Image: Numbers 5 and 6 Stoneycroft Road. Photo-Norma Brown QHG
Catherine Bank was the name of the big white house, Numbers 5 and 6, at the end of Stoneycroft Road. It can be seen on the top of the hill, from the Esplanade leading to the Hawes Pier.
Image:No's 5 and 6 Stoneycroft Road shown at the top of the image. © QHG
Numbers 5 & 6 Stoneycroft Road, former names 'Catherine Bank' and 'Bonny Views', is a category “C” listed building. Date of erection unknown, but first records show dates around 1801, with a mention of pre 1720.
It has late 19th century alterations, and has an attic with large dormer windows and steps down to the basement on the East side. This building is sited on a steep gradient resulting in a single storey appearance from the South.
Above Catherine Bank were a number of houses, now demolished, called Catherine Terrace. Affectionately known as "The Brickies" they were built around 1883 to house the construction workers for the Forth Rail Bridge.
It has late 19th century alterations, and has an attic with large dormer windows and steps down to the basement on the East side. This building is sited on a steep gradient resulting in a single storey appearance from the South.
Above Catherine Bank were a number of houses, now demolished, called Catherine Terrace. Affectionately known as "The Brickies" they were built around 1883 to house the construction workers for the Forth Rail Bridge.
Image: at the top of the image, Catherine Terrace with Catherine Bank to the left. © QHG
Image: Catherine Terrace "The Brickies". © QHG
What follows is an incomplete complicated record of two halves – upper and lower, taken mainly from Deeds. Listing proprietors only, as there were many tenants throughout the years.
The first mention of ownership is dated 1720 in the appeal for a ‘Charter of Novodamus’ in 1862 by Helen and Ann Elder in order to establish their ownership, as earlier title deeds were missing. More information on this further on.
The first mention of ownership is dated 1720 in the appeal for a ‘Charter of Novodamus’ in 1862 by Helen and Ann Elder in order to establish their ownership, as earlier title deeds were missing. More information on this further on.
The lower western flat of Catherine Bank was owned by Archibald and Margaret Stewart on deeds dated 23rd April 1801. (These deeds are unavailable but evidence is recorded on the 1852 deeds. This then passed to their youngest daughter Miss Margaret Stewart, who died in Queensferry in November 1852. Archibald Stewart c1736-1801, his wife Margaret Douglas c1740-1825, their son Archibald Douglas Stewart c1774-1825 and daughter Margaret Stewart c1780-1852 are all buried in St Cuthbert Church Graveyard, Dalmeny.
Image : postcard postmarked 1927, showing original tower and round chancel at East end. © Queensferry History Group Archives
It was then put in the hands of Margaret’s heirs, Mrs Margaret Ellis nee Watt, (born c1801) residing in Aberdeen, widow of Army Captain Joseph Ellis (born c1791), who died between June 1841 and March 1851, (no information can be traced on his military career) and Miss Cecilia Stewart Ellis, her eldest daughter (born 1821), residing in The Isle of Man, proprietors by virtue of a disposition and deed settlement by Margaret Stewart dated 3rd March 1847. (Relationship unknown).
Ordnance Survey Map 1895, shows on left (in red), Catherine Terrace and possibly, (in green), Catherine Bank. ©
The property (lower western flat) was put up for sale by public roup (auction) in 1852 at an upset price of £15.00 sterling. Only one offer was made, of £15.00, this by James Wilson, residing at 1 Grove Place, who put it in the hands of Mr John Cullen, Writer to the Signet (Scottish Solicitor), Edinburgh.
John Cullen sold the property, the lower western flat, for £15.00, to James Wood, a Joiner, on 12th November 1862. James married Janet Kerr in Queensferry in 1830, but sadly she died. He then married Catherine MacLaren in Queensferry on 3rd March 1850 .
John Cullen sold the property, the lower western flat, for £15.00, to James Wood, a Joiner, on 12th November 1862. James married Janet Kerr in Queensferry in 1830, but sadly she died. He then married Catherine MacLaren in Queensferry on 3rd March 1850 .
