandra Givan for sending this photograph taken outside one of the prefab houses at Greendykes: Greendykes - 1961 |
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Recollections 3. Bob Henderson Burdiehouse, Edinburgh wrote |
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Thank you to Bob Henderson who wrote: |
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Burdiehouse "Here's another type of prefab. This photo shows the houses in their old and metamorphosed state. These are BISF houses and were made in huge numbers all over the UK. I have lived in one of these in Burdiehouse for the last 35 years. The conversion has turned them into very snug and fuel efficient homes." |
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Greendykes "I also lived for a short time in one of the other type, an asbestos one in Greendykes. It was a great wee hoose. Imagine going from a single-end with no hot water and an outside shared lav. to your own wee bungalow with hot and cold running water and a bath with, wonder of wonders, a gas- operated fridge built in to the fitted kitchen!" |
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Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh: January 4, 2007 |
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Recollections 4. Carol Dodds Edinburgh |
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Thank you to Carol Dodds for leaving this message in the EdinPhoto guest book. |
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Prefab Housing "Does anyone remember the prefabs in Greendykes? I used to live in this magical wee house, in what seemed to be long hot summer nights." |
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Sandy's Club "I would take a wander up past the Thistle Foundation and then hang out with the gang at Sandy's club at Craigmillar Castle Avenue. Happy days" |
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Carol Dodds, Edinburgh: January 6, 2007 |
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Recollections 5. Brian Edwards Edinburgh |
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Thank you to Brian Edwards for leaving this reply to Carol Dodd's message (above) in the EdinPhoto guest book. Brian wrote: |
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Prefab Housing "Hi Carol, I remember the prefabs but not for good memories. Unfortunately, they where getting demolished when I first saw them. That was my first encounter with glass wool insulation that came from inside the walls etc. I had the itches for days after." |
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Sandy's Club "I too use to hang out at Sandy's club, the guy who ran it was called Jimmy! great time had by all." |
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Brian Edwards, Edinburgh: January 7, 2007 |
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Recollections 6. Peter Hainey Oregon, USA |
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Thank you to Peter Hainey for leaving this message in the EdinPhoto guest book. Peter wrote: |
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Prefab Housing "I have enjoyed the comments on this site. They bring back a lot. memories of Greendykes. From 1951 to 1955, we lived in the pre-fabs (now long gone) at Greendykes Road" |
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Wee Woods and Big Woods "I also remember the Wee Woods and the Big Woods and a fire that burned down an abandoned mansion in the Big Woods." |
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Schools "After Greendykes, we moved to Bo'ness until 1960, then the Leith Walk / London Road. area until about 1962. I went to Broughton Primary & Secondary schools." |
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Brian Edwards, Edinburgh: January 7, 2007 |
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Recollections 7. John Wright Edinburgh |
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Thank you to John Wright for leaving this message in the EdinPhoto Guest Book. John wrote: |
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Prefab Housing "I used to live in Greendykes Crescent and lived in a prefab, the best houses in the world. Well, except for the winter when the ice was on the INSIDE of the house. lol." |
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Wee Woods and Big Woods "I remember: - the wee woods and the big woods - the ''Tarzan swing' over the burn - Kerr's field and the mansion. I hope it brings back memories to some of my old mates." |
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John Wright: Edinburgh: June 7, 2007 |
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Recollections 8. Lyndsay (formerly Linda) Montgomery Old Town, Edinburgh |
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Thank you to Lyndsay Montgomery for leaving this message in the Guest Book. Lyndsay wrote: |
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Sandy's Club "I've just read Carol Dodds' entry (4 above) and yes I remember Sandy's club up at the back of Craigmillar. I remember meeting a boy called Johnny who lived in the Thistle Foundation. I can't remember what his last name was. A day later, we went to the cinema to see an Elvis movie at the Playhouse. Somehow, his choice of movie put me off him. He was a really nice guy, but too quiet for me. I used to know Roy Mcgregor and went out with him for a while. There was his mate George Smith as well, and another two pals, one I only knew as Big Brian and the other was Peter Storey. Does anyone remember them? Roy and George were both Craigmillar boys and the other two, I think, were from Niddrie Mains.
