Recollections

3.

Eddie Duffy

Fox Covert, Edinburgh

Eddie wrote:

Home

"I grew up  in a tenement at 38 Bedford Street in the 1950s and early 1960s.  We were just up from the bottom of Dean Park Street

There is a street there now called Bedford Street, but this was built after the original tenements were pulled down in the late 60's.

We lived on the first floor, my Aunt lived in the basement. My grandmother lived at No: 32, her sister at 24, a 2nd cousin at 26 and my Grandfather eventually moved from over the Water of Leith at Saunders Street to Bedford Crescent, so we were all within 50 yards of each other.

We moved away from there in 1967."

Horses and Carts

"There were plenty of characters in Stockbridge in the  at that time:

. ©

Other  Businesses

"I remember:

Sunday Walks

"I remember my Grandfather taking my sister and me walking along the Water of Leith on a Sunday morning, ending up at the sweet shop in Huntly Street for a "wee bottle of juice" which had to be finished on the premises.

Then the long walk home again, as my grandad never got the bus anywhere!!

Those were the days."

Return to Stockbridge

"I am in Stockbridge quite a lot still, going to Bert's Bar for the Scotland Football Games, especially. I keep trying to move back there, but it's now so expensive.

The Old Homes

"When I lived there, you could not give property away.  No-one wanted to live where we lived.  Only one flat out of three on each floor had inside toilets. The other two had to share one on the landing.

There was no central heating or bathrooms.  These flats were known as "room 'n' kitchens". Literally a kitchen with a bedroom recess off, divided by a curtain.

I was totally unaware how underprivileged we were.."

Eddie Duffy, Fox Covert, Edinburgh: February 20 + 24, 2007

Recollections

4.

Dorothy Land (née Jeremy)

Suffolk, England

Stockbridge in the 1930s

Thank you to Dorothy Jeremy, now Dorothy Land, who wrote about Edinburgh in the depression of the 1930s

Dorothy wrote:

The Depression

"My Grandfather had a light engineering works ASPEY & SONS, in Leith, which did badly during the Depression in the 1930's.

I imagine the Depression was felt by most people throughout Britain from all walks of life.

My grandparents lived in Leslie Place, Stockbridge, and had expectations of a good standard of living."

Stale Bread and Bruised Fruit

"During the Depression my grandmother fed her four sons and daughter with great ingenuity.

-  She would send out a son in the early hours with a pillowcase to call at the baker for stale bread. She would cut off the dry crusts, sprinkle the loaf with water, wrap it in a tea towel and then heat it through in the oven to soften it.

-  Another son would be sent to the fruiters (greengrocer) to collect "bruised" fruit. She would then slice off the bruises, peel away any mould and make a fruit salad."

Broken Biscuits

"My mother's task was to collect a paper bag full of 'broken biscuits'.  These were the damaged ones left at the bottom of the manufacturer's tin.

Biscuits were not sold in packets in the 30's but scooped out with an aluminum scoop from a large square tin behind the counter.

The kindly shop keeper would sometimes give my mother a couple of whole biscuits as a treat.  All the children felt humiliated by having to do the rounds of the shops - but at least they ate well."

Shivery Bite

"The children had no sweets so, as a treat, my mother would save the bullet-hard peas she found at the bottom of her mother's pea and ham soup, twist them in a bit of paper and save them to suck on later.

If you took these to the swimming baths and ate them afterwards, as you were getting dressed,  this was called your "shivery bite", she told me.

The local fleapit cinema would let children in for the price of a handful of empty jam jars.  Inconceivable!"

Apples

"Despite the hardship my mother was acutely aware there were some even worse off than her own family.  Her most poignant memory of Edinburgh poverty was always having a handful of children hanging around her on the school playground while she ate an apple, all begging her to "gie us yer stump hen" (give me your core).

She would leave a few bites on the apple, and reluctantly hand it over.

Clothes

"As for clothes, (apart from hand-me-downs), the women would laboriously unpick woolen knitted garments and re-knit them.

My grandmother cleaned for a few well-to-do ladies and they gave her their old coats.  She would then cut them down to make coats and jackets for her children and the neighbours' children.

Everyone helped everyone else out.  They were all in the same boat."

Dorothy Land, (née Jeremy),  Suffolk, England:  June 3, 2007

Recollections

5.

Jim Patience

Alberta, Canada

Jim wrote:

Madame Doubtfire

"Re Eddie Duffy Recollection of Madame Doubtfire. The movie was based on her.  There was an article in 'The International Express' a couple of years ago about her."

Jamaica Street

"I stayed in Jamaica Street, a stone's throw from her shop and I still have two cigarette cases I bought in 1950 or 1951 when  I was 13."

Jim Patience, Alberta, Canada:  April 22, 2008

Recollections

6.

Shirley Thomson (née Canale)

Yorkshire, England

Shirley wrote:

Bedford Street

"I was born at home at 26 Bedford Street and lived there until 1951. My Granny and Grandad lived in the street as well.

My house is long pulled down now but reading other peoples recollections brought it all back:

Raeburn Place

"I remember Raeburn Place with all it’s shops:

Around Stockbridge

"I remember:

Shirley Thomson, Yorkshire, England:  July 7, 2008

Recollections

7.

Allan Dodds

Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England

Allan wrote:

The Steamie and Washing

"In Henderson Row, just before the Edinburgh Academy, there was a place my Mother used to call "The Steamie". Women in headscarves and a 'fag' (cigarette) hanging from the lower lip, wheeling pram (perambulator) frames containing tin tubs full of dirty laundry, used to frequent it.

My Mother used to refer to them as the 'hoi polloi', ie the low life who lacked any form of practical skill whatsoever, as she herself used to take pride in doing her own washing at home - a scrubbing board followed by squeezing out on the Acme Wringer - the vanguard in technology!

I was allowed to operate such equipment at the tender age of five. We were obviously 'posh' and 'with it'  as is the revamped 'steamie'."

Allan Dodds, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England:  October 21, 2008

Allan added

The Steamie

"The 'steamie' was the municipal wash-house where scores of Canonmills women took their dirty laundry.

The building has been revamped by the addition of ornamental railings and it now looks quite attractive."

Allan Dodds, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England:  October 21, 2008

Recollections

8.

Keith Main

London, England

Keith wrote about his memories of Stockbridge, around the 1960s.

