Talk to Broughton History Society - 9 February 2014 - Page 9

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Talk to Broughton History Society - Monday 9 February 2015 Introduction

Newhaven

Leith

Stockbridge

Canonmills

Broughton History

Broughton Maps

Broughton
Recollections

Broughton
Transport

Broughton
Work

Broughton
Churches

Broughton
Shops

Broughton
Bars

Broughton Work

Lady Haig's Poppy Factory

If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character

If there is beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home.

If there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation.

If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world ... so let it be.

Spread peace amongst yourselves.

Chapham Inveresk

McDonald Road, Edinburgh

Envelope Manufacturers

Chapham Inveresk
1.

The Works - McDonald Road

Chapham Inveresk
2.

A New Roll of Paper

Chapham Inveresk
3.

Attending the Machine

Chapham Inveresk
4.

Large Machinery

Chapham Inveresk
5.

Paper Rolls and a sign for the workers hanging the background.

The sign reads: "WORKING TOGETHER: WINNING TOGETHER". Somebody has added: "REDUNDANT TOGETHER"

Chapham Inveresk closed a couple of weeks after I took these photos. Then a furniture warehouse arrived and traded briefly from these premises

Duncan's Chocolates

Beaverhall Road, Edinburgh

Duncan's Chocolates
1.

Wall of the Factory at Beaverhall Road, close to Powderhall Stadium

What is known about this Egyptian-style Frieze that runs along the building?

When I last visited the building, it was housing small industries and charities.
Duncan's, famous for their Wallnut Whips and chocolates had moved to the West of Scotland.

Duncan's Chocolates
2.

Mural on the wall of Duncan's Chocolate Factory

Duncan's Chocolates
3.

Inside the Factory

Duncan's Chocolates
4.

Shovelling Chocolate Ingredients - Photo 1

Duncan's Chocolates
5.

Shovelling Chocolate Ingredients - Photo 2

Duncan's Chocolates
6.

Chocolates on the conveyor belt

Duncan's Chocolates
7.

A worker selects chocolates and puts them in Selection Boxex

Duncan's Chocolates
8.

Chocolate Bars, ready to be dispatched.

Lady Haig's Poppy Factory

9 Warriston Road

Lady Haig's Poppy Factory
1.

Painting

This painting hangs in Lady Haig's Poppy Factory. It was painted by students from The Edinburgh College, and presented to the Poppy Factory, following the students' visit to the factory.

When was this painted? It was at least 20 years ago. I first saw it when I visited the Poppy Factory in mid-1990s.

Lady Haig's Poppy Factory
2.

Wreaths

The poppy factory makes many wreaths, usually circular with an emblem in the centre.

Others are different shapes, such as anchors. The poppy factory workers recently created a new design in the shape of a football. This has proved popular. The Poppy Factory workers first create the shape with a wire support, cutting the wire, then spot welding it. The wire is then covered with foam then black plastic, then poppies are inserted into the plastic.

The large shape hanging in the background of this photo (circle and cross) is being made in this way. The smaller straw shape in front of it is an original design for a wreath It was made around 1926 at the Canongate Poppy Factory by Lady Haig. The Canongate Poppy Factory was in the grounds of Whitefoord House at 53 Canongate.

Lady Haig's Poppy Factory
3.

The Boardroom

The Boardroom is rented out to The British Legion and others for their use.

Around the walls are a large oil painting (4 below), war medals (5 below) and an array of model soldiers (6 below)

Lady Haig's Poppy Factory
4.

The Painting

These soldiers on horseback are at Dunbar, with the Bass Rock in the background.

The soldiers were sent to the beach at Dunbar because of fears that Napoleon would land there in 1809.

The Officers' horses in this photo have full tails, but other ranks are on horses with tails that have been trimmed.

This custom soon ended, when the enemy found out about it and started to pick off the officers in battle!

Lady Haig's Poppy Factory
5.

Medals

Several families have presented medals from their families to
the Poppy Factory. These are now hanging around the walls in frames.