Lyndsay (formerly Linda)
Montgomery, Old Town, Edinburgh: |
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Reply to Lyndsay If you'd like to send a reply to Lyndsay, please email it to me then I'll forward it to her. Thank you. Peter Stubbs, July 18, 2008 |
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Recollections 9. Irene Cordier (née Heron) Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
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Thank you to Irene Cordier (née Heron) who wrote: |
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Prefabs "We lived in the prefabs in Greendykes from 1948 to 1957/58." Wauchope Estate "Does anyone remember the Wauchope Estate? As kids we would go for walks in the woods - absolutely beautiful - and the mansion. One of my first memories is of snowdrops and frogs in the burn that ran through the grounds." Farmer's Fields "Let's not forget the famer's fields next door, and the haystacks we use to play in. I'm sure the farmer was delighted! He used to chase us and, God forbid, catch us. Then he would drag us in front of our parents and make us pay for the damage." Not Much Money "Oh to turn back the clock! Nobody had much in the way of money, but somehow it didn't matter. We made our own fun. I will always have very fond memories of growing up in Greendykes and living in Auld Reekie Irene Cordier, Toronto, Ontario, Canada: February 25, 2009 |
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Recollections 10. Irene McHale (née McGinley) Adelaide, South Australia, Australia |
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Thank you to Irene McHale (née McGrinley) who posted a message in the EdinPhoto guestbook after reading John Wright's comments (7 above). Irene wrote: |
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Greendykes Crescent "I also lived in Greendykes Crescent, at the top of the crescent, with my family: - mum and dad, Agnes and Gerald - brothers, Gerald and Kenneth - sisters, Eleanor and Grace Marie. I remember: - the big wood - the wee woods - the rope swing over the burn - the swing park nearby I remember fireworks and everyone making a great big fire for Guy Fox Night, where we threw in potatos. We all had fun back then. We we used to just wander off as kids. I lived there in the 1950s for a few years, then moved to Leith Street Terrace.
Irene McHale (née
McGinley), Adelaide, South Australia, Australia |
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Recollections 11. Stuart Ogston Edinburgh |
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Thank you to Stuart Ogston for posting his (pre-teens) memories of living at Greendykes in the EdinPhoto guest book. Stuart wrote: |
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Greendykes House "I lived in Greendykes House from mid-1965. I watched the building of New Niddrie House, Greendykes Primary School and the bus terminus (no walking to Niddrie Mains Rd) where the 36 stopped before returning to the city. This service was soon to be replaced by the 21." Games "Memories that have remained with me are playing: - Coco 21 in and around the base of the flats. *** - High Tig in the graveyard at the bus terminus (a very creepy little place as the nights drew in). - Tap Door Run in the 14 storey block of flats. Traders Other fond memories are of : - Arcaris Ice Cream van - the Chip van and of course - the bugle of the Rag and Bone man.
Stuart Ogston, Edinburgh:
Message and email address posted in EdinPhoto guestbook |
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*** Update I did not recognise the game 'Coco 21' so I asked Stuart about it.. He replied: Coco 21 "In answer to your question, Coco21 was a game of hidey. It started by someone counting coco1, coco2, coco3..... up to coco21, whilst everyone hides. First sought out was next up to seek, but they only counted to coco20, and so on until coco1, by which time the best hiding place may well have been right behind the seeker. Throughout the course of the game, there was always the chance that by being last yet to be caught and arriving at the base whilst the seeker was away they could declare "last man frees all" . Everyone would scarper until all were caught. However, at any time, the game could be stopped by calling "The game's up the pole". I cannot explain why this phrase was used, unfortunately."