Shops and Other Memories

Milk Deliveries

"I remember Willie's (Thomson's) Dairy at the foot of Dean Park Street.  I knew the family.  Getting a ride on the open-backed Murchies' milk van was a big thrill.  Can you imagine that being allowed in 2008?

The Store (Co-Op) milk was delivered by horse & cart."

©

My granny lived  at 17 Dean Park Street, where another occasional milkman would visit - Sean Connery.  He knew my Aunt Margaret who was  a Moxon Girl (a dance troupe that were the Scottish equivalent of the Tiller Girls) I'm sure if they were ever 'winching' (another word for your glossary - going steady).

Margaret danced at The Kings Theatre and The Gaiety in Edinburgh, and abroad!  My earliest memory was meeting her at the Caley Station where she came off the boat train from Dublin armed with hat boxes and valises - very glam." 

Bruce's, The Bakers

"A boy at our school (Flora Stevenson) died in Comely Bank Place when a milk van reversed over him on the cobbles, not far from Bruce's The Bakers (where my sis was a Saturday girl).

Another staffer was Mrs Dawson, a glamorous woman who later became a 'floorwalker' at Goldbergs.

Bruce's cakes were legendary - French fancies, cream buns, pyramids, pagodas, fresh cream meringues (very exotic in 1961).  The baker's family lived at 41 Comely Bank Rd."

Clinigan's, Newsagent and Sweet Shop

Other shops nearby were:

The Store

"The store was a collection of St Cuthbert's shops.  They included a bakery (on the corner of Bedford St), a butcher, a paint shop and a self-service supermarket where you paid your account and put money in 'the club' - a savings scheme.

'The Divi'  was a big annual day out with long queues at Bread Street Coop.  There was a loyalty scheme whereby you got cash back and the money went to buy necessities such as school uniform, new shoes etc.

Opposite Bread St store was a shop that sold small glass animals - quite the thing to collect back then and a nightmare to dust!!"

Tokens, Coupons  and Stamps

"You also bought your milk tokens at the store, to put out in the milk bottles on your doorstep.  The tokens were red, black and blue, but I'm not sure what each represented - half pint? pint? and what?"

Saving stamps off packs of co-op tea was a big thrill.

I also opened my parents' packs of Kensita's ciggies, to save the coupons redeemable against gifts. ('We better hurry up and smoke some more if we're going to get that Li-lo out the catalogue in time for summer!!')"

Ice Cream  -  The Park Café  AND  Remo's

"The Park Café was a sweet shop/ ice cream parlour, but it was not as cool as Remos further along the road . Remos had a juke box and booths.

Remo was an elderly slim Italian man with a moustache.  He always wore a white coat. The popular drink was Coke Float (ice cream in Coke).

The Park Café was run by a stern woman called Miss Martin who was a scout or guides mistress. The ice cream was great

 Mr Whippy's pink & cream vans were all the rage.  But, better was the old van that came around selling 'oysters, '99's and ice cream in wafers, one of which included nougat covered in chocolate. The PC brigade wouldn't allow it's name nowadays."

Edinburgh House  AND  Paper Stall

"Edinburgh House was a crammed-high china and giftware shop.  Before it was this, Edinburgh House  had been a strange old ironmongers where you went to buy paraffin, outside which 'George' sold all the Sunday Papers from a stand there in all weathers  - "The Mirror, The Post and The Sunday Pictorial please!"

FAB 208 magazine was for me.  It had all the lyrics to the hit parade  in it so we could sing them on top of the SMT green and cream bus from St Andrew's Square on the way to Sunday outings at Gullane Beach, or in whatever car my Dad had bought from Trotter's Garage in the Pleasance.

Car radios were a luxury , so we'd take our 'tranny' in the car and hope to pick up Radio Luxembourg as it played pop, unlike the BBC which played a lot of 'square ' stuff like Bing Crosby.  As you drove away from Edinburgh the reception faded and you might not pick it up again until nearly at Newcastle on the A68."

Opposite Edinburgh House

"Across the road from Edinburgh House was a philatelist.  The owner was a tiny wifey that looked like Queen Victoria and stood on a box to see over her counter.

Then, there was a haberdashers, and Dougal's grocery (now a charity shop).

Further along was Preacher's 'Patisserie Perfection' (from around 1966, I think).  It had dark blue walls and pine shelves -  very 'mod'. My Auntie Eileen worked in it.

Armstrong the fishmonger is still there, with its waterfall cascade window.

Robin in the dairy sold Jubblys - pyramid shaped frozen orange ices and rolls in big wooden trays.  He also sold Abdine- a popular hangover cure!

Next door was another Café with a juke box."

Maison Victor, Hairdressers

"I would be taken to the hairdressers at Maison Victor (near where L'aquila Blanc chippie is) as a nipper while my mum was 'under the drier' - a huge beehive-shaped metal affair where the women had plastic cups put over their ears to stop them from being burned.

The 'girls' would give me half a crown (2s 6d) to play 10 songs,

Ray Charles, Eddie Cochran, Susan Maughan, The Springfields,  Billy Fury, Bobby Vee, Del Shannon's 'Runaway' and The Shadows' 'Wonderful Land' were all big hits."

Methven's, Wirelesses

"Opposite Maison Victor, and next to George Bower the butcher (still there on the corner) was Methven's, a wireless shop that also sold the 'hit parade'.

It was here that I was bought my first ever record:  Elvis singing 'Return to Sender'. I was really disappointed because I' had wanted Cliff Richard's 'The Next Time',  but it was sold out.  (My taste got better through the  years.)

Cheyne Street

"Cheyne Street was a bit of a grim place.  A woman who fostered kids there was charged with murdering one.

I remember. Mary the stair-cleaner, a lovely but poor old soul with a huge goitre on her neck lived there . She made a living cleaning people's stairs with a big brush and a zinc pail full of disinfectant.

Opposite, was George Young's the butcher *** which had a cuckoo clock and a weather vane in it for some strange reason, and old style pay desk with a lady who sat in it and gave kids Smarties from a jar. I always wanted a piece of pressed beef or potted haugh, not having a sweet tooth.

Doctor's Surgery

"The doctor's surgery (Drs Rankin & Scott) was in a villa set back from the street, opposite the Post Office (run by Angus)  next to The Bendix."

