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Photo 1
Looking down on Granton Square and across to Granton Harbour - Late 1950s
© Reproduced with acknowledgement to the Robert Grieves Collection and to Argyll Publishing
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I wrote: "This photo includes a wealth of information for anybody interested in transport in Edinburgh in the mid-20th century. Perhaps somebody will e-mail me with a few comments about the vehicles and ships in this picture." |
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Answer 1 |
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Walter Lyle Hume, Isle of Wight replied, a few hours later: |
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The Closest Ship "The closest vessel in the picture is at Lighthouse Pier. It is the twin screw motor ship 'Pharos VIII', built at Dundee by Caledon Shipyard. Pharos was used: - as a relief tender for North Carr Lightship, Bell Rock, May Island, Bass Rock and Fidra Island - for servicing beacons and buoys on the East Coast. - for conducting the annual Inspection Commissioners cruise around all the Scottish coast. Pharos was sold to Windjammer Cruises, Bahamas in 1988, renamed 'Amazing Grace', and is still in service." |
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The Distant Ship "The ship berthed at the steam crane on east side of middle pier would have ben loading coal, or possibly laid up. The coal conveyor clearly visible at end of middle pier, with trawlers on the west side." |
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Drilling Rig "The drilling Rig was moored in Granton late 50's, having been used by the National Coal Board in the area between Portobello and Port Seton." |
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Taxi Office "The taxi office and kiosk can be seen on the left, in the middle of the picture" |
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Walter Lyle Hume, Cowes, Isle of Wight, England: November 23, 2006. |
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Answer 2 |
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Thank you to Patrick Hutton, Edinburgh, who wrote: |
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The Railway "An excellent photo. The tramlines have gone, so I'd guess the photo was taken in the late-'1950s. I think the locomotive is a J35 or J37. These lasted right until the end of Scottish steam in 1966-67. Or, if the engine has two windows in the cab side (which is not possible to tell from the web photo), it would be a J38 (more likely) or a J39 (almost indistinguishable). I've seen a photo of one shedded at Seafield in the early '60s." |
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Patrick Hutton, Edinburgh: November 27 + 30, 2006. |
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Answer 3 |
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I was also pleased to receive this reply, from Grant King, Aberdeenshire: |
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The Two Boys "The two children coming up the steps are: - on the right, Paul Lorimer and - on the left, John Harkness. This I got from a good source - Paul, who I grew up with." |
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Grant King, Aberdeenshire, now working in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil:: December 13, 2006. |
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Answer 4 |
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Thank you to Hughie Grey, Australia, who wrote: |
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Post Office and Police Box "On Granton Square there used to be the Post Office, good for sweeties. We used to buy cinnamon sticks to smoke. Yikes! I wonder if the old police box is still there. I've been in it a couple of time I even remember the Policeman's name. It was 'Big Archie' and he had a big 'back hand'. Many of the old police boxes can still be found in the streets of Edinburgh, some now converted to coffee kiosks, but the one in Granton Square (above the road sign at the left-hand side of this picture) has been removed. - Peter Stubbs. |
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The Railway We were always getting caught in the railway yards jumping on the wagons. I lived in Granton Medway, top stair. We had great fun as kids. Oor Wullie couldnae dae better, eh!" |
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Hughie Grey, Australia:: March 5, 2007 |
Photo 2
Victoria Day 1948 - Where is it?
