Recollections

8.

Steven Oliver

Duns, Borders , Scotland

Thank you to Steven Oliver, now living in Duns, Borders, Scotland for replying to Brian Swanney's  comments above

Steven wrote:

Original Tenant

"Having seen Brian Swanney’s notes on the Pilton and Crewe Gumley houses, and your list of dates that the streets were named, it reminded me that my grandparents’ neighbour through the wall at 104 Boswall Parkway was Muriel Pell (who some readers may remember as Miss Pell) of 1, Pilton Park.  She was one of the original tenants of that block when it was built in 1933.  The houses were indeed named for their factor."

Boswall Parkway

"Boswall Parkway was developed from the east end westwards, with the bit between Boswall Drive and Boswall Terrace being the first to be built, in 1921.  The rest of it wasn’t developed until the 30s, first with the Pilton and Crewe Gumley houses on the south side in 1933/4, then with the Wardieburn and Royston Corporation schemes on the north side a few years later."

Gumleys Houses

"There is a slight design difference in these Gumleys houses.  The ones to the east of Pilton Place have bay windows with curved shingle fronts while the ones to the west have bay windows with flat fronts."

Crewe Place

"Then of course we have the house with the flat roof in Crewe Place, which was rebuilt due to bomb damage in 1940. 

It actually has a companion, in the similar development at Broomfield & Broomburn, although this one was as an experiment rather than a rebuild."

Crewe Place

"I certainly remember seeing the maintenance shed on Pilton Drive which Brian mentions.  I think it’s still there today – I’ll have a look the next time that I’m in the area."

Steven Oliver, Duns, Borders, Scotland:  June 15, 2008

Recollections

9.

Betty Fraser (née Simpson)

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Betty Fraser, wrote again, a couple of years after sending 'Recollections 2' above.

Betty wrote:

Embassy Picture Theatre

"I remember the Embassy Picture Theatre and distinctly remember the Shirley Temple films that we kids were all anxious to see.

I was an avid reader and would save up fourpence to go to the newsagent near the pictures to get the latest small paperback - for the life of me at the moment I can't think of the name of the author  and yet I knew it so well!  Maddening!"

Betty Fraser:  Sydney, New South Wales, Australia:  November 8, 2008

Recollections

10.

Bob Sinclair

Queensland

Thank you to Bob Sinclair, who wrote:

School and Allotments

"I remember Pilton Avenue and the garages near Pilton Drive.

Further up was Ainslie Park Primary School.  It was a series of long, wooden painted huts.  It was, I believe, vacated at a later stage.  I  don't know where the children went.

Beyond a field, at the back of the school, were the allotments for the use of the people of the district where( tut! tut!) little laddies used to purloin the odd turnip and some pea pods.

Fish, Bread, Ice Cream and The Store Van

Many of the houses were not within easy walking distance of the shops at either end of Pilton Avenue, somen would come round selling their goods.

-  The Fish Man came with a little van which was covered in on both sides. He had a good selection of fish, probably picked up from Granton or Newhaven harbour.

-  The Baker's Van   came round for a while, but where he picked up his bread from I never knew.

-  The Ice Cream Barrow Man who came round.  His barrow was a contrivance like a three wheel bicycle with a big box on the front that had two deep cans of ice cream.

You could, in the early days, get a farthing cone.  It was about a quarter the size of an ordinary cone, or a slider.  You could have strawberry or some other flavour put on the top of your ice cream.

If it had been a good week, your mother might send you out with a bowl to get a few scoops of ice cream - 'hundreds and thousands' was optional.

-  There were also two different ice cream vans which came round - a very plain van which had good ice cream and later on 'Mr Whippy' with his musical tune.

-  The Store Van had a selection of fruit and vegetables along either side of what looked like a converted single decker bus.  I was never sure whether it was from The Provvy or St Cuthbert's.

-  And of course, at times there was Ingin Johnnie.

All these vendors made life a little easier, mainly for the women folk, even if at times their products was starting to decline in quality by the end of the day."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 12, 2009

Recollections

11.

Bob Sinclair

Queensland

Bob Sinclair added:

Back Greens

"When I lived in Crewe Road North, a wee van used to appear at the weekend and a vendor used to sell his rolls from the space to the left of the hole in the wall.  If you were not quick he could be sold out within quarter of an hour. The rolls were magic on a cold night.

Another seller used to have a van on Pilton Drive North, at the East side of the Embassy Picture House and he also did a roaring trade.

And I have no doubt there were others"

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 23, 2009

Recollections

12.

Bob Sinclair

Queensland

Bob Sinclair added:

Back Greens

"Back greens was mainly of two types, and I quote from experience.

1. The one where I lived at Pilton had four iron poles, set in a square at the edges of the green with four little cross pieces where the washing line could be attached.

The washing was hung up with wooden pegs and then the back green pole was put up - a wooden pole with an arrow shape at one end and a vee-shaped piece at the other which was shoved up into the line.  The arrow end was set in the grass.

Those with more class used to call the grass the lawn.  At the dividing lines between the houses alongside the pailings were the D shaped brackets into which the washing line poles were inserted.

Our back green at Pilton was used for kids' concerts, high shoulder fights and various other games, though you did have to try and avoid washing day."