Cleaning Clothes

"The Bendix was  a terrifyingly boring place for a wean.  It was the first of its sort in Edinburgh, the steamie in Henderson Row being the previous place to clean your clothes back when washing machines were a real luxury item.

At the Bendix, the 'penny extractor' a big copper drummed spinner you used before the days of tumble dryers was always trapping garments in it and shredding them.

You then took the still damp garments home in a trolley or pram or a tub strapped on to a guider to 'peg out in the back green'.

Kids in Bedford Street (rough as hell in those days) would climb over the walls and nick your clothes!  The solution was to put barbed wire and broken milk bottles in cement atop the walls - again, imagine this being allowed now!"

Near Woolworths

"Wayne's a Café / restaurant was behind net curtains. It was cheap but not very good as far as I recall. (Latterly, it became a shop called Pickwicks.)

Next to Wayne's, in what is now Peckhams, there was a shop that sold nothing but cots, baby stuff and extremely grand prams with fringed canopies.

There was a TV repairer's yard where Woolworth's was to be built:  the big Woolies was at the East End of Princes Street (now Burger King, opposite the Balmoral Hotel)."

Ottie Gall, Barbers

"Ottie Gall, the barbers, was in the next block (It's still there, as if preserved in aspic with its wood panelled individual booths.)  It was for old men.

I was taken to get my hair cut at Bob's in Tollcross (the Comely Bank branch came later) where I'd be allowed to have it styled in a quiff like Billy J Kramer!"

Evening News Office

"Further along still was  the Edinburgh Evening News Office.  I'd be dispatched on a Saturday, late afternoon, to get The Pink, a special edition on pink paper that had all the afternoon football scores.

It was here too that you handed in your 'Spot The Ball' entry - a long running game where you had to imagine where a football was hidden in a picture from a league match and win £50 - a FORTUNE!"

Pet Shop

 "There was a pet shop nearby and a strange drapers (now an estate agents) with a curtain made out of bottle tops on its door. 

 It was next to Bert's bar (still there)."

Tudor Picture House

"On the street that leads from Raeburn Place to the Colonies, before you got to the orphanage, stood The Tudor picture house, also called The Savoy at some later point ***

Films went on for ever The B picture, the news cartoons, trailers and then the Big Picture . You were there for about 4 and a half hours. It's  a block of flats now.

Stockaree's other picture house was in Dean Street.  I don't recall it, but my Mum said you could get in by paying with jam jars (which like lemonade bottles from Hendrys in Abbeyhill got you money when you returned them)."

Rankins, Fruit Shop

"Opposite the foot of Leslie Place was posh fruit shop, Rankins.  They even sold fresh pineapples, melons & tangerines wrapped in blue waxed and gold paper and posh apples imported from Canada called Macintosh Reds.

I remember kids from my school thinking we were a bit special to have these in a fruit bowl on the sideboard.

In 1976  I was home in Edinburgh and remember that not one shop, not even Rankins at the West End sold avocados!  The assistants didn't even know what an avocado was!"

Baird's, Shoe Shop

"Nearby was Baird's shoe shop with its foot X ray machine!  You looked into a big contraption in dark wood and saw the bones of your feet.  You were only allowed to go on it twice a year.

I was in this shop with my granny when JFK was shot.  I was too young to grasp the significance, but my 'nana' was really shocked and the atmosphere was tense and very strange that day.  People were crying in the streets . It felt VERY wrong.

My granny dragged me home, abandoning the purchase of Start Rite sandals, saying 'a bad thing has happened in America. We need to get home'.  It felt quite scary, I recall."

Near Hamilton Place

"What is now Pizza Express was TSB's HQ, with its clock tower.

Opposite, on the corner of Hamilton place was a wallpaper shop.

India Place, with its tenements, was further along across the street, up behind the fire station in Saunders Street (long since demolished).  India Place had a terrible reputation as one of the roughest street's in town. I was forbidden to even go near it lest I 'catch nits or be sold to the tinkers!!!'."

Kerr Street

"The last shop in Stockbridge was Hodge's, the confectioners, opposite St Stephen's Street.

That whole area was quite dark and grotty.  The bookie's shop was opposite . The owner got shot dead - a huge local scandal in the early 1970s.

There was a posh furniture shop on the corner  (a dreaded Starbucks now) opposite The Baillie which became a very trendy bar in the early 1970s by which time I was out at the discos!

Further up the hill was Madame Doubtfire's rag and bone shop (Doubties) It stank of cats' pee and wet old clothes !!"

Keith Main, London, England:  December 20+23, 2008

Recollections

9.

Elspeth Wallace

Cambridge, Ontario, Canada

Thank you to Elspeth Wallace who wrote:

Shops

"I was raised at 126  St. Stephen Street,  until I was 8 years old. We were in the top flat, above Strachan's bakery and Neil's.  I can't remember what they sold."

Up the street, the last store opposite the Grand Cinema was owned by a Miss Kerr.  She lived in the back of the shop.

I always remember her biscuit tins, all hung some way in front of the counter.  I think they had see-through tops, or there may have been pictures on the tins.  I don't think there is a store there any more."

Evacuation

"During the war years, I was evacuated to Inverness and when I came back we lived at 17 Dean Bank Lane.  The house is gone now."

Return to Stockbridge

"We had one wireless, a gramophone and no telephone.  I remember walking along to Saunders street and taking the acid battery for the wireless in to be recharged.

Family at Work

Elspeth Wallace, Cambridge, Ontario, Canada:  February 22, 2009

Recollections

10.

Elizabeth Fraser (née Betty Simpson)

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Thank you to Elizabeth Fraser who wrote:

St Vincent Street

©

"This 'Modern Athens Engraving' of St Stephens Church made me think of when we moved into 18 St Vincent Street (which was to the right of the church looking down Howe Street).

Servants' Bells

The house was still gas lit, in parts, and the servants' bells downstairs were still connected - much to the annoyance of my mother when my brothers kept ringing from upstairs).

On each side of the marble? fireplace  there was a round object with a handle which rang the bell downstairs. 

The long hallway had an enormous gilt mirror on the right hand side and a very long hall sideboard thing, where I used to keep my hockey sticks, tennis racquet and other 'junk' ."

Elizabeth Fraser (née Simpson), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia:  March 17, 2009

Recollections

11.

John Clark

Canada

Thank you to Joh Clark for responding to Elspeth Wallace's comments (Recollections 9 above).

