In August 2017 Edinburgh Council asked Balerno Community Council about possible names for streets in Cala’s Kingfisher Park and Ravelrig Heights developments.
The names suggested by the City did not seem to be immediately relevant for Balerno, so the Community Council put forward some others for consideration. Some of the names we offered came from Balerno’s farming heritage, while others were chosen in commemoration of Balerno’s war dead from the First World War, the centenary of the ending of which we were all about to mark in 2018.
On this page we give some details of those individuals whose deaths 100 years ago we chose to remember in the names of new street in the village.
The names suggested by the City did not seem to be immediately relevant for Balerno, so the Community Council put forward some others for consideration. Some of the names we offered came from Balerno’s farming heritage, while others were chosen in commemoration of Balerno’s war dead from the First World War, the centenary of the ending of which we were all about to mark in 2018.
On this page we give some details of those individuals whose deaths 100 years ago we chose to remember in the names of new street in the village.
Ballantyne Place
William Ballantyne is remembered in Ballantyne Place. He had enlisted on 3 November 1911 as a private in the London Scottish having been employed previously as a draper. His father is known to have lived in Mansfield, Balerno, in 1919, although it is not clear whether William also lived in Balerno at any time.
William Ballantyne was a 2nd Lieutenant in 1st Bn., Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) when he died on 13th October 1915 aged 36. He had received his commission on 18 September 1915, only shortly before his death.
William Ballantyne was a 2nd Lieutenant in 1st Bn., Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) when he died on 13th October 1915 aged 36. He had received his commission on 18 September 1915, only shortly before his death.
Blackadder Drive
Blackadder Drive commemorates Gilbert Brown Ritchie Blackadder, who had been born in Crichton in about 1889. His mother was Mary Ritchie and his father William. William was a Shepherd at Craigentarrie. William, himself born at Earlston, had been a sheep dealer in Heriot, but had the farm of Craigentarrie, which lies to the North East of the Black Springs and dates from the late 17thC.
In the 1911 census Gilbert is recorded as the eldest child of 5, three boys and two girls. The history of Craigentarrie is thought to be fairly typical of many of the small upland steadings in the Pentland Hills area. Originally part of a much larger estate focussed on Kinleith there was probably settlement from about 1673 but the location of the farmstead appears to have shifted and the position of the original site cannot be accurately located. The first house was probably built around 1787 or 1788, following division and enclosure of the Craigentarrie lands into clearly defined arable and pasture areas.
William and Mary along with their 7 children only moved into Craigentarrie around 1900/1901. Life there was probably quite difficult. John Tweedie in Our Districtpublished in 1975 mentions Craigentarrie as having a delivery of groceries and paraffin each Thursday from Juniper Green Co-op. He also wrote that it was then a week-end retreat. The winter of 1962/63 was extremely hard and it is known that during that time supplies for the occupants were delivered by ski. It would have been harsher still in 1911 when Gilbert left to join the army.Accommodation would have been scant; the house is recorded in 1911 as having two windows.
Gilbert Blackadder was a corporal in the 12thBn, Highland Light Infantry. He died on 25 September 1915 at the Battle of Loos.
In the 1911 census Gilbert is recorded as the eldest child of 5, three boys and two girls. The history of Craigentarrie is thought to be fairly typical of many of the small upland steadings in the Pentland Hills area. Originally part of a much larger estate focussed on Kinleith there was probably settlement from about 1673 but the location of the farmstead appears to have shifted and the position of the original site cannot be accurately located. The first house was probably built around 1787 or 1788, following division and enclosure of the Craigentarrie lands into clearly defined arable and pasture areas.
William and Mary along with their 7 children only moved into Craigentarrie around 1900/1901. Life there was probably quite difficult. John Tweedie in Our Districtpublished in 1975 mentions Craigentarrie as having a delivery of groceries and paraffin each Thursday from Juniper Green Co-op. He also wrote that it was then a week-end retreat. The winter of 1962/63 was extremely hard and it is known that during that time supplies for the occupants were delivered by ski. It would have been harsher still in 1911 when Gilbert left to join the army.Accommodation would have been scant; the house is recorded in 1911 as having two windows.