2. When I lived in Home Street at Tollcross the back green was a joke. It was an area of concrete which I think had poles but I was never game to venture out into it."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  January 2, 2010

Recollections

13.

Bob Sinclair

Queensland

Bob Sinclair added:

Pigs' Bin

"Our local pigs' bin stood near a lamp post, about outside No 321 in Pilton Avenue.  It serviced quite a lot of households.  It was able to do this because not much was ever thrown away.

Leftovers for the bin were generally wrapped in the Evening News pages.

Our bin was used to stot balls of off.  Being round, this was great fun for:

-  catchy, a game where you had to catch the ball before it hit the ground.

-   hide and seek, as a hiding place if you were small.

-   cricket, as our stumps.

We didn't mind that it was not decorative.

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  January 14+17, 2010

Recollections

14.

Bob Sinclair

Queensland

Bob Sinclair added:

Our Local Bobby

"Our local Bobby was one who wore a helmet and was feared and respected by the youth of the area.  To us he appeared to be a giant of a man, though he may only have been six feet in height.  From memory he was a teuchter, but he had a good firm way of telling you what was what.

The worst words you could hear him say were 'I'll have to tell your father about this'.  'Ah didnae mean to do it mister' or 'Ah'll no' do it again' could buy you a remission, but you would not get away with it a second time, for he had a good memory.

He did, however, give you a sense of security and he was respected by both the older and younger members of the community"

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  January 14+17, 2010

Recollections

15.

Steven Oliver

Duns, Borders , Scotland

Thank you to Steven Oliver for sending further information about the maintenance shed mentioned in Brian Swanney's comments in his Gumley paragraph (7 above).

Steven wrote:

Pilton Drive  -  Maintenance Shed

"I've managed to find out a little info about the maintenance shed in Pilton Drive.  My dad tells me that these would have been run by the factors, Gumley.  It had one door for the electricians, another for the plumbers, and possibly others.

If tenants wanted to report a repair, they would put a note through the letterbox of the respective door (or under it in the case of the electrician's door, as it had no letterbox) then a repair man would come out to fix the problem.  My dad remembers being sent out to the shed a few times."

Steven Oliver, Duns, Borders, Scotland:  January 19, 2010

Recollections

16.

Brendon Hume

Haxey, North Lincolnshire, England

Thank you to Brendon Hume who read Bob Sinclair's comments in Recollectons 14 above, and wrote:

Football

"I wonder if the 'local bobby' that Bob mentions in Recollections 14, above, was the same bobby as took my football from the friends who I had loaned it to.

I had the only football with a bladder in it, with which a proper game of football could be played.   The usual ball had no bladder and was stuffed with newspaper.  It was hard to control.

The football match was being played in the street, and to make the offence worst the game was being played on a Sunday!

I had to report to a police box to get my ball back, and the huge local bobby gave me a right telling off for allowing my football to be used on a Sunday !

Those were the days."

Brendon Hume, Haxey, North Lincolnshire, England:  January 20, 2010

Recollections

17.

Bob Sinclair

Queensland, Australia

Thank you to Bob Sinclair for allowing me to reproduce this photograph of himself and his dad.

Bob wrote:

317 Pilton Avenue

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to Bob Sinclair

"Here is a picture is of my dad (a compositor at Morrison & Gibb) and myself on my bike, taken at the rear of 317 Pilton Avenue.

It shows a wee bit of detail of the type of fences there, and the  house construction.  It must have been taken about 1938.

Just to the right of the picture edge is where we had the coal bunker."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  January 16+19, 2010

Update

Bob later sent me another photo taken at 317 Pilton Drive.  This one is of Bob with his mother, taken in 1937:

©

Acknowledgement:  Bob Sinclair:  July 12, 2010

Recollections

18.

John Ferguson

Auckland, New Zealand

Thank you to John Ferguson who read Brian Swanney's comments in Recollections 7 above and replied:

Crewe Crescent

"I was interested to spot contributions from Brian Swanney, now living in New Zealand.  He used to live at 16 Crewe Crescent, Pilton

I grew up in Pilton in the 1940s and lived in 14 Crewe Crescent.   Our  parents were neighbours for over 40 years."

John Ferguson, Auckland, New Zealand:  January 24, 2010

 Recollections

19.

Bob Sinclair

Queensland, Australia

Here, Bob Sinclair asks a question

Bob wrote:

Question

Cricket at Pilton Park

"When we played cricket in Pilton Park we usually had only three stumps and a bat.  The ball varied from a tennis ball to a composition ball covered in leather or a ball which was basically black in colour but also had  tiny white bits showing. It was some type of hard rubber composition but what was it called?   Does anybody know?"

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  February 8, 2010

 Recollections

21.

Bruce Johnstone

Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland

'The Shack' was mentioned about three years ago, in Recollections 3 and 4 above.

Now, Bruce Johnstone has provided more information. 

Bruce wrote:

The Shack

"On Boswall Parkway to the west of Embassy cinema was the Scout Hut - not used for dances as suggested by Mr Letham (Recollection 3 above).

Behind it was a lesser constructed building used by the Royston Community Centre or such.  Dances, whist drives and beetle drives were held there and I suggest this was the shack.

The Scout Hut

"The Scout Hut was dedicated to several Cub and Scout Troops. I attended the 33rd Inverleith Cubs each Friday.  