John wrote:

78 Great King Street

"I moved to 78 Great King Street when I was 16 when my Dad took the job as Clubmaster of the Royal Engineers' Club, I believe it still remains there as that club.*

I have many fond memories of these days, helping my parents to run the bar, and sometimes running it myself. My Mum and Dad taught me to be a pretty good bartender."

* Yes:  The Royal Engineers club is still at 78 Great King Street.  I have attended meetings of the Edinburgh Transport Group there, this year, and meetings of the Edinburgh Photographic Society at 68 Great King Street.  -  Peter Stubbs:  Nov 3, 2009

126 St Stephen Street

"After I was married and came out of my National Service, my wife and I bought a house round the corner from Great King Street, at 126 St Stephen St., where Elspeth lived.

We were on the top floor, First door on the left.  Our window looked out the back.  It was 1960, and we paid £650 for it. We loved it and we were so proud to be home owners, as it wasn't very common in those days with young couples.

When I emigrated to Canada before my wife, a lawyer told her that these buildings were due for demolition, and she sold for £625.  I believe these flats go for well over £100,000 now.

Oh well, never mind,  I'm happy with my life now.  I enjoyed being a Stockaree kid for a while, and Stockbridge holds many happy memories for me. My three boys were born there, while we were living at 126 St Stephen Street."

John Clark, Canada:  October 27, 2009

Recollections

12.

Danny Callaghan

Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland

Thank you to Danny Callaghan who wrote wrote about his memories of Stockbridge.

Danny wrote:

Around 1950

Doctor

"Our doctor was Dr Young.  His surgery was up a flight of outside stairs in Kerr Street, about 25 yards up from traffic tights on right.   We used to sit on hard chairs and benches waiting to see the doctor, whom I remember had a very bald head."

Dentist

"I went to a dentist on corner of Eyre Place and Brandon Street.   I remember that once I had apparently punched the dentist when under gas.  He told my mum he would not treat me again.

Johnny the Fishman

"I remember Johnny the Fishman.  He used to come to Broughton Road and, although we had a fish shop only few doors along from no 50, my mother used to say, like Eddie Duffy's mother, that 'his fish was the best'."

1960s

Wayne's Café

"Around 1962 to 1965, we used to go to Wayne's Café, next to Woolies, for some of the best bacon rolls.  Parking was easy then.    (Our other favourite bacon roll spot was The Toddle In at foot of Cockburn Street in Edinburgh Old Town.)

Moir & Baxter

"Our company used Moir & Baxter for our petrol account and van and car repairs.  They were along at end of Comely Bank on both sides of road, where Safeway Supermarket (now Waitrose)) was built and next to to the school.  

I remember the day that when petrol hit five shillings (£0.25) a gallon there was almost war.    Once, I drove off with the pump nozzle still in the van.   It caused a bit of damage, not much to van but but it ripped the pipe off pump and damaged the pump.

We used to get vouchers for mugs and glasses and as I was getting petrol all the time collected cases loads.   I still use a few of these free mugs and glasses today."

Danny Callaghan, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland:  November 4, 2009

 Recollections

13.

Bob Sinclair

Queensland, Australia

Thank you to Bob Sinclair who wrote:

The Tudor Picture House

"Keith Main from Stockbridge (Recollectons 9 above) wrote that the Tudor became the Savoy.  I thought it was the other way round.

Agreed, Bob.  The book 'The Last Picture Shows - Edinburgh' by  Brendon Thomas states that the cinema:

-  opened  as The Palais in 1911

-  changed its name to The Savoy in 1921

-  changed its name again, to 'The Tudor' in 1960.

Bob added:

Complimentary Seats?

"I remember the Savoy with its row of single seats above and to the left of the main block of seats and often wondered if they were complimentary seats?

Another Stockbridge Picture House?

"Nearby, on the NW corner of Raeburn Place and St Bernard's Row, my mother took me to a picture show.  It was on the second floor of the building which showed two films, one of Old Mother Riley and another of Charlie Chaplin.

Does anyone know if it was a hall that could be hired, or was it a Picture House?"

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  January 19, 2010

Reply to Bob Sinclair?

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

Thank you.

Peter Stubbs:  January 20, 2010

 Recollections

14

Eddie Duffy

Fox Covert, Edinburgh

Thank you to Eddie Duffy for replying to Bob Sinclair's question above.

Eddie wrote.

The Tudor Picture House

"The only Picture House that I know of in Stockbridge was the Tudor. This was situated in St. Bernard's Row, just behind where the Raeburn Bar (recently Bert's Bar now the Stockbridge Tap) was,, on the corner.

You did have to climb up a steep staircase to get in, so maybe this is the same place?  A block of flats now stands there."

Eddie Duffy, Fox Covert, Edinburgh:  April 6, 2010

Recollections

15.

Allan Dodds

Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England

Thank you to Allan Dodds for responding to Danny Callaghan's comments in 12 above.  Danny wrote

Dentist

"Danny Callaghan mentions the dentist that I attended in my childhood. He was Mr McArthur and his sister acted as Receptionist

When you rang to make an appointment, her sepulchral tones announcing: 'McArthur Dentist!' would put the fear of God into you. However, this actually set realistic expectations as Mr McArthur never used any form of anaesthesia when drilling teeth and it was invariably a white knuckle ride followed by a splitting headache for hours after."

Allan Dodds, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England:  October 21, 2008

Recollections

16.

Lorraine Bruce (née Dutton)

Dingwall, Ross & Cromarty, Scotland

Thank you to Lorraine Bruce who wrote:

The Colonies Houses

31 Bell Place

"Before we moved to the Outer Hebrides, we lived in 31 Bell Place probably the best of all The Colonies houses at Stockbridge as it was lived in by the master builder that had overseen the building of the houses

Our house had beautiful carved ceilings, a lovely oriel window looking out onto Glenogle Road, and two good bay windows upstairs.  I recall that even the washing line stands and carved iron window boxes were all listed, as was the house.  

It was a happy time with Sya, a toddler, there and Fergus, a baby.  We have often wished we could have held on to the house when we moved.  I recall Sya playing 'Poo Sticks' on the little bridge.  It was a great place to live."

Lorraine Bruce (née Dutton), Dingwall, Ross & Cromarty, Scotland:  September 24, 2010

Recollections

17.