The upper tenement back and front, and yard, lying to the south, was also owned by James Wood, Master Joiner, who purchased the property on 3rd July 1862, for £40 sterling, from Helen Smith nee Elder, spouse of Hugh Smith, Surgeon, from Glasgow, married in 1846 in Scoonie, who by 1862 were living in Newstead, Castlemain, Victoria, Australia and Anne Smith nee Arnott, wife of John Smith, Writer, residing in Leven.
The property (upper tenement as above) was previously owned by Anne Elder nee Anderson, wife of John Elder, Bookseller of Leven, until 1833, when it was passed on to her daughters Helen and Anne mentioned above, who were in possession until 1862.
Helen and Anne were unable to recover earlier title deeds in order to establish their ownership so on 30th June 1862 a ‘Charter of Novodamus’ was granted as warrant of registration via George Dundas of Dundas Estates, at that time Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island, Canada. 15 shillings fue duty was paid in respect of the Charter. (A charter of Novodamus, in Scottish feudal land law, is a fresh grant of lands to the grantee. It is usually granted to make some change in the incidents of tenure of land already granted, or to resolve doubts about the grant or its terms).
Helen and Anne were unable to recover earlier title deeds in order to establish their ownership so on 30th June 1862 a ‘Charter of Novodamus’ was granted as warrant of registration via George Dundas of Dundas Estates, at that time Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island, Canada. 15 shillings fue duty was paid in respect of the Charter. (A charter of Novodamus, in Scottish feudal land law, is a fresh grant of lands to the grantee. It is usually granted to make some change in the incidents of tenure of land already granted, or to resolve doubts about the grant or its terms).
George Dundas 1819 - 1880. Image Wikipedia Public Domain
They stated that in 1720 the property, upper level back and front and yard, belonged to John Arnott, Carpenter in Inverkeithing and this fell to his son Robert Arnott, a Tailor in Queensferry, and subsequently to his eldest son John. By 1763, John’s daughter Ann Watson nee Arnott, was proprietor of Catherine Bank, spouse of James Watson, Merchant and Burgess of Edinburgh. This descended to their daughter, Helen Anderson nee Watson, spouse of George Anderson. Their daughter Anne Anderson as mentioned in previous paragraph, married John Elder, Bookseller in Leven and they remained in possession until 1833 when she was succeeded by Helen Smith nee Elder and Anne Smith nee Elder as above.
Helen and Anne sold the property to James Wood on 3rd July 1862, three days later, for £40 sterling.
Helen and Anne sold the property to James Wood on 3rd July 1862, three days later, for £40 sterling.
On 9th May 1863, James Wood, now a Builder and Ironmonger, purchased the lower Eastern flat for £20.00 sterling from Mrs Elizabeth Sharpe nee MacFarlane, widow of the late Walter Sharpe, residing in Bathgate. The writs of the property, having gone missing, were to be delivered upon recovery.
It seems by 1863 James Wood now owns the entirety of Catherine Bank. He proceeded to make alterations to the building. He is given credit as ‘erecting’ Catherine Bank in the Disposition by grandson William George Wood, to the Co-operative Building Society, in respect of the purchase of the property by Thomas and Moira Watson in 1955.
It seems by 1863 James Wood now owns the entirety of Catherine Bank. He proceeded to make alterations to the building. He is given credit as ‘erecting’ Catherine Bank in the Disposition by grandson William George Wood, to the Co-operative Building Society, in respect of the purchase of the property by Thomas and Moira Watson in 1955.
In 1871 census James Wood, listed aged 71, Builder and Carpenter, is living in West Terrace with his wife Catherine and daughter Jane. In 1881 listed aged 82, he is still there living with wife and family including two sons, one daughter, daughter in law and a grandson.
James Wood died on 23rd January 1884 in West Terrace, Queensferry aged 86 years, notified by his son David Wood of London. Catherine was living in Trafalgar Cottage, Queensferry when she died on 11th August 1888 aged 77 years.