Gilbert Blackadder was a corporal in the 12thBn, Highland Light Infantry. He died on 25 September 1915 at the Battle of Loos.
Byrne Crescent
Byrne Crescent is named after Frank Byrne, who was the son of James and Helen Byrne, of Ravelrig Crossing, Balerno, Midlothian - close to Newmills. His parents had married in 1874, and his father was employed as a Railway Porter when Francis was born on 29 September 1895 at Ravelrig Crossing.
In the 1911 census Francis is recorded as being employed as a Stonebreaker at Whinstone Quarry; there were at the time three whinstone quarries in Balerno; Ravelrig, Shade’s and Hannahfield.
The family was comprised of the parents and five sons varying in age between 29 and 15. While James Byrne was still employed as a railway porter all the sons apart from one worked in the quarry. The third son was a plate layer.
The photograph shows Ravelrig Quarrymen between 1923 and 1925. While that of course is almost 10 years after Frank’s death it shows something of how he would have appeared as a stonebreaker.
By 1911 James and Helen had been married for 37 years, James was 60 whole Helen was 36. They had had 9 children together of whom six survived in 1911, one of whom was living elsewhere.
James Byrne gave his name to Burns’ (Byrne’s) Brae, the local name for the steep hill on Ravelrig Road.
Frank Byrne was a private soldier serving with the Royal Dublin Fusiliers when he died age 21 on 8 July 1916 of wounds received in the attack by 4th Division on RidgeRedoubtt near Serre on 1st July 1916, the first day of the Somme offensive He is remembered on the Currie Church panels and the St Joseph’s plaque.
NOTE The photograph can be dated because of the presence of a number of men from the a local family still living in the community. Apparently it includes some 5 or 6 members of the Samuel family. On the front right is William Samuel, and next to him is his son Thomas Samuel (born 1909. Thomas was an excellent bowler and in 1938 together with Jackie Forrest won the Scottish Pairs bowling championship in Glasgow. "Balerno Pairs Success" was the headline. They each received £20 and a gold medal. Another renowned village bowler in the photo sixth from left in second row , with his bunnet at an angle, is Harry Rankin. Harry was involved with Balerno Bowling Club for many years and Balerno Burns Club, for 60 years and was Honorary President of Balerno Burns Club. Harry had one eye, having lost the other in a quarry accident. There is an oft reported tale of Harry when he enlisted in the Seaforth Highlanders for the First World War. At the eye examination he covered his blind eye with his hand, read the eye chart, and then he swapped hands but again covered his blind eye read the chart and successfully enlisted.
In the 1911 census Francis is recorded as being employed as a Stonebreaker at Whinstone Quarry; there were at the time three whinstone quarries in Balerno; Ravelrig, Shade’s and Hannahfield.
The family was comprised of the parents and five sons varying in age between 29 and 15. While James Byrne was still employed as a railway porter all the sons apart from one worked in the quarry. The third son was a plate layer.
The photograph shows Ravelrig Quarrymen between 1923 and 1925. While that of course is almost 10 years after Frank’s death it shows something of how he would have appeared as a stonebreaker.
By 1911 James and Helen had been married for 37 years, James was 60 whole Helen was 36. They had had 9 children together of whom six survived in 1911, one of whom was living elsewhere.
James Byrne gave his name to Burns’ (Byrne’s) Brae, the local name for the steep hill on Ravelrig Road.
Frank Byrne was a private soldier serving with the Royal Dublin Fusiliers when he died age 21 on 8 July 1916 of wounds received in the attack by 4th Division on RidgeRedoubtt near Serre on 1st July 1916, the first day of the Somme offensive He is remembered on the Currie Church panels and the St Joseph’s plaque.
