Jerome LimitedStudio in Edinburgh |
Jerome's - 79, Leith Street, Edinburgh
Next to Fairley's Dance Hall
© Reproduced with acknowledgement to Dave Pattison, Edinburgh
Jerome LimitedStudio in Edinburgh When? |
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Location Thank you to Dave Pattison of Edinburgh for sending me the photograph above. Dave believes that this photograph is probably of Jerome's studio in Leith Street, Edinburgh. Dave's grandmother used to be Manageress of Jerome's Leith Street and also worked in other branches of Jerome. Date? The Leith Street branch of Jerome operated from 1934 until 1970. When might this photograph have been taken? |
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Recollections 1. Maisie Knox Edinburgh |
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The 1930s Maisie Knox of Edinburgh remembers Jerome's studio in the 1930s. She recalls leaving school and getting her first coat, hat, gloves and handbag:
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Recollections 1a. George Smith Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada |
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George Smith, now living in British Columbia, Canada, saw one of the portraits, from Jerome's studio in Edinburgh, on this site and wrote:
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Recollections 2. Liz Black California, USA |
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Thank you to Liz Black, who wrote:
Liz used to live in Edinburgh but has now lived in California for over 40 years. |
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Recollections 3. Eric Gold East London, England |
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The pillar still seems to have been in Jerome's studio two decades later. Here is how Eric Gold, formerly of Dumbiedykes, remembers the studio: |
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1950s "I remember Jerome's photographic studio in Edinburgh very well. Everyone in Edinburgh who had their photo taken there, male or female, either sat on the chair or stood by that pillar. I was at sea when Jerome's shut in Leith Street and I wonder what happened to the pillar and chair, I remember knocking the pillar over one day as it was a prop and made of a cardboard substance, but he did not mind. I also got my passport photos done there." Eric Gold, East London |
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Recollections 4. Valerie Mills East London, England |
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Thank you to Valerie Mills, formerly of Edinburgh, now living at Luss beside Loch Lomond, who wrote about a photograph taken around 1958. Valerie wrote: |
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1950s "I have a photograph of myself taken at Jeromes in Edinburgh when I was 6 months old. My Mum tells me that in those days, Jeromes would not photograph a baby unless they were able to 'hold their own heads up' (and basically not fall over like a floppy doll). But when my Mum went into enquire, it turned out that she knew the Receptionist from school, so the photo of me was taken with this girl squatting behind the block I was sitting on, and holding me upright. It was my Mother's pride and joy for years, but she gave it to me a few years ago, and it has been put away in an Album, to keep it flat and safe. It still has a few bits or remaining tissue paper from the cardboard mount." Valerie Mills, Luss, Argyll & Bute, Scotland: October 11 2007 |
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Recollections 5. Doreen Barnett Heriot, Midlothian, Scotland |
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Thank you to Doreen Barnett, Heriot, Midlothian, Scotland for adding these memories of work at Jeromes in 1959 to the guest book: |
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1950s "I worked there in 1959. In fact I started on my 16th birthday. Saturdays were usually our very busy day and the metal spiral stairs to the basement stick in my mind as I had to race up and down between the studio and darkroom." Doreen Barnett, Heriot, Midlothian, Scotland: March 11, 2006 |
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Recollections 6. Bob Henderson Burdiehouse, Edinburgh |
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Thank you to Bob Henderson who wrote: |
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1950s "Just a wee point of interest. All the people of my generation will recognise the dance hall next to Jeromes in Leith Street. It was Fairley's, a very daring place for us young things to go." Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh (born 1938): December 19, 2007 |
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Recollections 7. Peter Stubbs Edinburgh |
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1970s Jerome is listed at 79 Leith Street in the Edinburgh Post Office Directories from 1934 until 1974, the last year that the directories were published. However, it appears that Jerome had moved out of their Leith Street premises perhaps as early as 1970, or perhaps in 1971 or the following year. The Valuation Rolls list William McNally at 79 Leith Street in 1971. Was he acting on behalf of Jerome then? Valuation Rolls: 1970-74 |
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Recollections 8.
Maureen Sheppart Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada |
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Thank you to Maureen Sheppart for leaving a message in the EdinPhoto guest book. Maureen, who was born in Aberdeen then lived in Edinburgh, at Denham Avenue, Portobello, between the ages of 6 and 19, wrote: |
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Photographer in Jerome's "My Dad, William McNally, worked as Photographer in Jerome's Studio in Edinburgh in the 1950s-60s I have some fond memories of the time I spent at the studio. I had many pictures taken there. Hand Colouring My Mum and Dad hand-coloured Jerome photographs. That was before colour photography was used. My Dad worked in the Aberdeen branch before being transferred to Jerome's in Edinburgh. I'm sorry, now, that some of the coloured photos have been lost, as the hand painted ones were beautiful. I do still have some of my Mum. It certainly was an art in those days. I emigrated from Edinburgh to Canada in 1967. Leith Street looked so different the last time I visited Edinburgh."