William Stewart

Kingston, Ontario, Canada

William Stewart  responded to Elspeth Wallace's comments (9 above) about Preachers, the Bakers.

 William wrote:

Preachers, the Bakers

"Thanks, Elspeth, for the nice comment about Preachers.  I served my apprenticeship there, starting in 1963 when we were in Prestonfield.  We moved to Raeburn Place in 1965.

Jimmy Preacher was a friend of my dad, who was also a baker. I worked at Preachers until 1973, when I came to Canada and settled in Kingston Ontario, and I'm still a baker.

What I learned from Jimmy, I'll never forget.  He was a true craftsman as a baker and confectioner and owe him a lot.  Sadly he passed away a few years ago. It's nice to read your recollections of Stockbridge."

William Stewart, Kingston, Ontario, Canada:

Recollections

18.

Dorothy Finlay

Queensland, Australia

Thank you to Dorothy Finlay who wrote:

John Finlay

"I was born at 7 St Bernard's row, Stockbridge.  My grandfather, John Finlay lived in Dean Street.  He was one of eleven children.  He was killed at the battle of the Somme in 1916.

Does anyone in Stockbridge remember the Finlays?

I remember the Grand Cinema where you always caught fleas."

Dorothy Finlay, Queensland, Australia:  October 2, 2011

Recollections

18.

Reply

1.

Hugh Gray

Australia

Thank you to Hugh Gray for replying to the message from Dorothy Finlay above.

John Finlay

"I remember the Grand cinema at Stockbridge.  We used to get two films and an episode of Flash Gordon.  The seats were rock hard and it was always cold.  I remember it mainly because i had my first snog there in the front row. Nae shame eh?."

Hugh Gray, Australia:  Message posted in EdinPhoto guestbook, January 25, 2013

Recollections

19.

Margaret Cooper

Colindale, North London, England

Thank you to Margaret Cooper who replied to Dorothy Finlay's comments, above:

Grand Cinema

"I remember the Grand Cinema at Stockbridge.  We used to get two films and an episode of Flash Gordon.

The seats were rock hard and it was always cold.  I remember it mainly because I had my first snog there, in the front row.  Nae shame eh?"

Margaret Cooper, Colindale, North London, England:
Reply posted in EdinPhoto guestbook, October 3, 2011

Recollections

20.

Elizabeth Fraser (née Betty Simpson)

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Thank you to Elizabeth Fraser (née Simpson) for sending the photograph of some of her family inside their house at 18 St Vincent Street, Stockbridge.

Elizabeth wrote

Inside

No.18

"This photo was taken in the lounge room (front room as it was known) at 18 St Vincent's Street, around 1941.

©

My uncle posed some of the family and took the photograph. Of note is the marble fireplace with the servants’ bell pull on the right hand side.  There were several bells down in the kitchen, but my mother insisted they be taken off as she was fed up with my brothers being annoying!

I was contacted some time ago with the current tenants.  The house has been changed enormously. There is no longer a marble fireplace in the house.  It wasn't there when they purchased the property."

Elizabeth Fraser  (née Betty Simpson), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
April 16, 2012

 Recollections

21

Eddie Duffy

Fox Covert, Edinburgh

Thank you to Eddie Duffy who wrote:

Bedford Street

"I grew up here, at No. 38 Bedford Street, Stockbridge (on the right in this photo) until 1967."

    ©

Mrs Guthrie's Toy School

"I attendedattended the Mrs Guthrie's 'Toy' School (nursery).  The school was located in the back courtyard between Dean Street and Bedford Crescent."

©

Eddie Duffy, Fox Covert, Edinburgh:  October 29, 2012

Recollections

22.

Dave Ferguson

Blairgowrie, Perth & Kinross, Scotland

Here is a message that Dave Ferguson added to the EdinPhoto Guestbook.

If you feel that you might be able to help Dave to get in touch with Philip McIntosh, please email me, then I'll give you Dave's email address so that can try sending a message direct to him.

Dave wrote:

Philip McIntosh

Butcher

"I'm trying to contact a Philip McIntosh.  I believe he had a butcher's shop in Stockbridge.  We last met in Osnabruck Germany in 1957 when we were in the army.

I'd be much obliged if anybody can help me to contact him."

Dave Ferguson, Blairgowrie, Perth & Kinross, Scotland:
Message posted in the EdinPhoto guestbook:  April 19, 2012

Recollections

23.

Caroline Wilson

Here, Caroline Wilson remembers visiting her Grandfather in Jamaica Street, Stockbridge.

Caroline wrote:

Jamaica Street

Grandfather

"My Grandfather lived in Jamaica Street.  His name was Peter McErlean.  We used to visit him as kids in the 1950ss and possibly in the 1960s.

He was very hospitable.  He used to make us 'worm biscuits' (two Rich Tea biscuits squashed together with butter until the butter came out the holes.

He used to sew the 'Oor Willie' and 'The Broons' cartoons from the Sunday Post together to make a comic for us to read when we visited him.  He was a kind man.

I didn't like the toilet in the Jamaica street flat as it was shared, and smelly.  But apart from that, the flat was ok."

Caroline Wilson, April 18, 2013

Recollections

24.

Madeline Sweasey

Trinity, Edinburgh

Madeline Sweasey wrote:

Raeburn Hall

"I am trying to locate an address in Stockbridge, but have had no success so far. Some of my ancestors, according to their marriage certificate, were married in 1921 at the following address:  Raeburn Hall,  33 Raeburn Place Stockbridge.

There are villas there now.  Currently, No.33 is the shop Maxi's.

I wonder if one of the villa's was called Raeburn Hall and was possibly the church manse?  Maybe your website user's may have a memory of this building."

Madeline Sweasey, Trinity, Edinburgh:  August 5, 2013

Reply to Madeline?

If you'd like to send a reply to Madeline, please email me to let me know, then I'll pass on her email address to you.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  August 7, 2013

Recollections

30.

Allan Dodds

Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England

Thank you to Allan Dodds for following up his memories of Stockbridge in Recollections 7 and 15 above with more memories below.

Allan wrote:

Visits to Stockbridge

"Regular visits to Stockbridge were made as the few local Canonmills shops had little to offer during wartime rationing.

 Butcher

Gavin Nimmo

"Meat, such as could be obtained, was purchased at Gavin Nimmo’s shop in Henderson Row, now a private dwelling house, even although we lived immediately next door to Porteous the Butchers in Howard Street.

