Bristo Technical Institute, Edinburgh

[Martin Guthrie]

I'm trying to find out more about the history of this college as there's very little online that I've been able to find.  I know exactly where it was based but not when it was very well.  I think that it started in September 1950 and that it essentially got absorbed into what became Napier College (now University) which would suggest that it ceased to be around 1964.  However, it may have carried on for a number of years perhaps?

Can anyone confirm either way and/or add more to this please?

[AlanBoyd]

At BNA the first hit for "Bristo Technical Institute" is in June 1949 (appointment of a headaster, Peter A Baikie (46)), and, apart from a reference to the past in 1993, the final mentions are in 1967 (vocational evening classes).

1964: The College (Heriot-Watt) are leasing the old Bristol Technical College. (Unclear if this means that it has closed, or simply moved.)
1964: Disposal of two baking ovens at Castlehill School; contact the headmaster at Bristol Technical Institute
1965: no articles
1966: a single article advertising evening classes
1967: an article mentioning the success of Shetland students refers to the Bristol Technical Institute at Castlehill School of Catering.

Putting all of this together I think that  the former premises were available by 1964 and some version of the institute operated from Castlehill School.

[AlanBoyd]

“Who's who in Scotland 1998” lists someone (probably I shouldn't name him if he may be still alive) who, at at the time of publication, was with the Scottish EPA having previously been Principal at Napier. He was Lecturer, Bristo Technical Institute from 1962-64; then Lecturer and Senior Lecturer at Napier College 1964-1968.

This fits with your suggestion that BTI was subsumed into Napier in 1964.

[AlanBoyd]

An article in The Scotsman, 4th May 1960, reports the beginning of the development of the site of Napier Technical College.

EXCAVATORS START UP AT MERCHISTON
Seven-year delay is over
...
Centralised at the new college will be courses at present run at the Heriot-Watt College, the Bristol Technical College, and elsewhere.
...

I wonder if the man mentioned in my previous reply came to the BTI in anticipation of getting in at the start of Napier?

[Martin Guthrie]

Many thanks for all your investigations and replies Alan - much appreciated.

The dates make sense and reinforce what I thought was probably the case.  The person in question (Stanley Phillips, now deceased) described himself as being one of 5 initial people helping to set up BTI at the start as a lecturer and I know that he moved onto Napier when it started up in 1964 - so he may not be the person you found in Who's Who in Scotland.