Maureen Sheppart (née McNally), Vancouver Island, British
Columbia, Canada: |
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Recollections 9. Jim Suddon Morningside, Edinburgh |
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Thank you to Jim Suddon who wrote: |
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1950s or 1960s "The picture of Jeromes would have been taken in the late-1950s or early-1960ss as it advertises passport photos. In those days the Passport Office for Edinburgh and area was in Rose Street." 1940s "I have a picture of myself taken in Jerome's, about 1942. It was a favourite place for family portraits The premises next door was Fairleys Ballroom. It was a popular place with members of the forces in the 1940s and as a child I thought it must be a really fun place, judging by the numbers who entered." Jim Suddon, Morningside, Edinburgh: July 30, 2009 |
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Recollections 10. Jimmy Meikle Leith, Edinburgh |
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Thank you to Jimmy Meikle who was brought up in Leith and wrote: |
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Visits to Jerome's "I remember many visits to Jerome's, and have a number of photos in the chair by the pillar with my brothers and sisters. There was always a queue waiting to have their photograph taken people from all walks of life." Jimmy Meikle, Leith: August 26, 2009 |
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Recollections 11. Donald Graham Basel, Switzerland |
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Thank you to Donald Graham who wrote: |
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Visits to Jerome's "I see that in recollections above, Maisie Knox and Eric Gold recalling the props and pillar they used in their studio photographs. Here is a photo of my Father (circa 1935) taken at Jerome's studio. He is standing next to a pillar, holding a toy spade. My Father Jerome Studio Photo - I wonder if anybody recognises this pillar in Jerome's Studio. - In which studio in Edinburgh the photo might this photo have been taken?" Donald Graham, Basel, Switzerland: December 13, 2013 |
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Hi Graham: I believe that Jerome only ever had had one studio in Edinburgh. It was this one at 79 Leith Street. It was in business from around 1934 until 1970, so the photo pillar must have been just about new when the photo of your dad was taken! Jerome's 79, Leith Street Next to Fairley's Dance Hall I'm sure that would be the studio where the photo of your dad was taken, and also the studio remembered by Maisie and Eric. Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: December 15, 2013 |
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Recollections 12. Eric Gold East London, England |
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Eric replied to the comments that Donald Graham wrote in Recollections 11 above, about the pillar at Jerome's studio. |
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The Pillar "Yes, that is the same pillar as I knocked over a thousand times (ha ha ha ha). It would have been a treat if the old chair was there too. That was a blast from the past! I wonder what happened to those old props. They should be in Edinburgh Museum." Eric Gold, East London: December 15, 2013 |
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Recollections 13. Gordon Davie Edinburgh |
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Thank you to Gordon Davie for sending me another photo taken at Jerome's Studio in Edinburgh. |
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The Pillar "I've just been reading the new recollections of Jerome's photographic studio in Leith Street and the props they used. Here is a photo of my late mother, Ellen, sitting on a tricycle. For many years I assumed it belonged to her, but I was told that the photo was actually taken in Jerome's and the pillar in the background proves it. Going by her apparent age, it would have been taken around 1939-40." My Mother Jerome Studio Photo
© Reproduced with acknowledgement to Gordon Davie, son of Ellen Davie on the tricycle above. Gordon Davie, Edinburgh, December 16, 2013 |
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Recollections 14. Valerie McKay Pakenham, Ontario, Canada |
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Thank you to Valerie McKay for sending me this copy of one of her photos from Jerome's studio in Edinburgh, together with her comments about it (below). |
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My Mom, Nancy Peggie Jerome Photo - 1938
© Reproduced with acknowledgement to Valerie McKay, daughter of Nancy Peggie Valerie McKay wrote: 1938 Photo "This is a photo taken of my mom at Jerome's on July 21, 1938, just 4 days before her 16th birthday. She passed away last week and I found this photo in a box. She was in her 92nd year. My mom was from Leslie, Fife, one of a family of 8 children. Money was scarce, so this photo was a prized possession. Indeed, even trips to Edinburgh were few and far between. The photo was taken at Jerome's studio in Edinburgh while my mother was visiting her older brother, John Peggie who worked for The Scotsman. I suspect he paid for it as gift for her 16th birthday. This photo is a great memory for herself and her grandchildren. Thank you! 19478 Photo Later, in 1947, my mom had ID photos taken at Jerome's for her trip to Canada to meet her Canadian husband who had carried a similar photo throughout the war for luck! It worked! Valerie McKay, Pakenham, Ontario, Canada: April 25, 2014 (2 emails) |
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Recollections 15. Caroline Irvine (née Brown) Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
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Thank you to Caroline Irvine who wrote: |
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Working at Jerome's "I worked for Mr Mcnally at Jerome's. - I'm trying to remember the lady who was Manageress but her name escapes me. It was a long time ago. I was probably about 16 years old when I worked there. - I remember the man there who was teaching me retouching. He was European but I cannot remember his name. Maybe it was Max. - I think the manageress lived in Prestonpans. - One of the Jerome girls also lived there. - If I remember any more names, I'll let you know. - I helped develop photographs and was learning to retouch negatives. I remember the developer for the photos. It e our nails up. Caroline Irvine (née Brown), Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: July 3, 2015 |
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