An annual '7 a side' football competition between all the Inverleith packs was held in Pilton Park

In later years, in the 1960s a certain Gordon Strachan of 82nd pack made his appearance."
(Gordon went on to become Scottish Football Manager.)

Aerial Photo

"When might this aerial photo have been taken?

- The the tennis courts, if that is what they are in the shaded area in the Park closest to Bruce Peebles, were being constructed around 1955.

- At the same time a play park inc shute, cheese cutter and climbing frames were installed at the same time to the right of the Parkie's hut.

-  A putting green was also laid out below the tennis area.

On the photo, there is an absence of trees and developed house gardens perhaps does indicate an earlier date, although trees were planted around the perimeter of the Park about 1954.  We used them as goal posts.  I am unable to see them on the photo.  Perhaps you can see them."

Ratepayers' Association

"The tenants of the Pilton and Crewe houses formed a Ratepayers Association.  Its purpose was to be a focus group for all tenants and for issues with Gumley and the Town Council.

However, an annual programme of social events was also arranged to foster a Community spirit.  My recollection was of attending the Annual Christmas Party, held in Granton School, in the early 1950s.  Boys and girls used different classrooms as cloakrooms, then were all paired up as they exited each."

Embassy Cinema

"I remember Saturday afternoon matinees for children. 3 pence for downstairs seats and 6 pence for upstairs seats.

RS McColl had a sweet shop to the right of the cinema entrance and there was a newsagent in the left hand corner of the building.  Around 1960, the famous Yehudi Menuhin hosted a personal concert at the Cinema.  Why there of all places?"

Bruce Johnstone, Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland:  February 8, 2010

Recollections

22.

Steven Oliver

Duns, Borders , Scotland

Thank you to Steven Oliver for writing again.

Steven wrote:

Ratepayers' Christmas Parties

"I was mentioning the recollections of Pilton contributors to my Dad (Roy Oliver) today and he certainly remembers the Ratepayers' Party that was held every Christmas.  He and his sister, my Auntie Pat, used to go to them.

From what my dad recalls, the parties consisted of:

-  a film, usually a silent one, accompanied by a piano."

-  a magician

-  singing.

'Four in a Block' Houses

"In fact I'm finding the recollections of the four-in-a-block houses very interesting, particularly as my grandparents' old house at 104 Boswall Parkway was on the upper floor of one of those blocks.  I well remember sliding down the staircase at their house on my backside as a kid!"

Scout Troops

"My dad also remembers the three Scout Troops which used the scout hut next to the Embassy Cinema.  These were:

-   The 33rd:  neck scarves maroon,
Scoutmaster Graham Henderson
My dad was in the 33rd Inverleith Troop.

-   The 82nd:  neck scarves tartan

-   The 123rd:  neck scarves blue and white
 Scoutmaster Tom Simpson."

Steven Oliver, Duns, Borders, Scotland:  February 10, 2010

Recollections

23.

Ruth Nordhoy (née Hamilton)

Whidbey Island, Seattle, Washington, USA

Thank you to Ruth Nordhoy, Seattle, Washington, USA who wrote:

The Scout Hut

"I lived at 58 Pilton Avenue until 1956.  I'd just like to say that there were indeed dances held at the Scout Hut next to 'The Embassy' cinema.

I never heard it referred to as the 'Shack'.  It was always the 'Scout Hut'to me.  My brother was a Scout there. The dances were great fun and we were always happy to hear that one would be held there.

Granton School

"I also remember, very well, the Ratepayers Parties at Granton School where I was a pupil.   That was a great highlight of the Christmas season.   It did not take much to please us, and we all looked forward to them.

The Ratepayers also held dances in Granton School from time to time.   I remember one as late as 1956 that I attended  -  old folks and young folks all having a great time together."

Bruce Peebles

"My sister and I worked in the offices at Bruce Peebles.  I used to walk or cycle to work.   The horn would sound at 12 o’clock and everyone would flock home for their dinner.   Great memories!"

Ruth Nordhoy (née Hamilton), Whidbey Island, Seattle, Washington, USA:  March 5, 2010

Recollections

24.

Avril Finlayson Smith (née Young)

Bendigo, Victoria, Australia

Thank you to Avril Finlayson Smith (née Young) for leaving this message in the EdinPhoto guestbook.

Avril wrote:

Sledging

"When it snowed heavily, we were able to get the sledges out and slide down the hill at Crewe Place.  The dads used to be out too with the kids.

You couldn't do that now.  There's no room to move with all the cars about the place."

Bonfires

"I remember the very big bonfires that were built at the top of Crewe Place, into Pilton Avenue and much fun was had at these times."

"Oh, how much has changed, sadly."

Avril Finlayson Smith (née Young), Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
Message posted in EdinPhoto guestbook, March 24, 2010

Reply to Avril

If you'd like to send a reply to Avril, please

EITHER: add a reply her under the message that she left in the guestbook on March 24, 2010

        OR:   email me, then I'll pass on your message to Avril.

Thank you.    Peter Stubbs:  March 27, 2010

Recollections

25.