NOTE The photograph can be dated because of the presence of a number of men from the a local family still living in the community. Apparently it includes some 5 or 6 members of the Samuel family. On the front right is William Samuel, and next to him is his son Thomas Samuel (born 1909. Thomas was an excellent bowler and in 1938 together with Jackie Forrest won the Scottish Pairs bowling championship in Glasgow. "Balerno Pairs Success" was the headline. They each received £20 and a gold medal. Another renowned village bowler in the photo sixth from left in second row , with his bunnet at an angle, is Harry Rankin. Harry was involved with Balerno Bowling Club for many years and Balerno Burns Club, for 60 years and was Honorary President of Balerno Burns Club. Harry had one eye, having lost the other in a quarry accident. There is an oft reported tale of Harry when he enlisted in the Seaforth Highlanders for the First World War. At the eye examination he covered his blind eye with his hand, read the eye chart, and then he swapped hands but again covered his blind eye read the chart and successfully enlisted.
Cassidy Wynd
Cassidy Wynd commemoratesJohn Cassidy who was born at Athelstanefordin East Lothian. Hisfather was James Cassidy, and he lived at some point at Rosebank in Currie. He must have been a member of St Joseph’s Church in Balerno since his name is remembered on the memorial tablet which used to be in the former St Joseph’s Chapel before it was moved to Our Lady’s Church in Currie in 2007.
John Cassidy was a private in the 9th Bn., Royal Scots. We don’t know how old he was when he died on Tuesday, 25th July 1916, at High Wood on the Somme.
John Cassidy was a private in the 9th Bn., Royal Scots. We don’t know how old he was when he died on Tuesday, 25th July 1916, at High Wood on the Somme.
Fairbairn Street
James Garnet Fairbairn is commemorated in the naming of Fairbairn Street. He wasborn in September 1883in Currieat Dunraven Villa, and, like his father, he was a Millwright/joiner to trade. His address in 1901 was Dunraven, Currie where he lived with his parents and family. Hs father David played an active part in parish life; was a Midlothian County Councillor, chairman of the Currie Parish Council and Currie School Board. His mother Bessie died in 1902 and his father passed away in 1906, which may explain why James’ next of kin when he died was given as Laura, his sister, who had been born in 1889. She lived until 1973.
It is thought that James emigrated to Canada after his father died, and enlisted in Canada at the start of the war. There is a record of a Mr J G Fairbairn, occupation, joiner, travelling to Montreal from Liverpool on the Laurentic, of the White Star Line, on 6 May 1911. When James joined the army he may have returned to Britain on the same ship since the 1stBn (Ontario Regiment) Canadian Expeditionary Force sailed for England on 14 October 1914 aboard the Laurentic.
James Fairbairn had enlisted on 14 September 1914 and at his death was serving in the 1st Bn., Canadian Infantry (Western Ontario Regt.) and died on Thursday, 18th March 1915, aged 32 at Hill 60, south of Ypres.
It is thought that James emigrated to Canada after his father died, and enlisted in Canada at the start of the war. There is a record of a Mr J G Fairbairn, occupation, joiner, travelling to Montreal from Liverpool on the Laurentic, of the White Star Line, on 6 May 1911. When James joined the army he may have returned to Britain on the same ship since the 1stBn (Ontario Regiment) Canadian Expeditionary Force sailed for England on 14 October 1914 aboard the Laurentic.
James Fairbairn had enlisted on 14 September 1914 and at his death was serving in the 1st Bn., Canadian Infantry (Western Ontario Regt.) and died on Thursday, 18th March 1915, aged 32 at Hill 60, south of Ypres.
