Portobello's Public Parks

[Bob Jefferson]

I have found around 200 references to Portobello's public parks in the Scotsman digital archive. I restricted my searches to Abercorn Park, Brighton Park, Figgate Park, Joppa Quarry, Portobello Park and Rosefield Park. Many other references that I had hoped to incorporate from other sources were lost when I attempted to transfer data between computers.

So don't expect a rathbone-scale magnus opus but just a few interesting facts I have been able to find. If anyone has amendments, corrections or further information please get in touch.

As with rathbone's 'On The Beach' project, I will be publishing in bite-size chunks and in chronological order.

[Bob Jefferson]

The first reference I was able to find to a public park in Portobello dates from 4 June 1860 in a report of the official opening of the Prince of Wales Promenade on Saturday 2 June. A banquet held at the Commercial Hotel in Bath Street that evening was attended by Provost Johnston and many other local dignitaries, during the course of which Sheriff Logan made mention of an 'ornamental garden' which a certain Mr Smellie was in the process of constructing,

[Bob Jefferson]

On Saturday, 15 July 1865, long before Joppa Quarry became a public park, it offered an interesting excursion for the Edinburgh Geological Society. The seams of fireclay, sandstone, shale and impure limestone contained few fossils, however, and there were no finds of note on this occasion.

The summer of 1866 witnessed a series of concerts in Smellie Park by the Queen's Own Hussars. A meeting was held on 23 July in the Town Hall of proprietors of Brighton Place, East and West Brighton Crescents, Sandford Street, and Rosefield Place. The trustees of Mr Smellie were prepared to sell the park to them for the sum of £500. A builder was also interested in purchasing the park with the intention of erecting a villa therein.

The sale was agreed. Those residing in Brighton Place and Crescent would pay five shillings per pound on their rental, while other residents would pay at the rate of two shillings and sixpence. Each subscriber would be furnished with a key and would be entitled to

[Bob Jefferson]

In 1871 it was proposed to create a new bowling green in Portobello. Brighton Park was considered as one of two possible sites before Lee Crescent was chosen in its place.

The Good Templars of Leith, Portobello and Musselburgh held a well-attended fete in Brighton Park on Saturday, 26 August 1876. As they enjoyed their pic-nic they were addressed by a series of speakers on the evils resulting from intemperance.

On Saturday, 5 July 1879 the number of visitors to Portobello was estimated at between ten and fifteen thousand. While most headed toward the beach, many got no further than Brighton Park where they danced to the recently formed Portobello Trades Band. Subscriptions from local residents hadn't raised quite enough and so a series of such open-air entertainments was proposed over the coming weeks to cover the debt on their musical instruments.
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A New Portobello High School in the Park

[Bob Jefferson]

On 22 August, 1879 Robert Dickson and Alexander Shields pled guilty to stealing two and a half hundredweight of iron railings from Joppa Quarry, the property of the Benhar Coal Company Ltd. They were each sentenced to 2 months imprisonment.

The Portobello Horticultural Society held its annual event in two large marquees in Brighton Park on Saturday, 20 August 1881. In spite of heavy rain and a backward season, the show was considered to be the best in years. Competition was keen in all sections, vegetables in particular. There were also excellent displays of fuschias, geraniums, roses and marigolds.

In February of 1888 the sale of Lynedoch House in Elcho Terrace describes the house as being opposite Abercorn Park, while in 1890 no. 5 John Street is advertised as having joint right to the park.
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A New Portobello High School in the Park

[Bob Jefferson]

Brighton Park has witnessed quite a variety of events over the years. On Saturday, 29 June 1895 it was a political demonstration. The local Liberal Unionists and the Conservative Association were out in force with prospective MPs, ex-Provosts and councillors in attendance and much discussion on the topic of Home Rule.

Thereafter, they enjoyed refreshments and were entertained by the Portobello Brass Band.

On Saturday, 4 April of the following year the 1st Portobello Company of the Boys Brigade assembled in the park to be inspected by Colonel Wauchope C.B C.M.G. His wife presented awards for good attendance.
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A New Portobello High School in the Park

[Bob Jefferson]

In August the Colonel was back to open the Grand Flower Show in Brighton Park. On this occasion the brass band of Leith Industrial School provided the entertainment.

