Edinburgh History - Newhaven

Recollections

John Stevenson

Trinity, Edinburgh

Thank you to John Stevenson who wrote:

Mending Nets

"I remember the net park, with clothes poles, behind the school, near the Peacock Hotel, at Newhaven.

The women mended the nets, and we, children, earned 3d or 6d for cutting string into short lengths for them."

The Fishmarket

"I remember the steam boats that used to berth on the eastern side of Newhaven fishmarket , before the breakwater was built to enclose Leith Western Harbour.

We used to go down to the fishmarket at 12 o'clock on a Saturday to be given a pauchle o' damaged fish. by the market boys."

John Stevenson, Trinity, Edinburgh - May 2005

If you have comments to add, relating to any of the recollections on this site, please email me. Thank you.

Recollections

Sandra Maclean

Grosse Ile Michigan USA

Thank you to Sandra Maclean for leaving a message in the EdinPhoto guest book. The notes below are based on this message.

Sandra remembers:

Newhaven Characters

"I was born and grew up in magical Newhaven. Living there in the 1950s and 1960s was like a visit to " Brigadoon".

The characters, the fishwives, and the hustle and bustle kept a girl/woman with lots of imagination always entertained."

Travel from Newhaven

"I lived there with the Workman, Muirs, Carnies and Brands. We never wanted to travel, even to Annfield or Granton which were on either end of the small fishing village of Newhaven."

Family

"My Dad was Murdo and my Mum had the hairdressing shop there called Nancy's. I had one brother Murdo and we went to Victoria School. It was magic."

Sandra Maclean, Grosse Ile Michigan USA, June 7 2007

Recollections

Reply

Ian Thomson

Lake Maquarie, New South Wales, Australia

Thank you to Ian Thomson who wrote:

Newhaven Harbour

"I recall Sunday jaunts to Newhaven Harbour with jeely jars for sticklebacks. We used to get on the tram outside the zoo, upstairs in the front compartment, then back home, absolutely starving.

Few minnies survived the tram journey or the hike up to Carrick Knowe Hill."

Ian Thomson, Lake Maquarie, New South Wales, Australia: October 11, 2010

Recollections

Richard Easson

Dornoch, Sutherland, Scotland

Thank you to Richard Easson who wrote:

Barnie Battle's Pub

"Here is a photo of Barnie Battle's pub which stood looking onto the harbour at Newhaven. Barnie himself had played for Scotland and Hearts and was a nice man.

I lived on Main Street behind this scene, above Mrs Thompson's antique and junk shop, although I heard later she did not own the shop or the flats above. She just took the rent."

Richard Easson, Dornoch, Sutherland, Scotland: April 20, 2011

Recollections

Fiona MacKinnon

Sleat, Isle of Skye, Scotland

Thank you to Fiona MacKinnon who wrote:

Sound Recordings

"I wonder if you could help me. We are working with the School of Scottish Studies in Edinburgh to make the sound recordings in their archives available to the public through our Kirk o Riches website

We have a few recordings from 1964 of people from Newhaven and Leith who were recorded by Hamish Henderson in Lamb's House. However, we need permission from the families of the people who were recorded before the recordings can be put online.

Perhaps, someone reading this message might remember some of the people that were interviewed,or indeed be related to them. Most of them were elderly when they were recorded. The recordings give a very interesting insight into what life was like for them in their younger days. I'd be grateful for any help at all.

People Interviewed

These are the people from Newhaven and Leith who were interviewed in 1964:

- Mrs Drennan, who lived at Seafield Avenue, Newhaven in 1964

- Jemima Liston (née Hall) who lived at 81 Main Street, Newhaven and had a brother, Willie.

- Miss Liston (sister-in-law of Jemima Liston) who lived at 4 Anne Street, Newhaven.

- Alexander Rutherford (Sandy) who lived at flat 34 (or 36) Annfield Street, Newhaven - opposite the school'.

- Elizabeth Brunton who lived at 31 Cambridge Avenue, Leith, and seems to have known a lot about selling fish; perhaps she was a street-seller.

- Isabella Buchan who lived at 22 Prince Regent Street, Leith, and was possibly a street-seller.