Mr Nimmo was reputed by Mother to be fond of the drink, and his purple nose confirmed her suspicions without the need for any independent evidence or indeed professional opinion."

Allan Dodds, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England:  October 21, 2008

The memories above are an extract from Allan's book about his
growing up in Edinburgh,  "Laughin' on the Ither Side o' ma Face"

Recollections

31.

Bob McLean

Buckinghamshire, England

with a few comments added by Peter Stubbs

Thank you to Robert McLean, who wrote Recollections 28 above, for writing again with more recollections of growing up in Stockbridge.  Here, Robert describes living at the Colonies, beside the Water of Leith, between Canonmills and Stockbridge.

Robert wrote:

Stockbridge Colonies

Move to the Colonies

"I’d started life in Dean Park Street, Stockbridge and we moved to the Colonies in 1962, when I was 10years old.

With a sizeable extended family in Stockbridge, I was familiar with the Colonies as I had a two aunts and their families already there.

We moved to Colville Place (high doors).  One of my aunts lived in the next street, also Colville Place, but a low door. **

My mother had moved with her parents and sister from India Place to Collins Place in the early 1930s, so I was now growing up in the same street as my mum. **

After Falshaw Bridge

"For me, you entered the Colonies when you crossed Falshaw Bridge."

"First, on your left, there were a few houses and a few small shops: one was a milliner’s or a draper’s, another was, as I recall, Nellie’s Dairy, which had been there since the days when my mother was growing up.

 As Glenogle Road swung right and became the long straight that led to the cooperage and Canonmills, you passed the bright red front of Linton’s shop."

"Mr Linton was a lovely older gentleman.  It was a treat for us youngsters was when he’d sell us, for a few pennies, a bag of broken biscuits. Mr Linton retired and sold to another nice gentleman, a Mr Kelly, who painted the shop-front grey.

You’d be wakened to the clip-clop sound of the Store milkman’s horse."

 'Glennies'

"Living in the Colonies was wonderful.

At the top of our street were 'Glennies' (Stockbridge Baths, later renamed Glenogle Baths).  Like almost all Colonies kids, I became a strong swimmer and I loved going to the baths, particularly in winter when it was virtually empty and you could go in at 7pm and stay until 10pm.

I can remember going to Glennies to see the great Bobby McGregor show off his speed in the pool.  The crowds flocked to see Scotland’s great hero."

On either side of the baths, there were routes up to  Saxe Cobourg Place - the ‘Dummy Steps’ and the ‘The Snakey’ - or ‘The Snekkie’ as we tended to call it.

"I suppose it wasn’t very PC to call it the ‘Dummies’ (it had a proper title, ‘Gabriel’s’ something) but I was told the popular name was because it fringed Donaldson’s School for the Deaf.

I also remember a bright red postbox on the wall just before the ‘Dummies’.  I remember it had VR embossed on the front."

Water of Leith.

"At the foot of our street ran the Water of Leith, which, for some unknown reason, was always called ‘The Dam’.  It was called that in my mother’s day, too. We kids would have great fun down the Dam in late spring or early summer: if we weren’t guddling for minnows, sticklebacks or tadpoles, we’d be building a makeshift dam ourselves, then using improvised rafts to cross the water. I don’t think we ever crossed without at least one of us falling in!"

Puddocky

"At the far end of the Colonies was Bell Place, which led to the wooden bridge, the ‘Puddocky’, over the river then on to a small park, 'The Bellsie’.

As we got older, on those days when we couldn’t be bothered to go up to ‘The Big Park’ (Inverleith Park) to play football, we’d have a kickabout in the Bellsie, although if you ever knocked the ball into the water, you had to go in yourself and fetch it, no matter how far it had floated downstream.

You’d be surprised just how that water concentrated the mind and made us all much more accurate in our play!"

Bob Mclean, Buckingham, England:  November 8, 2013

Recollections

32.

Ian Tait

Pitlochry, Perthshire, Scotland

Thank you to Ian Tait  for replying after reading Robin McAra's comments in Recollections 29 above.

Ian wrote:

Grieves' Dairy

"I recently had a bit of homesickness after spending some time in Stockbridge. I browsed your web site and found this page where I read about a Robin McAra whose Mother had bought Grieves dairy in Raeburn Place.

Ramage's Dairy

"My Grandfather had Ramage's dairy in Dean Street, latterly Hills dairy for whom I delivered the milk.

By Jove!  It certainly helped developing your quadriceps, climbing the stairs and making sure you would be in time for school."

Flora Stevenson's School

"From reading Robin's recollections I feel I may have something in common with him from our school days as, coincidentally, I  was also decanted to the Dean Village School from Flora Stevenson.

My Teacher was a Miss Smith......................Ouch!"

Ian Tait, Pitlochry, Perthshire, Scotland:  December 23, 2013

Recollections

33

Kathleen Hughes

Liverpool, England

Kathleen Hughes wrote:

Bedford Street

"I've been reading the messages above with great interest, especially people's comments about living in Bedford Street.

My Grandfather

David Wilson

"I'm seeking information on my grandfather, David Wilson.   He would have been born in the early-1900s.  His address on my mum's birth certificate, was St Stephens Street, and I've been told that he also lived in Bedford Street, and that he was in the army and his profession was given as 'Hotel, Boots'.

My grandmother was Catherine, a domestic servant.   My grandfather never married her, but  gave her two children, Catherine (my mother) and George.  After giving my mum her name, he left her.

That's all the information I know about my grandparents. If anyone knows anything more, I'd love to know"

Kathleen Hughes, Liverpool, England:  April 24 + May 4 (4 emails), 2014

Reply to Kathleen

If you know anything about Kathleen's grandparents and would like to send an email to her, please email me, then I'll pass on her email address to you.

Best wishes:

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  May 4, 2014.

Recollections

34

Alex Dick

London, Ontario, Canada

Thank you to Alex Dick who wrote:

Cheyne Street

"I was a member of the 27 Boys Brigade and lived at 15 Dean Park Street.

Upon reading recollections of Stockeree, I remembered Cheyne Street and 'The Slanty', the section of wall where boys would dare one another to walk across it.

It was refreshing to read the recollections of Stockbridge."

Alex Dick, London, Ontario, Canada:  May 5, 2014

Recollections

35.