This frame of medals was presented to the Poppy Factory by
Major Charlie Pelling, the present Manager of the factory.

Lady Haig's Poppy Factory
6.

Model Soldiers

These model soldiers are in a glass case in the Poppy Factory Board Room.

The label in this cabinet reads:

'PRESENTATION OF THE 'STATE COLOUR
TO THE SCOTS GUARDS 1899

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY

This is to certify that the enclosed figure of S.W. Auderley, Sergeant Major 1st Battalion, made exclusively for members of the William Britain Collectors' Clubby Britains Petite Ltd,

forms part of the above occasion.

September 1998

THE WILLIAM BRITAIN COLLECTORS' CLUB
PO Box,1946, Halesowen, West Midlands, BS53 3TS, England

Lady Haig's Poppy Factory
7.

Making the Poppies

Machine on the left cuts poppies out of a roll of red Chinese silk.
The poppies are then given stalks to become lapel poppies (5 million each year!), or crimped then given
stalks and used to make wreaths, or used to create long stemmed poppies or remembrance crosses.

Lady Haig's Poppy Factory
8.

The Centre of a Wreath

and a box of

Crimped Poppies

This box contains just over 3000 poppies that have been put through one of the
three crimping machines beside this table. The machines use steam and a press
to crimp the poppies which are then given stalks and used to create wreaths.

The factory made 15,000 wreaths in 2014

Lady Haig's Poppy Factory
9.

Flag

The flag hanging on the wall behind the machine for cutting
out the poppies was given to the Poppy Factory by a group
of Marines from USA, regular visitors to the Poppy Factory.

The Marines needed to seek approval from the authorities before
they were allowed to make this 'Stars & Stripes/Union Jack' flag.

Lady Haig's Poppy Factory
10.

The Workers

The factory workers are almost all men who have been disabled while
serving in the forces. They have frames on their desks giving their
names, Battalion and Regiment, or other details of where they served.

Thank you to Major Charlie Pelling, Manager of the Poppy Factory and to Tam McPhillips, Radio Operator,
Royal Scots Signals, for giving me a conducted tour of the factory, and to the other workers that I met during my visit.

Lady Haig's Poppy Factory
11.

James Douse

"FISH"

DEEP SEA FISHERMAN
MERCHANT NAVY

Lady Haig's Poppy Factory
12.

James Douse

"FISH"

DEEP SEA FISHERMAN
MERCHANT NAVY

Lady Haig's Poppy Factory
13.

Who is this worker?

I'll add his name and regiment when I discover it.

Lady Haig's Poppy Factory
14.

James Douse

"FISH"

DEEP SEA FISHERMAN
MERCHANT NAVY

(again)

This photo was taken with an 8mm fisheye lens (as were the other circular photos below)>

Lady Haig's Poppy Factory
15.

Robert Watson

Royal Navy Submarine Service

Adding poppies to create a wreath.

Lady Haig's Poppy Factory
16.

Colin Richardson

Queen's Own Highlanders

Colin is weighing batches of poppies that have ben taken from the blue crimping
machines . Boxes of the crimped poppies are behind him, 3024 poppies in each box.

Lady Haig's Poppy Factory
17.

Robert Watson

Royal Navy Submarine Service

and who is the worker on the left in this picture?

Lady Haig's Poppy Factory
18.

Arthur Dyke

1st Battalion, Scots Guards

and

Gerry Lindsay

1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders

In the background is 'Arthur's Wall', created by Arthur Dyke, Scots Guards.
Arthur has created this wall over several years, and is still adding items to it.

'Arthur's Wall' will appear again in several more photos below.

Lady Haig's Poppy Factory
19.

Soldier wearing a Poppy

What uniform is he wearing?

Part of 'Arthur's Wall' is in the background.

Lady Haig's Poppy Factory
20.

Soldier + 'Arthur's Wall'

Zooming out with a fisheye lens to see more of the wall.

Lady Haig's Poppy Factory
21.

Machine used for making Boxes to hold Wreaths and Poppies

and

'Arthur's Wall'

Lady Haig's Poppy Factory
22.

