Nearby Oxgangs prefabs
I grew up in the prefabs; we moved in around 1951 and lived in
Oxgangs Place.
The prefab was very cold in the winter; the only heating was
from a coal fire in the living room; the bedrooms and bathroom were freezing
especially in the winter. Rain pouring down on the tin roof was a great sound
as were birds hopping across the roof; when it thundered the whole house shook.
Opposite our prefab was George Liddle's the joiner who thereafter moved up to Oxgangs
Bank just east of the Broadway shops in the early 1960's.
To get down-town we took the number 4 bus; later came the number 27 and years later the number 16.
We had to walk to the Braid Hills Hotel to the tram terminus to
get to Brunstfield, Tolcross etc.
Photograph, Graeme Paterson
We used to play football in the park on Sunday afternoon with
guys coming from all over, usually Hearts supporters against Hibs supporters.
Gordon Marshall (Hearts) John Grant, Johnny McLeod (Hibs) all lived within 100
yards of each other on Colinton Mains Drive.
There used to be a farm behind Dr Motley's and I would crawl
through the hedge and steal turnips from the field.
George Liddle the joiner installed the bell in Colinton Mains
Church and I was the first person to ring the bell in the church. Beside the
church on Oxgangs Road North the brick building used to be the local store with
wooden floors; there was also a butcher at one end; it was later used as
changing rooms for the footballers in the park.
Oxgangs Dental Practice a decade later; photograph courtesy Sandra Young
I worked in the dental building at the corner of Oxgangs Road
North and Oxgangs Farm Drive making false teeth; there was lots of business in
Oxgangs at the time.
Photograph, courtsey Douglas Blades taken from the balcony at 6/6 Oxgangs Avenue
I think the prefabs were knocked down in 1964 and we were moved
to Oxgangs Crescent. I later moved to Canada in the late 1960's.
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