Simon Clegg

Australia

Thank you to Simon Clegg who wrote:

Shops in 1980s

"I remember some of the shops in Stockbridge in  the 1980s.
There was:

-  a weird record shop, 'Gutter Music'

-  a wee junk shop, Brozecki (spelling?).
It was opposite a school of some sort.

-  an old clothes shop, ‘Madame Doubtfire', the inspiration for the Anne Fine novel.  I have a picture of the door knocker from that shop.

Is it really 35 years ago that I came to live in Edinburgh?  I'm now living in Australia, with gum trees and kookaburras in my garden."

Simon Clegg, Australia:  August 26, 2014

Recollections

36

John Keen

Sandtoft, Berkshire, England

Thank you to John Keen who wrote:

Stockbridge Fire Station

"I’m trying to find out as much as possible about Saunders Street Fire Station, Stockbridge, Edinburgh, as that's where my wife’s father, John MacDonald, was born in 1921..

I have some history of this building and pictures of it:

-  in 1935 and

-  close to demolition in the late 1960s

Request

Ideally, I’m trying to find:

-  possible sources or pictures of the fire station in the 1920s

- any information or recollections about, John MacDonald, who was born there in 1921.

Can anyone suggest where I should be looking?  That would be extremely helpful."

Kohn Keen, Sandtoft, Berkshire, England:  August 28, 2014

Reply to John Keen

Hi John:

Good luck in your search for a suitable picture of the old fire station!  Here are three places that you could try contacting.  All are in Edinburgh.  I trust that you'll be able to find their email contact details on the Internet:

-  Edinburgh Room, Edinburgh Central Library

-  Royal Commission on the Ancient & Historical Monuments of Scotland

-  Museum of Fire, Lauriston Place.

If anybody would like to contact John Keen (possibly with information relating to his father-in-law, John MacDonald) please email me to let me know, then I'll pass on his email address to you.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  September 1, 2014

Recollections

37.

Allan Dodds

Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England

Thank you to Allan Dodds for replying to Simon Clegg's Recollections 35 above.

Alan wrote:

1980s

"Simon Clegg's recollections of Stockbridge in the 1980s brought back memories to me.

He rightly identifies Mr Borzecki's shop.  It was an antique shop from which I purchased a 1934 Kodak Retina 1 camera for the princely sum of £4  -  two weeks' wages for me in those days.

I sold it recently on eBay for £120 -  an hour's wages for me today!"

Allan Dodds, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England:  October 21, 2008

Recollections

38.

Liz Karr
(née Elizabeth Henderson)

South Africa

Thank you to Liz Karr (née Elizabeth Henderson) who wrote:

Hermitage Place

"I was born in 1950 in a wee street off the main Raeburn Place in Stockbridge.   It was called Hermitage Place.  There were only about 10 houses in all.  No.1 was a tenement and so was the last one which I think was No.10.

I've lived here in South Africa since 1969 and most of my family in Edinburgh have passed away

I've been trying to find out more about Hermitage Place but I believe its changed name.  It was quite a famous little street.  Burke n' Hare rented a room in one of the places, so it has a lot of history behind it.

I was actually born in the front room of no 3 on top of some old copies of The Daily Mirror!!  Lol!!.. .I remember, as a small girl, a man used to come around and light the gas lamps at dusk

There were 2 huge lanterns at either end of the street quite magical to a child, may I add.  He was called The Lamplighter.

Well, there are so many stories and memories of ,Hermie', as we called it..  I could write a book!  If you can help me find out what its called now or if anyone else out there remembers it, I would greatly appreciate hearing from them"

Liz Karr (née Elizabeth Henderson), South Africa:  August 12, 2015

Reply to Liz

Hi Liz:

Here is what my books tell me:

1.   "There was a Hermitage Place in Leith and a Hermitage Place at Stockbridge.  The one at Stockbridge was named after the traditional hermit's cave occupied by St Bernard in the Dean Valley of the Water of Leith."  
The Street Names of Edinburgh (Editors: AW Scotland, AJ Taylor, WG Park), p.160

2.  "Hermitage Place (Stockbridge) is named on 'Kirkwood 1817' and shown as lying within Henry Raeburn's ground s figured on 'Ainslie 1804' but reached by a road across an adjourning property in Dean Street, displacing its house.  The street was originally secluded by gates at either end, may have been named for this house, but in any case, the name was fancy.  In 1968, it was changed to RAEBURN STREET (after the adjoining RAEBURN PLACE) to obviate confusion with Hermitage Place, South Leith."
The Place Names of Edinburgh (Stuart Harris), p.308

If you'd like to send a message about Stockbridge to Liz, please email me to let me know, then I'll pass on her email address to you.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  14 November 2015

Recollections

38.

Reply

1.

Alan Wilson

Trinity, Edinburgh

Thank you to Alan Wilson for adding to my response above to the question asked by Liz Karr in her Recollections 38 above.

Alan wrote:

Hermitage Place

"From Liz’s description, it sounded like Raeburn Street to me, and a quick search confirmed this. This page on the Canmore web site states:

"The name of Hermitage Place, Stockbridge, was changed to Raeburn Street in 1968 to obviate confusion with Hermitage Place, South Leith (Harris, Stuart, The Place Names of Edinburgh, P.333)."

It really is a lovely street, I often make a point of walking along that way."

Alan Wilson, Trinity, Edinburgh:  8 February 2016

Recollections

39.

Ian Tait

Pitlochry, Perthshire, Scotland

Thank you to Ian Tait  for for writing again.

Ian wrote:

Otti Goll

"I visited Stockbridge early December 2015 and as an experience I had my haircut at Otti Goll's where I had my first hair cut."

Ian Tait, Pitlochry, Perthshire, Scotland:  January 14, 2016

Edinburgh Shops

I have been photographing some of the Edinburgh shops over about the past twenty years.

Here is a photo of Otti Goll's barber's shop in Raeburn Place, Stockbridge, that I took in 2009.  The shop seems to have changed little over the decades.

©

Please click on the thumbnail image above to enlarge the photo and read a little about the shop.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  14 January 2015

Recollections

40.

Ryan

Stockbridge, Edinburgh

Thank you to Ryan who wrote:

Golden Wonder Crisps

"I’m trying to track down any information on William Alexander the founder of Golden Wonder Crisps.  He allegedly started in a bakery he owned in Stockbridge, around 1947, but no one (including Golden Wonder) seems to know where the bakery was.

