Some Bryan Maughan Recollections
I became all nostalgic when reading about all the old shops. As a resident of Bonnington Road for my first 18 years (1957-1975), I well remember that it had no less than 5 pubs, all within kicking distance of each other. The other ``Famous Five`` were Bonnington Toll Bar, Wright`s Bar, Lothian Bar, The Spotted Dog, and Foxes. The middle three were only 100 yards apart!
There was Barry`s Factory, Petries Lemonade Yard, Stanwell Hall - the Mission Hall, always good for a heat on a cold night. Bob`s the Butchers. As a lad me and my pals would take Bob`s wheelbarrow and make our way to Mitchell`s Wood Yard in Balfour Street for bags of sawdust. Once delivered and the sawdust spread on Bob`s floor, he would give us a shilling (5p) to share among us. I also remember Mitchell`s Yard burning down. I think this would be the late 1960s - early 1970s. As fires go, they didn`t come any bigger as Mitchell`s was a huge place. I can remember the Fire Brigade `dowsing` the building next door. This just happened to be Craig & Rose the Paint Factory. There was water everywhere for days afterwards.
The Sarsons Vinegar Factory in Tennant Street...I can still smell it to this day. Now there is a memory. The distinctive smells of Leith in the 60s/70s. There was Duncan`s, latterly Rowantrees at Powderhall. On a good day the smell of the chocolate hanging in the air tantalised the taste buds. Sunblest at Hawkhill, the smell of baking bread gave you hunger pangs. The Vat 69 and Stewart`s Whisky Bonds in Bonnington/Breadalbane Street and Bowling Green Street...the smells live with me even now.
The wee one armed guy who sold bleach, etc., from a barrow door to door...The rag `n` bone shop in Tennant Street...the Boncast Social Club where I attended many a Tuesday disco in my early teen years...the Bonnington Castings, this giant foundry was like a giant adventure playground when it was left derelict.
The Bowery Building like something straight out of a Dicken`s novel if I remember right! The Provy stables in Burlington Street is another fond memory...the `Haunted Hoose`` in Pilrig Park that belonged to the Balfour family. The older lads would regale us with tales of what went on within its walls. All tall tales naturally, but we daren`t go near it after dark..just in case.
Tennant Street, or the Khyber Pass to us because it was predominantly full of Indian families. the `Khyber` was where I met some of my oldest acquaintances, and we would have 20 v 20 a-side football games in Pilrig Park every Sunday. Scotland v India, with us against the Singhs. Yes, the opposition were all called Singh. They were keenly contested affairs with the games lasting for hours. We only stopped to send a messenger to De Ponios Ice cream shop in Bonnington Road for bottles of juice, usually cream soda.
The Singh lads are all still on the go, and we bump into each other regularly. Needless to say, the old games are still talked about, even today. Racism.. the word was never mentioned. We were all Leithers! The `Khyber Boys` as they were known, all went into Henry Robbs when they left school...caulkers, burners, welders, they turned their hands to most things.
I had pals that went into the Bond or as joiner apprentices with R.L Rae in Steads Place. I went as an apprentice cooper to Neil Dryburghs at St Clair Avenue, just off Easter Road, where I worked man and boy until the cooperage closed in 1987.
I, us Leithers, `Whaes Like Us?
Bryan Maughan