Stuart Ogston, Edinburgh:
Message and email address posted in EdinPhoto guestbook |
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Recollections 12. Margaret Dow (née Porter) East Lothian, Scotland |
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Thank you to Margaret Dow for posting her memories of living at Greendykes in the EdinPhoto guest book. Margaret wrote: |
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Local Shops "I have lots of memories of growing up in Greendykes prefabs. We lived in the Drive. Our local shops were: - Densleys, Post Office - Melis, butcher - Centra, Grocer. One of my brothers delivered groceries in a wooden wheelbarrow for pin money. Gala "Most memorable was a Gala, when we walked behind a pipe band to Duddingston train stop and went all the way to St Margaret's Park in Corstorphine. We had our tinny cups affixed to our chest with a coloured sash. We had a bag of buns, including sausage roll etc., also races with prizes. The Gaff "There were Saturday matinee films at the County (gaff) with hula hoop and other competitions." Play "Greendykes was a safe secure place to grow up. We had: - skirmishes to the woods, big and wee - rafter jumping in the 'new builds' and for the very brave - the graveyard. I could go on and on."
Margaret Dow (née Porter),
East Lothian, Scotland: Message posted in EdinPhoto guestbook |
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Recollections 13. Jimmy Dickson Easter Road, Edinburgh |
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Thank you to Jimmy Dickson who wrote: |
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Greendykes Terrace "I grew up in Greendykes Terrace from 1963 until 1984. Then, I met my future wife and moved to Easter Road where I have been since." |
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Play "Greendykes was a superb place to grow up in. I remember the freedom of being able to roam the streets with all my pals, without any worries. We played footie in the car park till all hours, until your ma shouted you in for your bed because you had school next day." I remember the skinny woods, the dangers, and the quarry where we used to go at weekends and during school hols. We stayed over from the shops where there was: - a grocers. - Densleys. I think it was a clothes shop - a bakers and a butchers." |
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Schools "I went to St Frannies school, then to Holyrood. All my mates went to Castlebrae, but we always met up after school and had a great time. Sadly since moving away I have lost touch but would like it if anybody remembers me and sends a reply" |
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Jimmy Dickson, Easter Road, Edinburgh: April 10, 2011 |
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Reply to Jimmy Dickson If you'd like to send a reply to Jimmy, please email me, then I'll pass your message on to him. Thank you. Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: April 13, 2011 |
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Recollections 14. Graeme MacKay Liberton, Edinburgh |
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Thank you to Graeme MacKay for writing about the time when he lived at Greendykes House in the late-1960s.
Wauchope House 2007 Graeme wrote: |
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Greendykes House "I grew up in Corstorphine before moving to Greendykes. I lived at Greendykes House from 1967 to 1969, on the tenth floor as it happens. The flats were brand new at the time. I believe they were constructed in 1966 as were those at Wauchope House, right next door. I loved the view from the living room balcony, but I didn’t care for the elevator or the concrete stairwell which I used on occasion, when the power was out.
Graeme MacKay 1967 Here is a photo that was taken in 1967. It looks towards the north, I believe. Please click on this thumbnail photo to enlarge it." Graeme Mackay, Liberton, Edinburgh: May 18, 2014 |
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Recollections 15. Graeme MacKay Liberton, Edinburgh |
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Thank you to Graeme MacKay for writing again. Graeme wrote: |
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Greendykes House "I grew up in Corstorphine before moving to Greendykes. I lived at Greendykes House from 1967 to 1969, on the tenth floor as it happens. The flats were brand new at the time. I believe they were constructed in 1966 as were those at Wauchope House, right next door. I loved the view from the living room balcony, but I didn’t care for the elevator or the concrete stairwell which I used on occasion, when the power was out.
Graeme MacKay 1967 Here is a photo that was taken in 1967. It looks towards the north, I believe. Please click on this thumbnail photo to enlarge it." Graeme Mackay, Liberton, Edinburgh: May 18, 2014 |