Fiona MacKinnon, Sleat, Isle of Skye, Scotland: May 14, 2012

Reply to Fiona

If you know anything about the families of any of the people mentioned above, and would like to send a message to Fiona, please email me, then I'll pass on her contact details to you. Thank you.

Peter Stubbs: May 31, 2012

Recollections

Reply

Stephen McMahon

Munich, Germany

The two Ms Listons

Thank you to Ian Thomson who replied almost immediately, suggesting how Fiona might be able to identify the two Ms Listons on her list.

I've now passed on Stephen's suggestions to Fiona.

Acknowledgement: Stephen McMahon: June 1, 2012

Recollections

Reply

Winnie Lisowski

Munich, Germany

The Two Ms Listons

Thank you to Winnie Lisowski for also offering to help to discover more about the two Ms Listons on Fiona's list.

Acknowledgement: Winnie Lisowski, Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland: June 1, 2012

Recollections

Reply

Claire Graham

'Granny Brunton'

Thank you to Claire Graham, great granddaughter of Elizabeth Brunton who lived at 31 Cambridge Avenue, Leith, saying:

"I'd love to hear from Fiona about the sound recordings she has and the possibility of including these on the website."

Claire Graham: June 9, 2012

Recollections

Margaret Williamson (née Hay)

Moline, Illinois, USA

Here is a message that Margaret Williamson (née Hay) posted in the EdinPhoto Guestbook

Margaret wrote:

James and Betty Quinn

"Does anyone know of my aunt and uncle, James and Betty Quinn and their son James? They were from Newhaven and their families were in the fishing business for generations.

James and Betty lived in Lower Granton Road - No. 16, I think - close to where the trams went under the bridge.

My aunt had a sister, Davina, who was well known for making brides' cakes and for her knitting, as was my aunt, Betty."

Margaret Williamson (née Hay), Moline, Illinois, USA:
Message posted in EdinPhoto Guestbook, October 9, 2012

Recollections

Stuart Wilson

Thank you to Stuart Wilson who saw the "Castle Series" postcard below, and replied:

New Lane

Newhaven

"This picture means a lot to me, knowing that my family resided on this street from 1810 to around 1920. My grandfather grew up on New Lane then moved to North Leith some time around 1905.

In February 1940 he was a stoker on the fishing trawler 'Theresa Boyle' fishing approximately 100 miles NE of Aberdeen in the North Sea. At this time the Theresa Boyle was bombed and sunk by a German plane

The crew all managed to get into a lifeboat and safely make it back to shore. My grandfather passed away several months later. I have my family tree almost completed and I'm trying to get some older photos of Newhaven."

Margaret Williamson (née Hay), Moline, Illinois, USA:
Message posted in EdinPhoto Guestbook, October 9, 2012

Recollections

Peter Swanson

Newhaven, Edinburgh

Peter Swanson wrote:

Newhaven

Port of Leith Motor Boat Club

Question

"I've taken over the Port of Leith Motor Boat Club and I'm trying to replace the plaque above the Newhaven Street end of the building

Due to the weather, it has been nearly destroyed and it's hard to make out the detail. Rather than guess the detail, does anyone know of any pictures of the plaque that I could consult?"

Peter Swanson, Newhaven, Edinburgh: June 24, 2013

Recollections

Andrew Paterson

Borders, Scotland

Thank you to Andrew Paterson who wrote:

Main Street

Pubs + Shops

"I remember the pubs (precocious youth!) and a smokehouse on the South side of Main Street

Between Gisertiri's and Johnstone's the Butcher, there were a couple of shops. One of them was taken over by sort of hippies. It became an antique shop/home. Above them were the Patons and the Ramages who had frequent 'domestics' and similar."

Andrew Paterson, Borders, Scotland, April 2, 2014

Recollections

Ian Gordon

Nairn, Highland, Scotland

Thank you to Ian Gordon who wrote:

Newhaven Harbour

"My father was Police Officer at Newhaven Fish Market during the 1950s. I can recall him having to retrieve any bodies that turned up in the harbour.

I was at Trinity Academy and would go down to the harbour, pick up a line and hook and try for a partan. I would usually have a roll and fried onion for my dinner, but my mum never knew.

I now stay in Nairn, having retired from Strathclyde police."

Ian Gordon, Nairn, Highland, Scotland: 2 March 2016