© Reproduced by courtesy of Phil Wilson, Aberdeen
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Question |
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Thank you to Phil Wilson, Aberdeen, Scotland. for sending me this photo in February 2006. Phil wrote: Where is it? "I've been trying to work out where the railway line in the above photo could have been. It must have been within walking distance of Victoria Park, Leith, as my mother and brother had been there on the same day (Victoria Day, 1948). It's also unusual as people seem to be able to walk across the line. Could it have been down at Granton, or near Newhaven?" Phil Wilson, Aberdeen: February 19, 2006
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Reply 1. |
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Patrick Hutton, Edinburgh, wrote: It's Probably Granton "It's probably Granton. There are no rails at Newhaven harbour. The wall at the back looks like that in the pic of the steam loco shunting wagons onto the pier ~ 1955. 1955 Patrick Hutton, Edinburgh: February 20, 2006 |
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Reply 2. |
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Walter Lyle Hume, Cowes, Isle of Wight, wrote: Granton Harbour - Middle Pier "They are always easy, if you know! I recognised it instantly, situated on the left-hand side at the entrance to Granton Harbour Middle Pier. During my immediate post-war years with the Northern Lighthouse Tenders, the Pharos was based at Middle Pier and the May was based at the shore end of the West Pier. Sweet Shop We used to call at the wooden shop immediately behind the baby's head, known as 'Koskie Joes', a sweet and newspaper shop, to pick up a paper. Taxi Office The smaller wooden hut to the right of the shop was a taxi office, operated by Peter King*, employed with Granton Harbour as a Crane Driver. *Actually Hugh King: See notes from Grant King (below). |
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Reply 4. Kenneth Williamson Silverknowes, Edinburgh |
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Kenneth wrote: Granton - Middle Pier "This is Hardies Newsagents beside the Middle pier at Granton. I think there may have been other businesses besides the newsagents but we were only concerned with the sweets, money permitting. I was brought up in this area. As a child we used to cross the railway line to buy sweeties, you would never get away with that now. Granton Trains Trains used to pass taking coal up to Granton Gas Works as well as going along to the West Pier to collect esparto grass and also the Ruberoid Company just below the Gas Works. Shop Once the wooden building was demolished the shop was transferred to a corner of Granton Square besides HMS Claverhouse (formerly The Granton Hotel). The shop is now a takeaway called 'Jaws'. Kenneth G Williamson, Silverknowes, Edinburgh: April 19, 2006 |
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Kenneth added: Brotchie's Coal Merchants "I used to work as a coalman when I was about fifteen for Brotchie's coal merchants where the houses are being built at the entrance to Middle Pier from Granton Square. Kenneth G Williamson, Silverknowes, Edinburgh: April 21, 2006 |
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Reply 5. Grant King Aberdeenshire, Scotland |
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Grant wrote: Granton - Middle Pier "It's a bit late in the day as picture has been well identified. Just a couple of points for Walter Lyle Hume. If my memory serves me right, the taxi office was run by Hugh King. Peter King was actually West Pier Manager / Foreman." Grant King, Aberdeenshire, now working in Trinidad: October 23, 2006 |
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Thank you to Grant King, for also sending me information about the dredger, Rockchime, in October 2006. |
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Reply 6. Deano Griffin Michigan, USA |
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Deano Michigan, USA, wrote: The Couple in the Photo "My Cousin, Alan, found your web site. He e-mailed me and told me to have a look at this picture. He said the lady with the man could pass as either his mother or mine, as they both look alike. Betty's Comment Right away she said: 'That’s Oor Margaret and she's wearing my wedding suit'! Betty informed us that Margaret went to a dance that day (Victoria Day, 1948) without informing her that she was going to wear Betty's suit. My Mom My Mom married Bobby Griffin (not the man in the photo) who she met while he was in the Air Force stationed at Kirknewton. Deano Griffin, Michigan, USA: March 26, 2008 |
Photos 3 to 70
Not tonight!
But these are all on the web site.
20 of them still have to be identified.
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Recent Photos
Royal Forth Yacht Club Boat Yard on Middle Pier
Bernard Hunter's crane lifts one of the yachts into Granton Harbour
© Copyright: peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk Photograph taken April 5, 2008
Royal Forth Yacht Club Boat Yard on Middle Pier
Bernard Hunter's crane lifts one of the yachts into Granton Harbour
© Copyright: peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk Photograph taken April 5, 2008
A yacht, having just been lifted into the water, starts its engine to make its way across Granton Harbour.
© Copyright: peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk Photograph taken April 5, 2008
A yacht, after being lifted into the water makes its way across Granton Harbour
In the background are more yachts, the Island of Inchkeith in the Firth of Forth and Granton Eastern Breakwater
© Copyright: peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk Photograph taken April 5, 2008
Looking to the north from the decking in Royal Forth Yacht Club Boat Yard on Middle Pier
This view looks towards the harbour entrance. The modern building is a base for Forth Ports' Pilot Boats.
The older building on Middle Pier is the old gunpowder house, possibly due to be converted into a restaurant.
© Copyright: peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk Photograph taken April 5, 2008
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John Dinwoodie & Sons "The old building that you describe as the gunpowder house, above, was the base for John Dinwoodie & Sons, sail makers, riggers and ships painters. The trawlermen's motto for the company was jokingly, 'If it don't move, paint it.' Dinwoodie also had a small fleet of tugs. Anybody who had anything to do with Granton Harbour will remember them. They used a lot of casual labour, if I recall correctly." Andy Hall, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England: April 9, 2008 |
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Granton Ice Company "You describe the old building on the pier as the old gunpowder house and as John Dinwoodie's depot. I'm sure I've seen a photo of it somewhere with 'Granton Ice Company' (or similar) on it." Patrick Hutton, New Town Edinburgh: April 9, 2008 |
Aerial View - early 1970s
© Reproduced by courtesy of Scotsman Publications. Click here for web site details.
Aerial View - early 1970s - with key
© Reproduced by courtesy of Scotsman Publications. Click here for web site details.
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