Gifford Crescent
Gifford Crescent is so named in memory of James Gifford, who was born in North Leith in about 18876, but it is thought he may have lived in Newmills, Balerno before he enlisted on 31 March 1915. A miller to trade James had married Ellen Thomson Barclay in 1894 and together they had four children; James, Robert Jane and William. The 1901 census showed him living with his family at 87 Bonnington Road his occupation at the time being shown as flour miller. The 1911 census showed the family as having moved to 30 Dickson Street and James’ occupation is then given as Printing Compositor. The valuation rolls for 1920 show Mrs Helen Gifford as a tenant at the Mill House, Newmills.
A Private in "B" Company, 1st Bn., Gordon Highlanders James Gifford had landed in France on 4thAugust 1915 and had joined his battalion on 8th August. He died on Saturday, 25th September 1915 at Belleward, Ypres, aged 40. He is remembered on the Balerno Parish Church war memorial tablet.
A Private in "B" Company, 1st Bn., Gordon Highlanders James Gifford had landed in France on 4thAugust 1915 and had joined his battalion on 8th August. He died on Saturday, 25th September 1915 at Belleward, Ypres, aged 40. He is remembered on the Balerno Parish Church war memorial tablet.
Gillon Drive
Robert Gillon was born in 1894, the son of William and Agnes Gillon. His memory is recalled by the naming of Gillon Drive.
William Gillon had started a butcher’s business in Currie in 1891 before, around 1895, opening his Balerno business in Main Street. Formerly of West Calder he had moved to Balerno around 1895 having married Agnes Somerville of Carluke in 1891. William Gillon died aged only 43 in August 1902, butAgnes managed to keep the business going,and over time Robert became a Master Butcher, as did his older sister Helen.
In early 1916, Robert was called up to join the army. He applied for exemption on the grounds that his mother was a widow and he attended weekly markets and bought for the business which was the only business of the kind in Currie Parish. It was a certified occupation and he was, he maintained, indispensable to the business. In March 1916, the local tribunal refused his application on the basis that there were not sufficient grounds to support the application.
Both Robert and his mother appealed the decision but the appeal was dismissed by the tribunal on the grounds that the Gillon’s slaughter man and van salesman were already exempt. They said that it was ‘more expedient in the national interests that the attested man should be employed in military service than be engaged in his present occupation.”
Following dismissal of his appeal Robert Gillon became a Private in the 2nd Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers. He went to France on 14 October 1916 and died on Thursday, 4th October 1917 at the battle of Ypres, aged 23.
Agnes Gillon kept the business going with the help of her daughter Helen. Agnes died in 1941 but Helen lived on until 1979. Wm Gillon’s was still in business when she died.
William Gillon had started a butcher’s business in Currie in 1891 before, around 1895, opening his Balerno business in Main Street. Formerly of West Calder he had moved to Balerno around 1895 having married Agnes Somerville of Carluke in 1891. William Gillon died aged only 43 in August 1902, butAgnes managed to keep the business going,and over time Robert became a Master Butcher, as did his older sister Helen.
In early 1916, Robert was called up to join the army. He applied for exemption on the grounds that his mother was a widow and he attended weekly markets and bought for the business which was the only business of the kind in Currie Parish. It was a certified occupation and he was, he maintained, indispensable to the business. In March 1916, the local tribunal refused his application on the basis that there were not sufficient grounds to support the application.
Both Robert and his mother appealed the decision but the appeal was dismissed by the tribunal on the grounds that the Gillon’s slaughter man and van salesman were already exempt. They said that it was ‘more expedient in the national interests that the attested man should be employed in military service than be engaged in his present occupation.”
Following dismissal of his appeal Robert Gillon became a Private in the 2nd Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers. He went to France on 14 October 1916 and died on Thursday, 4th October 1917 at the battle of Ypres, aged 23.
Agnes Gillon kept the business going with the help of her daughter Helen. Agnes died in 1941 but Helen lived on until 1979. Wm Gillon’s was still in business when she died.
Balerno Community Council are grateful to Balerno SWI and also to Currie and District Local History Society and in particular to Malcolm Fergusson and Douglas Lowe for their help is assembling the information on this page.