Avril Finlayson Smith (née Young)

Bendigo, Victoria, Australia

Thank you to Avril Finlayson Smith (née Young) for leaving this another message in the EdinPhoto guestbook, after reading Brian Swanney's memories (Recollections 7 above):

Avril's comments in the guest book included the following:

Shops

"I was wonder if anyone remembers the shops in Crewe Road and Boswall Parkway:

-  Smith's the Baker's

-  Patterson's the Fruit Shop.  I can still remember the lovely smell of freshly-boiled beetroot that used to sit in a huge big black pot.

-  Nicholson's the Grocer, next door

Round the corner were:

-   the Paper Shop whose name escapes me just now,

-  the Post Office, run by Mrs White and her son.

-  Borthwick's the Butchers, which I visited some years back.  It was like going back in time.
Sure, it was still the big wooden block that was used when I was young.  The nice thing was when I entered the shop, there was Walter Brown in charge.  He used to go to Royston, like me.  He still had a very lovely smile, a lovely greeting.

-  Irvine's the Drysalters, the last shop.

 I wonder what shops are there now, if any.

Of course, Leith Provident was over the other side of Boswall Parkway and, yes, I can still remember both the Store numbers very well, some things just seem to stick with you!!

Avril Finlayson Smith (née Young), Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
Message posted in EdinPhoto guestbook, April 1, 2010

Recollections

26.

Brian Swanney

Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand

Brian Swanney added a reply to Avril's comments (above) in the EdinPhoto guestbook.

Here's what he wrote about the shops:

Shops

"Avril:  I loved your recollections of the local shops. I'd already been trying to rebuild that in my mind from my own memories and you have filled in a couple of gaps.  I still remember:

-  that drysalter smell of naphthalene (moth balls or firelighters) and paraffin.

-  Borthwick's and their big wooden-doored walk-in chiller.  It  seemed like a big wardrobe in the shop to me as a child!

-  the solemnity of the old Savings Bank with its queues to the counter and the sounds of tellers counting and rubber stamping.

-  the old array of individual Leith Provident Co-op shops and their conversion into the supermarket era.

You can get very good views of what the whole area looks like now on Google Maps/Streetview. If you haven't tried it, it is well worth doing.."

Brian Swanney, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand: Reply posted in EdinPhoto guestbook, April 1, 2010

 Recollections

27.

Bob Sinclair

Queensland, Australia

Bob Sinclair wrote

Community Centre

"Bruce Johnstone wrote a little on the Community Centre, not far down from the Embassy on the opposite side. (Recollections 21 above.)

I helped the man who ran it in the initial days. They had table tennis, mainly for the young lads some of whom were a bit tough.

Some of their 'birds' used to come and watch the lads play.  The lads were a bit hard on the girls, perhaps due to the girls' appearance, so I persuaded the girls to come a bit dressed up one night and got a woman who could do hair and makeup to spruce them up a bit.

When they were all made-up, the girls, as one, came back into the table tennis room. There was complete silence for a while, while the lads just stood and stared.

All of a sudden they became gentlemen and asked their respective 'bird' if they might see them home.  It gave us a bit of a kick and a laugh.

The centre also had dances for the older people, but after the make-up episode some of the lads wanted to go in and dance with their 'girlfriends'.   Ain't life wonderful."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  February 8, 2010

 Recollections

34.

Bob Sinclair

Queensland, Australia

Thank you to Bob Sinclair who wrote:

Play

Rounders

"We played Rounders on Pilton Avenue, running from one 'stop' to another (often a jacket or gateway) in order to get a run.  We played it with a tennis ball and tennis rackets.  We usually had about two teams of five.

I suppose it was a bit like baseball, though at that time we were not aware of baseball or how it was played."

Speedway Cycle Track

"We cycled behind the block of houses at 111-115 Crewe Road North.  Between the wall at the rear of the houses and the wall beside the railway line, we built a local speedway cycle track.

In those days, everybody wanted to be like Young or Kitchen who rode for Edinburgh Monarchs.  Unfortunately, the track had a bit of a limited life, probably because we made too much noise with our cardboard piece which rattled against the spokes of the wheel to mimic the engine noise of the real speedway bike.

It probably did nothing to endear us to the local residents.  Still it was great fun while it lasted.  I never did very well as I had a Royal Enfield which seemed to weigh a ton."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  January 9, 2011

Recollections

35.

Norman McLeod

Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

In 'Recollectons 23 above, Steven mentioned some of the scout troops that met in the scout hut beside the Embassy Cinema in Boswall Parkway, latterly known as 'The Shack'

Here, Norman McLeod fills in more details of the history of this scout hut.

Norman wrote:

123rd Inverleith Scouts

"I was a boy scout  (Patrol Leader) in the 123rd Inverleith, the first occupants on the day the Scout Hut opened in Boswall Parkway.  I think that was in 1938."

82nd Inverleith Scouts

"The 82nd  troop joined us about 1941, when they lost their own headquarters. We lost our scoutmaster to the forces and, though we were surviving well,  we were 'taken over'  by the 82nd leader, James H. Pearson who was one of the few adult leaders around. We merged and were known as 'The Allies' for some time.

Scout Hut

"The Scout hut was the centre of our existence at that time.  We spent many happy and some productive  hours there using it as  base for many hikes and outings as well as knot-tying sessions and 'pioneer' projects.

A major source of funding came from the dances that we used to run for local teenagers and 'The  Scout  Dance' was the tentative entry to adult life for many local young people."