Highlander and Machinery

and

'Arthur's Wall'

Fisheye lens

Lady Haig's Poppy Factory
23.

Highlander, Machinery and Soldier

and

'Arthur's Wall'

Lady Haig's Poppy Factory
24.

Arthur Dyke

1st Battalion, Scots Guards

and

Gerry Lindsay

1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders

(again)

Also, Highlander, Soldiers, Flag and 'Arthur's Wall'.

Charles Laing & Sons

26 Beaverbank Place

Beaverbank Foundry

Beaverbank Foundry
1.

Laings Foundry - Beaverbank Place, Powderhall, Edinburgh - 1993

Beaverbank Foundry
2.

Old brake drums from Edinburgh buses to be added to the furnace - 1994

Beaverbank Foundry
3.

Sifting the sand for the moulds - 1992

Beaverbank Foundry
4.

Checking the sand in the mould before the casting - 1992

Beaverbank Foundry
5.

The template (left) and sand with template shape (right) - 1992

Beaverbank Foundry
6.

Putting covers on the moulds before the casting - 1991

Beaverbank Foundry
7.

Moulds waiting for the Hot Metal - 1992

Beaverbank Foundry
8.

Waiting for the furnace to heat the metal

Beaverbank Foundry
9.

The Furnace - 1993

Beaverbank Foundry
10.

Taking more molten metal from the furnace - 1991

Beaverbank Foundry
11.

Pouring molten metal from the furnace - Andrew Laing in red - 2006

Beaverbank Foundry
12.

Transporting the molten metal from the furnace to the moulds - 1991

Beaverbank Foundry
13.

Pouring molten metal into the Mould - 1991

Beaverbank Foundry
14.

Andrew Laing, pouring molten metal - 1991

Beaverbank Foundry
15.

Pouring molten metal - 1993

Beaverbank Foundry
16.

Pouring molten metal for casting railings - 2006

Beaverbank Foundry
17.

The Furnace cooling down, after being used for casting - 1992

Beaverbank Foundry
18.

Hot Metal plugs cooling after the casting - 1991

Beaverbank Foundry
19.

End of the day - Removing the weights - 1992

Beaverbank Foundry
20.

At rest - The day's casting complete - 1997

Beaverbank Foundry
21.

A selection of railings cast at the foundry - 1991

Beaverbank Foundry
22.

Railings by Charles Laing & Son Ltd. - Circus Place, Edinburgh - 1993

Beaverbank Foundry
23.

Railings by Charles Laing & Son Ltd. - Bruntsfield, Edinburgh - 1993

Beaverbank Foundry
24.

Lamp post cast by Charles Laing & Son Ltd.

Rose Street, Edinburgh - Phjotographed 1993

Beaverbank Foundry
25.

Lamp post cast by Charles Laing & Son Ltd.

Bristo Square, Edinburgh - Photographed 1993

Beaverbank Foundry
26.

Sign post cast by Charles Laing & Son Ltd.

Killin, Perthshire - Photographed 1993

Robert Lamb

23 Dunedin Street

Wood Flour

Robert Lamb
1.

Inside the Mill

On the corner of Beaverhall Road and Dunedin Street

Robert Lamb
2.

At Work in the Mill

Wearing a mask for protection against the clouds of wood flour.
I'm surprised that my camera survived the atmosphere there!

Robert Lamb
3

At Work in the Mill

There is a ''Pin-up' calendar in the background (better seen in Photo 1!)
a common site in most of the workplaces that I visited in the 1990s.

Robert Lamb
4.

The Scales

It didn't take long from them to acquire a thick covering of wood flour.

Robert Lamb
5.

More Machinery

I think these machines were probably grinding the wood into wood flour. I'm not sure.

The fire hydrant in the background looked as if it may well be needed at some stage.

Robert Lamb
6.

This photo was found in Robert Lamb's mill at Dunedin Street.

It features of one of the company's lorries - Where and when was this taken.

Lamb's were still producing boxes in Dunedin Street, beside the mill in the 1990s.the

Robert Lamb
7.