James Wood died on 23rd January 1884 in West Terrace, Queensferry aged 86 years, notified by his son David Wood of London. Catherine was living in Trafalgar Cottage, Queensferry when she died on 11th August 1888 aged 77 years.
Part of the building was sold by the trustees of James Wood, to Tom Ross in November 1892, and part of the building was sold by the trustees to James’s son William in July 1915. William Wood, was born in Queensferry and in 1861, an Apprentice Banker, he was living with his Uncle William in Largo, Fife. By 1871 he was living in Essex with his wife Annie. They returned to Queensferry by 1881, still a Bank Clerk, living with father James in West Terrace. By 1901 he had retired, as a Bank Manager, to New Malden, Surrey with his wife Annie.
Image: © QHG
William George Wood sold the two uppermost flats (No 5) to Thomas and Moira Watson, of Priory House, for £425 in 1955. With consent of Thomas and Elizabeth, William then sold the property to Mrs Mary Purves Scott, nee Collins for £1,855 the same year. The property is now named “Bonny Views”.
The lower two flats continued to change hands several times between 1964 and 1979, the value increasing accordingly from £400.00 to £13,00.00.
Mrs Mary Purves Scott nee Collins, died in Queensferry on 8th February 1983, aged 83 and left the two uppermost flats (Bonny Views) to Miss Edwina Collins and Mrs Kathleen Stewart nee Collins. They sold to Lawrence Johnston in June 1983 for £15,500. He in turn sold on to Mrs Janet McMurtrie in January 1984 for £20,000.
Janet sold to William Goodsir Leitch, living in Kirkaldy, for £37,000 in November 1984.
In 1989 Dr Hugh Fraser and Miss Janet Reid Scott purchased the two lower flats from William and Eleanor Clark for £71,000. No deeds were found.
In 1990 Dr Hugh Fraser and Miss Janet Reid Scott sold 6 Stoneycroft Road, the two lowermost floors and garden, for £74,000, to Miss Hilary Sharman, who later that year sold them back to Hugh and Janet. In 1990, Rentokil produced a certificate of guarantee for treatment of rising damp and wood boring infestation and in 1992 a repairs grant was awarded to H Fraser for 6 Stoneycroft (Lower Flats)
In 2004, William Goodsir Leitch now living in Nagasaki, sold 5 Stoneycroft Road (upper flats) to Jon Davies and Alison Powell. They later purchased the lower flats (No. 6), and subsequently sold the entire property to the present owners. At present No 6 is a private dwelling and No 5 is 'Forth Reflections, Self Catering Holiday Accommodation', link to website below.
This information is extracted from Dispositions, Titles, and other papers regarding the sales of Catherine Bank.
Additional information taken from Ancestry, Find My Past, census and valuation records and Scotland’s People.
Janet sold to William Goodsir Leitch, living in Kirkaldy, for £37,000 in November 1984.
In 1989 Dr Hugh Fraser and Miss Janet Reid Scott purchased the two lower flats from William and Eleanor Clark for £71,000. No deeds were found.
In 1990 Dr Hugh Fraser and Miss Janet Reid Scott sold 6 Stoneycroft Road, the two lowermost floors and garden, for £74,000, to Miss Hilary Sharman, who later that year sold them back to Hugh and Janet. In 1990, Rentokil produced a certificate of guarantee for treatment of rising damp and wood boring infestation and in 1992 a repairs grant was awarded to H Fraser for 6 Stoneycroft (Lower Flats)
In 2004, William Goodsir Leitch now living in Nagasaki, sold 5 Stoneycroft Road (upper flats) to Jon Davies and Alison Powell. They later purchased the lower flats (No. 6), and subsequently sold the entire property to the present owners. At present No 6 is a private dwelling and No 5 is 'Forth Reflections, Self Catering Holiday Accommodation', link to website below.
This information is extracted from Dispositions, Titles, and other papers regarding the sales of Catherine Bank.
Additional information taken from Ancestry, Find My Past, census and valuation records and Scotland’s People.
Image: © QHG
© Queensferry History Group 2017