We would never have dreamed of calling it 'The Shack'.   It was a brand new building, built specifically  for the movement, and we were lucky enough to be the first occupants.

To the best of my knowledge at least one of the  original 123rd patrol leaders and one of the 82nd patrol leaders are still in the area.  (You will have gathered that I am now an octogenarian.)

Norman McLeod, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada:  January 13, 2011

 Recollections

36.

Bruce Johnstone

Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland

Thank you to Bruce Johnstone for writing to tell me about the vans that used to visit the Pilton and Boswall districts.

Bruce wrote:

Vans

1950s and early-1960s

"Does anybody remember these vans?

-  Congleton's Fish Van:  Jimmy Congleton’s shop was on East Trinity Road at the Newhaven end and he sold fish in the Pilton / West Pilton area on a Saturday morning.  His van was either black or brown with a fish, not surprisingly, on the side, I think.

-  Browns Fish Van:  Brown’s shop was at Goldenacre. My wife’s Aunt drove this van and sold fish twice weekly.  My wife, a schoolgirl then, would help her on a Saturday morning.

-  Francis Henderson:  Fruit and Veg. This was a horse drawn cart.  I have memories of a father and young son selling in the area. One of my neighbours always took the opportunity of collecting any horse dung for his rose garden

- Leith Provident Mobile Shop: Groceries and other provisions were-sold on a twice weekly delivery from a large van.  I think the driver's name was Bob

-  St Cuthberts Mobile Shop:  Bread and cakes were sold. My memory is of a Saturday afternoon and my Mum buying fancy cakes or meringues which were then placed in a small box.  Monies gained at a wedding 'poor oot' at Granton Parish Church were sometimes spent buying cream cookies.

-  Ice Cream Van: I cannot remember the name but this Italian vendor was based in Cramond Village, beside the River Almond and he appeared twice weekly around Pilton Park.  When he appeared on the summer evenings, the first of us to spot him would abandon the football or cricket game and race across and ask if he had any broken wafers or cones.

-  Mobile Chip Van:  My recollection is of a large van that parked down the side of Granton school, near Granton Parish Church, on a Tuesday night. It was quite a stretch for a 9 year old to reach up and get 'a poke of chips' for 3 old pence. Very tasty!"

Bruce Johnstone, Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland:  January 16, 2011

 Recollections

37.

Bruce Johnstone

Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland

Thank you to Bruce Johnstone for writing again, this time with some memories of Crewe Toll

Bruce wrote:

Crewe Toll

1950s

"Who remembers Crewe Toll, before it became the congested junction it now is?  In the 1950s, Crewe Toll itself comprised of a roundabout with a central grass area and a lighted lamppost in the centre."

Double Bridges

"I remember Crewe Toll in the 1950s  as my Dad owned the old Blacksmith’s smiddy on the East side of the former 'double bridges', a geographical landmark.

-  One bridge carried the rail line from North Leith to the Caley station at the West End.

-  The other bridge carried the line down to the Gasworks and Granton Harbour.

The single decker bus service, No 28, used to run under the bridges from Spiers Bar at Goldenacre to Davidson's Mains. This service subsequently became the number 1, making a circular route of the City."

The Smiddy

"The smiddy was a corrugated-sheet building.  Inside, there were two bellows that were used to fan the fires.  My Dad was a skilled joiner to trade but adapted to ironmongery work.

To this day the scrolled gates and garage gates outside numerous bungalows and houses in Blackhall / Craigleith are a testimony to his work.

Outside the Smiddy was a large circular steel plate that was used to form the outer rims of horse-drawn wheels earlier in the century.  My father gave up the business in 1961."

Ferranti

"Around the Toll was the Ferranti works with its war-time camouflaged roof.  At Christmas, a large brightly-lit tree was placed outside the main office.

On the south side was the Ferranti Social club.  Across the road was a Baptist Church, now a Shell  petrol station.

Moving west, between Telford Road and Ferry Road was a Terrazzo Works, now the site of the Fire Station.

Harvesting

"In front of the smiddy was a field that was eventually built upon by Ferranti around 1953. The Duke of Edinburgh officiated the opening of the extended Ferranti, later British AeroSpace."

I can still remember farm workers harvesting in this field in the early-1950s and in the field on Telford Road. where there are now houses. Hastie was the farmer.  He lived in the farm house that is now Drylaw Police Station."

Buses

"Behind the smiddy was a Council Yard that for a short while, in the 1960s, was the Terminus for the number 27 bus to Oxgangs

The number 19 bus also served the area from Melville Street to Granton, prior to it becoming a circular service taking in George Street, Broughton, Goldenacre and Granton Road and linking with Boswall.

The road at the Western General Hospital was also widened, to cope with to the increasing traffic volumes in early 1960s."

Bruce Johnstone, Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland:  January 25, 2011

 Recollections

38.

Brian Alexander

Prestonfield, Edinburgh

Thank you to Brian Alexander who for responding to Bruce Johnstone's 'Recollections 37' above.

Brian wrote:

Crewe Toll

1958-68

"Bruce Johnstone's recollections of Crewe Toll (37 above) brought back some memories of living in Telford Drive from 1958 to 1968.  Between 1964 and 1968.

I walked, each day, from Telford Drive via Crewe Toll to Ainslie Park School, and from 1968 walking to Crewe Toll to get a bus to Bonnington Road when I started my apprenticeship with Brown Brothers at Rosebank, Pilrig.

