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Ratho
Ratho maps
Historic maps of Ratho and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Ratho maps
Ratho photos
We have no photos of Ratho, although we do have photos of these nearby places:
Hermiston| Winchburgh| Dalmeny| Queensferry| Duntarvie Castle| Forth Bridge| Blackness
Ratho area books
Displaying 1 of 0 books about Ratho and the local area. View all books for this area
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Memories of Ratho
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Midlothian memories
A Blessing
My grandparents lived in Wilkieston, my grandfather was a blinded Serviceman. They enjoyed a happy life in the village. I spent every weekend and summer holiday there and it remains in my heart. From the milkman to the Post Office, the church to Maggie Morgan's eggs, I do cherish those memories.
Boyhood in Broomieknowe, Lasswade
In 1953 my family moved from Edinburgh to live in Broomieknowe, Lasswade. I liked the large garden we had on this quiet street with pigeons cooing in the big Chestnut trees in the neighbours garden, and a big barn owl which nested in an old sycamore next door. My brothers and I like to excplore in the Esk Valley, walking along the old railway, or taking the path through the glen to Roslin and coming back on farm tracks and side roads. In winter we had a great sledge run from the Polton road down a steep bank, right turn between a stump and a log, left over another bank and stop before cowping into the smelly river Esk (The Esk was polluted by all the paper mills back then). I also remember going to watch men working at the coke furnaces beside the "gasometer". My brothers and I went to school in Edinburgh, so we had to run down the Wee Brae to catch the bus, and... Read more
Where I Was Born.
I was born at home, home being 4 Pentland Crescent, Rosewell. The date was 17/05/1961. We always had a cat or a dog, or both. My dad had an aviary in the back garden, oh and we also had rabbits. It was a lovely old house but we moved to Poltonhall when I was eight. My best memories were of the lovely gala days in the park. And my dad used to look after Father O'Conell's animals and he took me with him. My sister Barbara did a charity run with Jimmy Saville and I got to meet him. My grandad was a signalman at Rosewell station, but I never met my grandparents as they both died before I was born. I have never been able to find a photograph of the station when it was running, so if anyone spots one can you let me know. Thaks for your time. Marion.
Jimmy Saville OBE RIP
I remember very well the sponsored walk which started from Rosewell in the mid 1960s. It was to raise funds to help a young sick girl and we all had to pray to Margaret Sinclair. Jimmy's mother was there. I went to St David's Academy in Dalkeith and I recall very vividly the day I witnessed a bus employee from the bus station opposite being injured in a crash at the park gates. This was possibly in 1968. From Sandra Burnett
Remember The Dukes
I played tenor sax with The Dukes in the late 1950s. They had a great line up: Tam Easton on drums, Bill Young on base guitar, Willie Finlayson on vocals, Alec Hutchinson on rhythm and the fabulous John Fairgreive on lead guitar. Probably one of the best around at the time. How I wish I could roll the clock back. Keep rocking guys. All the best. Bill Bryce
Two of The Dukes Lived in Bonnyrigg
I played tenor sax with The Dukes in the late 1950s. Tom Easton played drums, Bill Young played bass guitar, Alec Hutchieson rhythm guitar and the fabulous John Fairgreive lead guitar with Willie Findleyson singing. Both John and I lived in Bonnyrigg, Bill Young in Loanhead, and the others in Penicuick. We played all over the place and had many many great nights out. I eventually came to live in London, but the lads were still playing till fairly recently. I have not seen them for a long time now; but often wish I could wind the clock back sixty years. Rock on boys, All the best. Bill Bryce
Childhood
I was the son of the cobbler at the Klondyke pit. All the kids at that time played in the streets or went up to the pit head baths for a shower, this was because there were no baths or showers in the miners' houses. Everybody in the village at that time knew all the kids and all the kids knew the adults. I used to go across the bridge which crossed the main road so that I could see my dad mend the miners' tackety boots. The houses were small affairs, a bedroom and a living room, the coal cellars were all outside, in my dad's case it was down the stairs. I see the school seems to be the same, alas the village is no more than a housing scheme now.
