Gravestone Leith

[julieann1]

Hoping some kind person would be able to help me find a gravestone in Leith.

Edward McAllister died in 1935 aged 56 and is buried at Leith, and I would like to find out what it says on his memorial stone.

Any help appreciated.

Thanks

[Akwaba]

I would suggest you make contact at

http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/internet/City_Living/Life_events/Deaths/CEC_cemeteries_and_churchyards

 to try and find the exact cemetery and plot number.   Otherwise it is a very very difficult as I can think of three and others can come into the equation.

[Akwaba]

Looking at the death registration image he died 18 April 1935 in the Eastern General Hospital but his usual residence was 2 Cowgate Edinburgh - the death was advised by J Robertson, Steward (Eastern General Hospital/Greyfriars Hotel?).     

Parents listed as Edward McAllister/Catherine Ryan and married to Mary Scott.

Given these details I doubt very much if there is a headstone, but I have been wrong many times.

[julieann1]

Thanks for your reply.  I am  just having so much difficulty with this family line that long shots are worth following up.

Was Cowgate a particularly poor area?

[lyndyloo6]

Hi There,
The Cowgate was once a very affluent area with rich merchants living and working there.  However, by the mid 1800's it became known as little Ireland, due to the influx of people coming over from the famine there.  It is recorded in several books on the area that it was rife with disease and fever.  There were up to 100 families living in one stair.  The 'stench' was apparently unbeleivable and people from  Edinburgh did not venture down there.  It is part of the Old town and runs onto Grassmarket and the West Port area. The population in the mid 1800's was given as 25,000. During the 1900's it gradually changed, although became known for street drinkers and vagrants.  The Salvation Army has a Hostel on the corner and has been there since 1909.  The Womens Hostel was along in the Grassmarket.  The Womens hostel was closed and the Edinburgh Art College was there.  Heriots School has now bought it and it is to be part of the school campus in the near future.
New housing was built after WW2 on the peripheries of Edinburgh and most of the overcrowding was resolved.  Many of the very old buildings have been knocked away now.  There are several hotels and nightclubs where our ancestors used to live.  It is not as highly populated as it used tobe.  It runs  under the Bridges and George IV bridge, and parrellel with the High Street. It is still today associated with homelessness and street drinkers.  A lot of the services are situated there for homeless people.
I hope that this helps your understanding of the Cowgate and its bright and colourful history.
Regards,
Lynda

[Akwaba]

Now that the residents of Greyfriars Hotel (Hostel) have moved on perhaps you may just, for interests sake,  like to look at the 2009 image.

http://www.aboutscotland.co.uk/edin/cowgatehead.html

[julieann1]

Hi
Thank you both.

Am I right in understanding that 2 Cowgate was the Greyfriars hotel?  Was it  a hostel?

The informant on the death cert must have been a steward at the hospital  as  another death recorded on that page of someone  who died at the hospital  was also informed by him.

Sounds like Edward McAllister may have had a hard life.

[lyndyloo6]

Hi There,

It was called a hotel, although it was a hostel.  It finally closed about 7 years ago.  It was one of the very few where the men were allowed to drink on the premises.  The men who lived there were pretty permanent and had to be vry disruptive to be asked to leave.  I worked in the Salvation Army Hostel along at the other end of the Cowgate.  Due to new legislation the hostels were brought into line and modernised and allowed the men to have 'single' rooms.  I still work witht he Army although in a drop in centre for the homeless.   There may still be records of your relative around and it may be worth trying to find out.  I cannot remember if the Greyfriars was Church of Scotland.  I know that many of the men who died when they were in the Salvation Army Hostel were given proper funerals, some with headstones if thee was enough money to provide this.  However, it may be worth your while wring to various organisations to ask if they have records of your relative, or if anyone still remembers him.  I am back at work on Wednesday, so I will ask around for you and let you know.  You could also ask at the council.  I have worked around homelessness in Edinburgh for almost 30 years now, so will ask some of the older men that I work with.
Take care,
Lynda

[des_enzano]

In response to Akwaaba's post re: making contact with http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/internet/City_Living/Life_events/Deaths/CEC_cemeteries_and_churchyards, I would also recommend this. I have contacted these people on several occasions and found them to be very helpful. The ancestors I was researching were not buried in council cemeteries but the lady who answered my inquiries sent me a list of private cemeteries. I contacted them and they also were very helpful. I now know where my ancestors are buried. Unfortunately, none of them have headstones.

George