Where the Fire Station now stands was Ferranti's car park and next to it the Fina Petrol Station, now flats.

Crossing Ferry road outside Ferranti's at 8.30 in the morning and 4.30 in the afternoon was no easy matter.  There was no pedestrian crossing or school crossing patrol, and it was very busy with traffic."

Circle Garage

I don't recall the Baptist Church that Bruce mentions, but I do remember the original Circle Garage (Shell).  The building was circular.  It was owned by Bill Mcleod who raced Stock Cars.

I think Bill started racing at Old Meadowbank in the 1950s, then at Cowdenbeath in the 1960s.  As young lads we would cross over on our way home from school to look at the Stock Car if it was outside the workshop.

We were never chased away but I am sure we were a distraction to the mechanics and no doubt Bill himself.

Telford Road

In the early 1960s, the Texaco Petrol Station was built on Telford Road, opposite the (top) entrance to Telford Drive.  It's long gone and is now the site of McDonald's.  It was the first building in what was then a field stretching down to the Telford entrance to the Western General Hospital. 

Later came the Telford Arms pub and Securicor's Depot."

Bruce Alexander, Prestonfield, Edinburgh:  February 4, 2011

Recollections

39.

Lily Burke

(née Lilias O'Connell Cavanagh)

Foulden, Thetford, Norfolk, England

Thank you to Lily Burke for sending me the message below about 'The Shack' dance hall

Lily wrote:

The Shack

"I wonder if anyone remembers The Shack dance hall on a Saturday night. It was only for teenagers.  The Shack was in Royston Mains Gardens, opposite the Chapel, next to the scouts' wooden hut and close to the Embassy Cinema in Boswall Drive.

Tame

"The only refreshments that were sold at the dancing were soft drinks, tea, coffee and digestive biscuits.  It was all very tame in my teenage years."

Polite

"I must say the laddies were always  polite to us lassies but alas, one by one, they all disappeared to do thier  National Service.  Eventually, the dances stopped and The Shack became a boys' club."

Fire

"Sadly, The Shack caught fire and was destroyed a few years ago.  Houses were built there."

Remember the Shack?

"I hope I hear from someone. I learned to dance at The Shack and also at Stuarts at Abbeyhill"

Lily Burke (née Lilias O'Connell Cavanagh),
 Foulden, Thetford, Norfolk, England: January 31, 2011

Reply to Lily

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

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  February 8, 2011

Recollections

44.

Stuart Lyon

Blackford, Edinburgh

Thank you to Stuart Lyon who wrote:

West Pilton Grove

Family House

"My grandparents lived at No 35 West Pilton Grove.  My mum and dad (Mary and Bill), my brother (Billy) and I lived with them until my folks got a new council house at No 9 Wester Drylaw Row in 1953.

At any one time there were:

-  my grandparents Bill and Jessie Lyon

-  my aunties Jean, Sheila and Isobel

-  my uncles George, Tweedie and Ian

in the House.  Meal times were an event in themselves.

I used to visit my grandparents for years after we left for the Row and have many fond memories of the area."

West Pilton Park

"West Pilton Park was a great facility back then with the bowling and putting greens and the tennis courts. It also had a cinder running track and there was a Gala held there every summer.

I used to help the Parkie put out and take in the putting equipment. There was also a wee grassed area in front of the Grove and it was here we celebrated the Queen’s Coronation in 1953 with a street party.  As I recall we got a souvenir half-pint glass with the royal crest embossed on the side."

George the Baker

"I remember George the Baker with his horse drawn baker’s van which he let me drive on one occasion. His horse was also a source of pocket money as I used to get 3d a bucket for the manure it provided.  George worked for Leith Provident."

Ice Cream Vans

"The Dobie family, across the road, made and sold ice cream from vans operated by the two brothers, Willie and George.  The girls of the family used to look after me at times."

Silverknowes and Gypsy Brae

"Silverknowes and Gypsy Brae were part of my extensive playground despite the fact that they were quite far from the Grove.  I always used to go with the ‘big boys’ who looked after us wee yins. I still got up to mischief and paid the penalty for missing my tea several times."

Shopping

We used to be sent to do the messages, up to Barr’s shop and the adjacent St Cuthberts store at Ferry Road Drive

I hated it when string bags were in vogue as carrying a half stane o tatties nearly cut off your fingers unless you changed hands regularly.

Sometimes we used to go the the shops at West Pilton Rise.  Bell’s was one and I think Munro’s was another."

Sweetie Shop

"Diverno’s at West Granton Road was a great sweetie shop and my brother and I eagerly waited for Friday pay day when all the wage earners in my Grannie’s house would bring us in sweets:

-  Lem Fizzes

-  sherbet fountains

-  liquorice

-  Fry’s 5 Boys chocolate

-  Penny Dainties

-  McGowan’s toffee

to name but a few."

Neighbours

"I remember a few of the other families, the Burkes and  the Browns, but that’s about all."

Stuart Lyon:  October 13, 2010

Recollections

45.

Allan Muir

Saudi Arabia

Thank you to Allan Muir who wrote:

Ferry Road Avenue

1965 to 1980

"This page  brought back great memories of my child hood in Pilton. I lived at no 28 Ferry Road Avenue between 1965 -1980.