Robert Lamb's premises being converted to housing - 2002

This view looks to the north down Beaverhall Road towards the former Duncan's Chocolate factory

Robert Lamb
8.

Robert Lamb's premises - Conversion almost complete - 2003

This view looks to the west along Dunedin Street from Beaverhall Road

Robert Lamb
9.

Robert Lamb's premises - Converted almost complete - 2003

This view looks to the east along Dunedin Street towards its junction with Beaverhall Road

Lothian & Borders
Fire Brigade

McDonald Road Fire Station
Fire Training

Fire Brigade
1.

The Tower

Fire Brigade
2.

The Turntable Ladder

Fire Brigade
3.

'The Ship'

Fire Brigade
4.

Fire in 'The Ship'

Fire Brigade
5.

Fire in 'The Ship'

Fire Brigade
6.

A fire-fighter rescues a dummy from 'the ship'

Fire Brigade
7.

Fire-fighter during training to rescue dummies from 'the ship'

Fire Brigade
8.

Fire-fighters during training to rescue dummies from 'the ship'

Fire Brigade
9.

Dummies rescued from 'the ship' by fire-fighters during training.

Alexander McLennan

Dunedin Street (immediately to the north of Broughton Road), Edinburgh

Blacksmith

Alexander McLennan
1.

Alex McGlashon's workshop in Dunedin Street

The old garage with its sliding door is still there now, but the Blacksmith business ended in 2006 when Alex retired after 55 years in the business.

His was one of many blacksmiths' businesses that I knew and used around Edinburgh, but almost all of them now appear to have closed.

Alexander McLennan
2.

Alex McLennan

in his blacksmith's workshop

Alexander McLennan
3.

Alex McLennan's Blacksmiths Workshop

south wall

Alexander McLennan
4.

Alex McLennan

outside his blacksmith's workshop, Powderhall, Edinburgh

Miller Brothers

Beaverbank Place

Engineers

Miller Brothers
1.

Here is one of the Miller Brothers in his engineering works, shortly before he retired

I visited Miller Brothers three times in late-1993, but never did discover much about their products, other than that the metal
fittings in the foreground in this photo appear to have been their main output at the time. They feature in several of the photos.

Miller Brothers
2.

More of those metal fittings ...

Miller Brothers
3.

... and still more metal fittings!

Miller Brothers
4.

The three photos above were taken in Miller Brothers' Engineering Works beside Laing's Foundry

Here is a photo of the works

Miller Brothers
5.

Within 3 months, all had been demolished

It looked to me as if the business might not survive for much longer, but I did not realise how imminent the closure would be.

The photos inside the engineering works above were taken in mid-October 1993. By the end of 1993, this is all that was left!

Miller Brothers
6.

Clocking-in Clock and Cards - apparently dating from a time when there were more than two employees

Miller Brothers
7.

More Works in Beaverbank Place

Miller Brothers also had these old premises further up Beaverbank Place, towards Broughton Road.

Miller Brothers
8.

More Works in Beaverbank Place

This was the inside of the works in Photo 7 above - lots of sinks and baths for dipping metal
I suspect these premises might have had difficulty passing today's 'Health & Safety' requirements.

James Ritchie

Formerly 54 Broughton Street, Edinburgh

Clocks & Watches

James Ritchie & Son
1.

Old Advertisement from a Post Office Directory

James Ritchie & Son
2.

Close-up Work at the Bench - 1991

James Ritchie & Son
3.

Ritchie's Workshop, Beneath Ritchie's Shop at 54 Broughton Street - 1992

The shop subsequently moved to Howe Street.
There is now a restaurant at No.54 with a bar beneath it.

James Ritchie & Son
4.

Ritchie's Workshop, Beneath Ritchie's Shop at 54 Broughton Street - 1992

James Ritchie & Son
5.

Ritchie's Workshop, Beneath Ritchie's Shop at 54 Broughton Street - 1992 - zoom-in to the clocks

James Ritchie & Son
6.