On 17 June 1896 the Portobello Ladies Golf Club played a competition on Portobello Park. Three rounds of the six hole course were played. Mrs Crawford took first prize with a card of 89, while the best individual round went to Miss Simpson with a score of 28.
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A New Portobello High School in the Park

[Bob Jefferson]

Following the amalgamation with Edinburgh, Councillor Balfour was appointed as Park Ranger in Portobello. His decision to prohibit the game of golf after 1pm on Saturdays, under a penalty of 40 shillings, did not sit well with Mr Titterton, who wrote to complain about the new rule in a letter to the Scotsman on 8 July 1897.

The author of a follow-up letter was in agreement. There wasn't room for both golf and cricket and it wasn't fair that the golfers should have to make way. The cricketers were only boys after all. Another contributor to the debate blamed beginners at the game from Edinburgh and their 'erratic driving' for the imposition of the one o'clock rule.

In any case, Portobello Park was not considered to be the best site for a permanent park, an area between Morton Street and Magdalene Bridge being favoured for a links course with room for football and cricket.
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A New Portobello High School in the Park

[Bob Jefferson]

By 1897 the annual flower show in Brighton Park was now referred to as an exhibition of the Portobello Horticultural and Industrial Society. Along with the usual flowers, fruit and veg, homemade jams and chutneys, the show now also featured carving, fretwork, knitting, needlework and home baking.

The following summer was the Scotsman's first mention of an annual brass band contest in the park. Sixteen bands competed from Airdrie to Musselburgh. Between four and five thousand people paid for admission with 373 bandsmen taking part. The band from Carron Iron Works took first place and the £15 prize with a piece by Meyerbeer, conducted by Frank McDonald.
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A New Portobello High School in the Park

[Bob Jefferson]

The golfers still weren't happy about not being able to play on Saturday afternoons and raised a petition but the Public Parks Committee stuck by their decision, despite the protestations of Councillors Kellock and Innes, in order to allow young boys to play their games of football in safety.

In 1900 the annual brass band contest in Brighton Park was attended by over 2000 people. Carron Works were, on this occasion, beaten into second place by Musselburgh and Fisherrow Trades Band, who also walked off with the medals for trombone playing.
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A New Portobello High School in the Park

[Bob Jefferson]

For a relatively short time, tennis was played at Brighton Park. The courts are not shown on the 1896 OS map, appear on the 1908 map and have disappeared again by 1914. In May 1901 the Brighton Park team beat Waverley (second team) in gentlemen's doubles by 6 matches to 3.

It would seem that Portobello boasted at least two teams at this time, for on Saturday 30 May 'Brighton Park' were playing mixed doubles at Lochend, while Portobello were narrowly beaten by Dalkeith in a match played in Brighton Park.

By the time the 1902 season is underway, the club is described as being

[Bob Jefferson]

In April 1902 the Public Parks Committee agreed to provide a shelter and tool-house in Portobello Park at an estimated cost of £400. By July the cost had risen to £451.

The spring of 1902 was brightened considerably by the new City Gardener, Mr McHattie's spring flower planting, including the new tulip beds in Abercorn Park.

In Brighton Park, Musselburgh and Fisherrow were again victorious in the annual brass band contest.
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A New Portobello High School in the Park

[Bob Jefferson]

In 1903 the Public Parks Committee

[Bob Jefferson]

In October 1905, Thomas Adams, a printer, stood against Councillor Carmichael in Portobello Ward. If elected, one of his many aims was to persuade the Council to acquire Joppa Quarry and turn it into a rock garden.

The following year, under the Unemployed Workmen Act the Parks Committee was asked whether they had any public work that could be carried out by the unemployed. As a result, almost 200 found employment, including 16 at the tennis grounds at Brighton Park.

On 4 June 1906, it was reported that 1542 people (including 137 ladies) had played golf at Portobello Park in the preceding week.
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A New Portobello High School in the Park

[Bob Jefferson]

Many of Edinburgh's public parks, including Portobello Park, were let out for sheep grazing in Spring. In 1907 sealed offers were to be made to the City Chamberlain by 12 March. The cricket season resumed on Saturday 4 May.

