A Walk in Queensferry - Many Years Ago, Part Two!

Part Two, along the High Street to Hopetoun Road.
Reminiscences by local residents. Dates unknown
Remember these are memories of people in Queensferry at a much earlier date than now so shop names will be different and may be out of sequence. They in no way cover every premise.
​Some updates as to name changes have been added in brackets.
(You may find more information on some of the places named in this blog, search under "Index of Archived Posts" for the heading and date to look up.)

​"We leave 'Mauritzios' and continue along the High Street and we come to the Council Offices and Museum on the right. This building was previously a Temperance Hotel named ‘Viewforth Hotel’.

 Then we see the car park below which was the Ferry Swimming Baths 

​Images © Queensferry History Group

and of course people swam in the sea as well. ​​

1950's Image: © Queensferry history Group

 Across from the car park and to the right a little, we see a very old building named Black Castle (built in 1626). Part of this building was occupied by Coal Merchants and other families until approximately 1980 (now private housing). 

Black Castle, image: © Queensferry History Group

​Going up the stairs on the left as we pass Black Castle, we find the Old Parish Church built in 1635 and a very old graveyard which is kept locked due to its fragile condition. Looking to the top of the church you will see the old church bell which was rung by the beadle of the church for 10 minutes before the church service began. (There is a curse on this bell).

Now back towards the street we find ourselves on Mid Terrace. Looking over the railings and over the street there was a little Barbers Shop-Sinclairs, the Chemist -Listers /Watsons and the Stationers -Rae/Edmunds.  In the space adjoining Fairlies the butcher (now Maisies) was a little pub, there was a ring on the wall for tying the horse to while the owner had a little refreshment. The Pub was called “The Hole In The Wa”. (This collapsed just after WW1 and was demolished in the 1930’s)

             Fairlies Butcher, now Masies, and gap where "The Hole In The Wa" pub was to the right of                     Maisies in image. ©Queensferry History Group

​Off Mid Terrace and on to West Terrace there was a Drapers shop-Willie and Johnnie Grahams and  an Ironmongers-Sullivan. This Terrace like the Main Street, Mid Terrace and East Terrace were occupied by many families in small one and two apartment houses. Looking over the railings at this point were Drapers-Miss Cameron, a Boot Shop-Joe Muir, then there was the Post Office Close leading down to the shore, here there were houses with outside stairs and a Dole Office.

​West Terrace at this point had been somewhat divided with the insertion of the fountain. 

Well erected beside Rosebery Hall to commemorate John Reid Provost of Queensferry 1884 - 1899

I remember the soldiers being drilled for guard duty during the First World War and marching along the streets to their various points. At that time the army were using Rosebery Hall for accommodation. Years later the hall was used as a Cinema- Lees.

 
​As you pass under the tunnel at Rosebery Hall and still on West Terrace you pass the Gas Office. Round to the left there were quite a lot of small houses, single and two apartments, named Craws Close and Hill Square, (later demolished to create Hill Court housing).
Eventually a modern cinema- the Regal- was built on West Terrace, east side of the fountain, (demolished) now offices and houses.

Ferry Fair 1950's, crowning of the Queen, in front of the Regal Cinema. Image Evening Dispatch. © Queensferry History Group

Ashley Clarke, near where Regal Cinema was

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​Across the road, on the North side, we have the ‘Queensferry Arms’ (now Orroco Pier). This part of the street has been altered since the coming of Marandola from Kirkliston, a modern fish and chip business and there was an extensive fire in this area at some time. There were several small businesses such as a Grocer, Charity Shop and Dole Office.

Queensferry Arms, now Orocco Pier

​We pass the Indian Restaurant, the Delta-previously owned by G.B Sandercombe, Grocers, then Walkers Grocery, Crowthers Grocery (now Queens Spice Indian Restaurant).

'Sandercombes', 'Walkers' and now 'Queens Spice'  Images ©Queensferry History Group

​
​On to the Bellstane, (where the dentist is now) we have’ Izatts’ with full baking services, Mitchell–Painters and Decorators, Harry Kelly-Photographer/Kelly Architects, and in the centre at the corner Andersons Grocery, which then was Greenfield's Grocery. 

Mauritzio's, now where Anderson's Grocer, later Greenfield's Grocer was. Allium can be seen on the left.

Another view of Bellstane

​Next to this, Mabels-Greengrocer, previously ‘Marrs’-Drapers, originally the ‘Colosseum’ for naval supplies (now ‘Allium’).

Colosseum, now Allium. Image © Queensferry History Group

Further along we have the Wheatsheaf Bakery (now the Good Fortune Chinese Restaurant.

​​Just past the Police Station, McLucas operated a second hand furniture business. This area was known as Girdwoods Land. Along to Williamson Place (the bottom of Hopetoun Road) this was a busy area, with a chemist, confectioner, Grocer, Tea Room, McLucas Bankrupt Stock for Sale, Scruples Jewellers (now on High Street), a Cobbler who hired cycles and the Dole Office which eventually moved into this area. (This area now has a Beautician, Optician and two Undertakers with hairdresser around the corner).

Williamson Place now known as Hopetoun Road, you can still read 'Williamson Place' today if you look above the first shop on the left. Images  © Queensferry History Group 

Our walk about Queensferry ends here!

© Queensferry History Group 1918