Ritchie's Clock Winder at work - at St Giles Cathedral, High Street, Edinburgh - 1992

In the 1990, when I was taking these photos, James Ritchie & Son of Broughton Street had the contract for winding about a dozen of the public clocks in Edinburgh. Here is their Clock Winder at work in the tower of St Giles' Church. There is no clock face on the tower of St Giles, but the clock is used to operate the bells that chime every quarter-hour.

James Ritchie & Son
7.

Ritchie's Clock Winder at St Stephen's Church, Stockbridge, Edinburgh - 1993

Here, the Clock Winder is pulling on the ropes to raise the weights that operate the pendulum. It is the longest pendulum in Europe. Since this photo was taken, this clock has been converted to electric operation.

Speedspools

Gayfield Place Lane

Hot Metal Printers

Speedspools
1.

One of 6 pictures in glazed tiles on the wall of the Café Royal

Benjamin Franklin and a Printing Press

These pictures were produced for the Edinburgh International Exhibition of Industry, Science & Art, 1886

Speedspools
2.

Printing Press at Speedspools - 1992

Speedspools
3.

Illustrations from a book on printing, published 1939

Monotype Keyboard
and
Monotype Caster

Speedspools
4.

Monotype Keyboard in use at Speedspools, Gayfield Place Lane - 1994

Speedspools
5.

Monotype Keyboard in use at Speedspools, Gayfield Place Lane - 1992

George Waterston

off Beaverbank Place

Sealing Wax Manufacturers

George Waterston's Sealing Wax Works
1.

Sealing Wax Works - off Beaverbank Place (to the north of Broughton Road) - 1996

George Waterston started to manufacture sealing wax in the Old Town of Edinburgh in 1752.

The business later moved to Warriston, and continued with a small workforce in the 1990s.

The business was de-merged in Jun 2003 and was sold outside the family in December 2003

George Waterston's Sealing Wax Works
2.

Later use of the land

Soon after I visited the sealing was works in the 1990s, I noticed that the land had been taken over and converted to become a car pound. I believe that it has now been redeveloped as new housing. Here is a view of the car pound, complete with the tow trucks.

George Waterston's Sealing Wax Works
3.

Making sealing wax - a room full of shellac - one of the ingredients of sealing wax

George Waterston's Sealing Wax Works
4.

Making sealing wax - Shellac - one of the ingredients of sealing wax

George Waterston's Sealing Wax Works
5.

Making sealing wax - The Ingredients about to be heated

George Waterston's Sealing Wax Works
6.

Making sealing wax - The Ingredients about to be heated

George Waterston's Sealing Wax Works
7.

Making sealing wax - pans on the stoves, about to be heated

George Waterston's Sealing Wax Works
8.

Making sealing wax - some equipment used

George Waterston's Sealing Wax Works
9.

Making sealing wax - stirring the ingredients

George Waterston's Sealing Wax Works
10.

Making sealing wax - threading string through the moulds

George Waterston's Sealing Wax Works
11.

Making sealing wax - pouring into the moulds

George Waterston's Sealing Wax Works
12.

Making sealing wax - pouring into the moulds

George Waterston's Sealing Wax Works
13.

Making sealing wax - some the blocks from the moulds broken into individual sticks

George Waterston's Sealing Wax Works
14.

Making sealing wax - finishing with heat, perhaps to add a glaze,

George Waterston's Sealing Wax Works
15.

Making sealing wax - some of the individual sticks ready for packaging

George Waterston's Sealing Wax Works
16.

Making sealing wax - the finished product, being packaged in boxes

Update

Camp Coffee

Thank you to the person in the audience at the Broughton History Society talk last week who told me that Camp Coffee used to be made at these premises before Waterstons moved in with their sealing wax works

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: February 18, 2014

Talk to Broughton History Society - Monday 9 February 2015 Introduction

Newhaven

Leith

Stockbridge

Canonmills

Broughton History

Broughton Maps

Broughton
Recollections

Broughton
Transport

Broughton
Work

Broughton
Churches

Broughton
Shops

Broughton
Bars

__________________

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