In October, heavy rainfall caused extensive flooding in Edinburgh. Golfing was postponed at Portobello Park while, in what was to become Figgate Park, the clay quarry was flooded from the overspill of the Figgate Burn.

For the week ending Saturday 9 November a total of 448 golfers, including 74 ladies, played at Portobello. The total for the year was 47643, down slightly on 1906.
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A New Portobello High School in the Park

[Bob Jefferson]

In June 1910 tenders were invited for the contract to build a golf pavillion at Portobello Park to replace the old one. It opened the following year and remains virtually unchanged.

In March 1911 a new bye law was proposed which would make it unlawful to erect advertising hoardings so as to visible from public parks and promenades in Edinburgh, including Abercorn Park, Portobello Park and the Promenade. The General Billposting Company was among the objectors.
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A New Portobello High School in the Park

[Bob Jefferson]

A national coal strike in 1912 caused great hardship in Midlothian.

Police were concerned about unauthorised coal mining at Joppa Quarry and on the foreshore. Both men and women were engaged in this activity late into the night and appeared to be well equipped with around 200 picks along with helmets, lamps and buckets.

Reinforcements were called for the following day and the men were turned away, while the women and children were permitted to gather what they could by hand.
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A New Portobello High School in the Park

[Bob Jefferson]

For the year ending 1913, a total of 49165 rounds of golf were played at Portobello Park, resulting in revenue of £340 0s 5d.

However, the Victorian notion of 'leisure' and promenading around in pleasure grounds was over. It was now 1914 and the nation was at war:

[Bob Jefferson]

On Saturday 4 September 1915 a large crowd gathered in Abercorn Park to witness the unveiling of a memorial to the late Dr Hugh Dewar. The memorial took the form of a public drinking fountain of grey granite and bore a bronze medallion portrait of Dr Dewar.

The inscription reads:

[Bob Jefferson]

The Public Parks Committee carried out their annual inspection of Edinburgh's public recreation spaces on 20 April 1916.

[Bob Jefferson]

On 1 July 1920 the Parks Committee recommended the purchase of land at Rosefield at a cost of £1400 for the provision of a further recreation park in Portobello.

By the time the committee's annual inspection took place in 1922, Rosefield Cottage had been demolished, 700 roses had been planted and there were plans for six tennis courts.

On 16 May 1923 a gathering of over 300 people witnessed the official opening of Rosefield Park by Lord Provost Hutchison. Councillor J.D. Phillips Smith, convener of the Public Parks Committee, presided at the ceremony, noting that the neglected grounds of the old house had by now been transformed into a beautiful garden and it was a matter of deep regret that Mr McHattie had not lived to see the fruits of his labors. Many of the trees, walks and fragments of old walls had been preserved and, in addition to the tennis courts, an 18 hole putting course had been established.

[Bob Jefferson]

In the summer of 1928, as a result of reconstruction work on the Promenade, band performances normally given in the bandstand were transferred to Abercorn Park.

The Postal Military Band, The 4/5th Royal Scots Band, The Band of Leith Ex-Service Men, The Musselburgh and Fisherrow Trades Prize Band, The Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Band, The British Legion Comrades of the Great War, The City of Edinburgh Band and The British Legion Federation Military Band all gave Saturday evening performances during July and August.
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A New Portobello High School in the Park

[Bob Jefferson]

On Sunday, 14th June 1931, Colonel William Robertson, V.C. chaired a parade in Abercorn Park. Portobello Boys' Brigade ex-Members' Band and Leith ex-Servicemen's Band provided the music. Portobello Boys' Brigade and the Portobello "Life Boys" were in attendance, along with contingents of "Old Contemptibles" and ex-Service Men's Branch Associations from various parts of Edinburgh and Leith.

The service, unfortunately, coincided with a thunderstorm and an extraordinary downpour of rain. The Colonel struggled manfully on, while ex-servicemen sheltered under their banners, though his address on Earl Haig and the British Empire was at times inaudible.

With the storm at its worst, Lady Haig intervened to suggest that the service be cut short.

[Bob Jefferson]

From the Scotsman Letters Page, Saturday, 20th June 1931:

[Bob Jefferson]

In 1932 the municipal authorities purchased the Portobello Clay Pits with the intention of creating a new public park in Portobello.
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A New Portobello High School in the Park