Can anybody provide an answer?"

Ryan, Stockbridge, Edinburgh:  4 October 2016 (2 emails)

Reply to Ryan

If you can help to answer the question that Ryan asks above, please email me to let me know, then I'll pass on Ryan's email address to you.

      Thank you.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  4 October 20165

Recollections

41.

Jane Zeitlin (née MacLennan)

Giffnock, East Renfrewshire, Scotland

Thank you to Jane Zeitlin who wrote:

Dean Park Street

Back Green Concerts

"I wonder if Robert Thomson (Recollections 27) or Alex Dick (Recollections 34) recall the back green concerts held in Dean Park Street.  They were a source of great entertainment as the blanket hanging from a clothesline was drawn back with a flourish to reveal playmates, and the big ones performed a turn. On one occasion I recall a cabbage as a lottery prize!

Wireless Battery

"I chummed  my older friend, Nancy, to have her Mum's wireless battery battery topped up at Corsar's hardware store in Raeburn Place."

Treats

"Treats consisted of a ha'penny handful of locust beans, Ovaltine or Horlicks tablets from Brimm's the chemist or 'Vantis' cubes from the tiny shop at the top of Dean Park Street.

Lucky folks got an ice cream from D'Angelo as he cycled his ice cream trike up the cobbled street.

Treats

"I remember:

-   Coal from Lamb the coal merchant.

-   Milk from the horse-drawn cart.

-  The Rag and Bone man offering what seemed treasures for rags."

Playing near Home

"We sat on the garden walls,  shorn of their paling,  chatting and exchanging scraps with our pals.   We had back green exploits, shouting to the Bernard Street kids over the wall as we played shops with horsetail grass for sale in the lee of the bomb shelter.
Endless pictures flew through my mind when I read Alex's and Robert's paragraphs above. 

-  I played with Robert. His Mum, Ruby, brothers David and Alan figured large in my life.

-  Alex's brother Derek was  a great joker.  He taught me how to fall, staying rigid, whipping out my hands at the last minute. He also pointed out to a fascinated tiny girl, that if you performed an indiscretion in the tub, bubbles flew to the surface. The oddest memories stick!"

More Memories

"I lived at 13 Dean Park Street, as did a succession of folks in my family.  It was a gentle place to grow up despite the War.

I remember:

-  ballet lessons at The Flora Stevenson's school

-  working away at my Dad's allotment where Waitrose now stands. I have a great pic of me and my infant brother Colin taken looking towards Fettes College."

Jane Zeitlin (née MacLennan), Giffnock, East Renfrewshire, Scotland:  19 October 2016

Recollections

42.

Jane Zeitlin (née MacLennan)

Giffnock, East Renfrewshire, Scotland

Thank you to Jane Zeitlin for writing again.

Jane wrote:

My Family

"I was born in Dean Park Street, but left for East Claremont Street when I was about eight.

-  My Mum, Audrey, became well known at Sandy Bell's

-  My Grandad MacLennan had a painters' business in Nelson Street.

-  My great grandad, Berry, ran a second-hand book business from 2 George Street."

My Brother and Robert Thomson

"It would be pleasant to link up with Robert Thomson who wrote Recollections 27 above, now that we are wallowing in our 70th decade. My Mum used to look after Robert and his brothers when their Mum went out to work. 

I remember my brother, Colin, being born on my 4th birthday.  Dad revealed the surprise.  I thought the 'surprise' would have been of a more interesting nature, such as a scooter.  I bit poor old Robert in rage and frustration.  I've never apologised!"

Jane Zeitlin (née MacLennan), Giffnock, East Renfrewshire, Scotland:  21 October 2016

Recollections

43.

Frank Davidson
Christchurch, New Zealand

Thank you to Frank Davidson who wrote:

Home and Schools

"I lived in Bedford Street, Stockbridge.

I attended St Bernard's Primary School from 1950 until 1956.  Then it was off to Broughton."

Friends

"I was friends with:

-   Ian (Johnny) Robinson,

-   Jimmy Leslie,

-   Anna Bird,

-   the Dixons

I'd like to hear from any interested in any Stockbridge contacts from that era. Thanks in advance Frank."

Frank Davidson, Christchurch, New Zealand (since 1976):  8 January 2017

Reply to Frank Davidson?

If you lived around Stockbridge in the 1950s and would like to send a message to Frank, please email me to let me know, then I'll pass on his email address to you.

      Thank you.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  8 January 2017

Recollections

44.

Sandy Philip

Edinburgh

Thank you to Sandy Philip who wrote:

Bedford Street

"I lived at 20 Bedford Street top flat from about 1943 until March 1949, when, due to the twins being born, we moved to a bigger house."

Nursery

"I went to nursery school down a lane off St Bernard's Crescent, but I did not like it and escaped a few times by climbing over the spiked fence, I still have a scar on by leg to prove it!"

Neighbours

"I remember:

-   Shirley Canale.  She had dark, curly hair.

-  Murial Wilson.  She lived opposite us in the top flat.  She was not much older than me but saw that I came to no harm.

-  The elderly Miss Bird.  She lived '2 down' and liked to chat with us kids.

-  Mrs Peffer (who had twin boys Doadie and Wullie).  She used to sit on a bench outside her house along with a nice woman who was called 'Fat Aggie' (or Annie?)."

Relations

"My Auntie lived in Lesley Place and my Uncle lived in Comely Bank.

My Granny lived in the Colonies in Collins Place, She had 10 children so the house was always full of cousins and their parents."

Glenogle

"We used to go to Glenogle Public Baths.  After we had been in the water for a while the man in charge asked to see our hands. If they were blue, we were told to leave.

The picture house in Glenogle Road was the Salon, later renamed, the Tudor. I went there, or to  the Grand in St Stephen's Street every Saturday with my Dad."

Houses

"There was no electricity in the houses or the street, only gas.

The fireplace was a big range with a side-oven and a hot plate.  We also had a gas oven and hob.

Radios were powered by batteries that  we called accumulators. They were charged up in a shop at the bottom of the street and round the corner."

Shops and Scrap Yard

"D'Angelos' shop  in Dean Street sold ice cream and sold chips in the evening. We got the money by finding beer bottles and reclaiming the deposit