The local bobbies were on the beat and they kept you in check when you were doing something wrong.

Bonfire Nights

Bonfire Nights were brilliant.   We used to collect wood from everywhere and in those days there was no legal requirement to get permission to host such an event as long as there was adults present.  These bonfires were huge  -  but it was all fun and there were no accidents.

Peanut Brittle

"I also recollect the Sunday morning walk to get peanut brittle for my parents from Divernos at Granton, to save time my brother and I used to walk down the old railway line to Granton."

Summer Walks

"We did not have computers to occupy our time as kids.

In the summer, we would walk down to Cramond  and swim at the Almond waterfall.  It was quite dangerous in the water if you could not swim!

Granton Pier was also a favourite in the summer,

Winter Walks

In the winter, we could walk to Granton Harbour, light a small fire and cook sausages on a stick. I think that  would be an offence now!

Childhood Memories

I'd not change or swap any of my childhood memories.   It would be great to hear from any other people who lived in ferry road avenue during my time there.

My family were best friends with the:

-  Scotts

-  Kennedys

-  Macavoys

I also remember other families who lived nearby:

-  Spears

-  Reids

-  Eadies

-  Weatherstones

-  Burns

Thank you for bringing back such brilliant and fond memories of Ferry Road Avenue."

Allan Muir, Saudi Arabia: November 2, 2012

Reply to Allan?

If you'd like to send a message to Allan Muir, please email me to let me know, then I'll pass on his email address to you.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: November 6, 2012

Recollections

46.

Alastair Whitwell

Penicuik, Midlothian

After reading Norman McLeod's comments about being a scout leader at 123rd Inverleith Scouts in Boswall Parkway in Recollections 35,  Alastair Whitwell wrote:

123rd

Inverleith Scouts

Patrol Leader

"I too was a Patrol Leader in the 123^rd Inverleith Scout Group based at the Scout Hall in Boswall Parkway. Likewise, my brother-in-law Bernard Milne was too, albeit a couple of years earlier than me.

Jumble Sale

"We used to run an annual jumble sale to raise funds and I recall many evenings going round the area pushing the 'trek' cart, collection jumble. The sale was always a great success and brought in a good sum of money."

Wind-up Record Player

"I also recall that after each Wednesday night scout meeting, the senior scouts would descend under the floorboards into a small cellar where a wind-up record player was kept. We used to sit crouched in there, listening to old 78 rpm records for ages."

Scout Leader

"I remember the Scout Leader, Willum Calder.  I and many others are indebted to him for all the skills which he passed on."

Alastair Whitwell, Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland  -  November 4, 2012

Recollections

47.

Rab Lettice

Leith, Edinburgh

Thank you to Rab Lettice for writing again about Pilton.

Rab wrote:

1950s

Pilton Gala Days

"Does anyone remember the Pilton Gala Days in the 1950s?  I've just found a newspaper cutting of us at Gypsy Brae in 1952."

Pilton Club

"What was the Pilton club called?"

Rab Lettice, Leith, Edinburgh:  April 9, 2013

Recollections

47.

Reply

1.

Jean Gordon

Thank you to Jean Gordon for responding to Rab's Recollections 47 above.

Jean wrote:

West Pilton Grove

"I just want to mention to Robert Lettice that I too lived at West Pilton  Grove, number 10.  I'm Jean Gordon, the eldest of the Gordon girls as we were known.

I remember:

-   Nana and John Lettice.

-   the Pagets.  They  lived next do- or to us

-   the Hughsons and Anderson's below them

-   the Milligans  and Kerrs on the bottom flat.

Jean Gordon:  11 April 2017

 Recollections

48.

Bruce Johnstone

Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland

Please email me if you can help to answer this question that Bruce Johnstone asked in the EdinPhoto guestbook:    Thank you.

Bruce, who grew up in Pilton Crescent, wrote:

Dodge-ball and King-ball

"Can anyone help?  While playing ball games with my grandchildren, I mentioned that we, in the 1950s, used to play dodge-ball and king-ball. I can't remember how, apart from catching the ball with our clenched hands, then throwing at friends.  Any suggestions?"

Bruce Johnstone, Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland:  January 16, 2011
Message posted in EdinPhoto Guestbook:  April 15, 2013.

 Recollections

48.

Reply

1.

Maggie Spiers

Thank you to Maggie Spiers for replying to Bruce Johnstone's question above.

Maggie wrote:

Dodgey

"I think the game that Bruce Johnstone mentions above was called Dodgey.

Here's how it was played:

-  You catch the ball.

-  You chase your friends and hit them with the ball.

-  Then it's your turn to run."

Maggie Spiers:  June 25, 2014

 Recollections

49.

Helen Oleson

Anchorage, Alaska, USA

Thank you to Helen Oleson who wrote:

Circle Garage

Crewe Toll

McLeod Motors

"It was interesting to read Brian Alexander's Recollections 38 above about the Circle garage at Crewe Toll.

The garage was called McLeod Motors, and was owned by my uncle Bill McLeod and his 2 brothers Daniel (my father) and Bobby."

Stock Cars and Motor Cycles

"Yes, Bill did drive stock cars, but also he and his brothers were members of the Edinburgh Southern Motor Cycle Club for many years and did Scrambles, Hill Climbs and the 7 day trials.

All three of the brothers are gone now, but they left us kids with a lot of great memories of all their racing adventures."

Helen Oleson, Anchorage, Alaska, USA

 Recollections

49.

Reply

1.

Bruce Skivington

Edinburgh and Gairloch, Wester Ross

Thank you to Bruce Skivington for following up the topic raised in Recollections 38 and Recollections 49 above.

Bruce wrote:

McLeod Motors
Circle Garage

1964-68

"I worked part-time after school and at weekends at Mcleod Motors from 1964 to 1968. My parents knew Bill McLeod as my father worked for Shell."

Danny McLeod

"Danny McLeod ran the 'Circle' part, selling the petrol, while Bill did more of the office work. The garage had a small showroom, a single ramp and a wash bay which was used for various purposes since there was also an automatic car wash which leased the land to the south of the garage."

Ford

"The garage was a Ford Agency.  It leased some of the land to the north, on the roundabout, to Alexanders, the main Ford Dealer in Semple Street, to allow them to display second hand cars for sale there."

Stock Car

"Bill's stock car spent a lot of time in the workshop being rebuilt."

Bruce Skilvington, Edinburgh and Gairloch, Wester Ross:  16 October,2015

Recollections

50.

Douglas Roberts

New Town, Edinburgh

Douglas Roberts wrote, saying that he was surprised not to have found any reference to Station Brae, East Pilton, on the EdinPhoto web site.

Douglas added:

East Pilton

Another Station Brae

"Scour the records of the East Pilton area of North Edinburgh and you won’t find a mention of any street named ‘Station Brae’, but that’s just what most locals called that stretch of Pilton Drive between Pilton Avenue and Ferry Road.  At least  they did in the 1950s and 1960s, when I was growing up in the area.

The name derived from the location of the local railway station whose entrance sat right at the crest of the brae, half-way between Pilton Avenue and Ferry Road.  It was opened in 1934, in response to the emergent East Pilton housing developments. It was an additional stop on the existing Caledonian Railways passenger service that ran from the Caledonian Station, at the West End, down to Leith.

If it was in such popular usage,  why did it never become the official name?  Well, it might have done, over time.  However, time was not kind to it – within five years the country was at  war, the ramifications of which would be felt through to the early 1950s – consequently, there were more important things to consider than renaming a stretch of road!  And, after that, the passenger rail service barely lasted another ten years, closing in 1962.

The brae is still there, but it never got a name change, and it’s very unlikely that many will still refer to it as the Station Brae.  In contrast, the other Station Brae in town, at Portobello, is still called that despite the closure of its station over 50 years ago, in 1964."

Douglas Roberts, New Town, Edinburgh:  July 22, 2015

Recollections

51.

Jackie Benton  (née Bruckshaw)

 Australia

Thank you to Jackie Benton who wrote:

1950s

West Pilton Crossway

"Our family lived at 5 West Pilton Crossway until we emigrated to Australia in 1954.  We lived in the top floor flat.

Our family name was Bruckshaw.  There were 5 kids plus my Mum and Dad. I was only 6 years old when we left, so I don't remember very much, but I do remember the bakery and, on the day we left Scotland, the church roof blowing off in a bad storm.

The images you have put up on the web site are exactly as I remember it.  Thank you for posting them."

Jackie Benton  (née Bruckshaw), Australia:  4 Jan 2017

Recollections

52.

Davy Blackburn

Wester Hailes, Edinburgh

Thank you to Davy Blackburn who wrote:

West Pilton

1960s to early-1970s

Allotments

"In the 1960s and early-1970's. there was an allotment behind Ferry Road Drive and behind the car parks to the rear of West Pilton Road, where there was also a train line running to Granton.

We used to jump over the fence from the railway to help ourselves to rhubarb, strawberries etc."

Charlie's Hut

"There was a man who lived in one of the huts.  His name was Charlie (or 'Black Charlie as we referred to him, due to his hygiene.)

We used to spend hours in his hut and he would ask us to go to the shops for him at times.  He had a collie dog but I forget the name.

The Police once questioned us as to whether he was molesting us. though they never put it like that  - but he wasn't.  He was just a lonely guy.

He disappeared one year and nobody heard any more from him. I wonder if anybody knows what happened to him."

Hamish's Hut

"The allotments soon became an adventure playground and later a Community Hut was built by Hamish, one of the workers whom I annoyed rather frequently.  I often got banned for that.

Hamish started a comic strip in the local newsletter and gave all the kids who came to 'the hut' a nickname and a dodgy looking 'Beano/Dandy' type cartoon figure.   I was named 'Long Tall Tony' due to my height.

Families

"These are some of the families that I remember from around West Pilton Road / Street at that time.

- Welsh

-  Riordan - dad and grandparents of 'Derek of Hibs' fame.

-  Brett

-  Anthony

-  Stirling

-  Pirrie

-  Macaloni

-  Stirling 

-  Campbell  -  They moved to the Inch.

-  Hare  - They also moved to the Inch.

-  McDade

- Cumming

- Crawford  -  There were two Crawford different families.

-  to name but a few.

Oh and a guy called 'Esso.  I don't remember his family name.

Some of these families still live in the area."

Davie Blackburn, Wester Hailes, Edinburgh:  20 January 2013

Recollections

Pilton and Crewe Toll