The previous post focussed on the cluster of feus around the inn corner at Lundin Mill, dominated by the Bell family in the mid 19th century. Around 1802 the planned settlement of Emsdorf was created - spreading east from the inn and toll bar. The origins of Emsdorf have been covered before. Some of the original feuers were described as 'manufacturers' perhaps suggesting that they set up the weavers' cottages found on this street. Fast forward fifty years and there were still many weavers operating on this street.
From the c1850 map above, the plot marked '1' above was owned by Andrew Hogg who was a 'weavers' agent' or 'manufacturers' agent'. Plot '2' was owned by Robert Gibb a 'disabled seaman' whose daughters were hand loom weavers, while the plot marked '3' contained two houses and a weavers' shop, owned by James Thin but partly occupied by weaver James Peebles. Next along were weavers James Muir and George Grieg (4). Feu '5' stands out as being different - this contains 'Emsdorf House', a larger detached property, which was owned by Peter Smith, miller at the Cameron Bridge Mill. At '6' were weavers George Clark and Robert Mitchell.
While the south side of Emsdorf Street was largely occupied by weavers and their agents, the north side was more diverse. For example, plot '7' was owned by John Reid a nurseryman from Leith, while '8' was owned by Thomas Smith of the 'United States of America' - could these have been early holiday homes? The image below (taken late 1890s) gives an impression of the contrast between the fairly uniform south side of the street (left) and the more varied north side. Originally, many of the cottages would have had thatched roofs and the roads would have been rough and poorly drained (as recalled in an earlier post).
From the c1850 map above, the plot marked '1' above was owned by Andrew Hogg who was a 'weavers' agent' or 'manufacturers' agent'. Plot '2' was owned by Robert Gibb a 'disabled seaman' whose daughters were hand loom weavers, while the plot marked '3' contained two houses and a weavers' shop, owned by James Thin but partly occupied by weaver James Peebles. Next along were weavers James Muir and George Grieg (4). Feu '5' stands out as being different - this contains 'Emsdorf House', a larger detached property, which was owned by Peter Smith, miller at the Cameron Bridge Mill. At '6' were weavers George Clark and Robert Mitchell.
While the south side of Emsdorf Street was largely occupied by weavers and their agents, the north side was more diverse. For example, plot '7' was owned by John Reid a nurseryman from Leith, while '8' was owned by Thomas Smith of the 'United States of America' - could these have been early holiday homes? The image below (taken late 1890s) gives an impression of the contrast between the fairly uniform south side of the street (left) and the more varied north side. Originally, many of the cottages would have had thatched roofs and the roads would have been rough and poorly drained (as recalled in an earlier post).
The other notable building in Emsdorf was the old school - situated strategically between the villages of Emsdorf and Drummochy (marked '9' above). According to the Scotland's Places website, it was "a small stone building in good repair, built for and occupied as a school house. Built in 1821 at the expense of General Durham then the proprietor of the Largo Estate". The average attendance was noted as around 60. This was replaced in 1858 by the Crescent Road school but continued to be a public resource - used for meetings and soirees before becoming the wash-house of Seacliff and ultimately being demolished. Seacliff is pictured below and the school/wash-house was situated at the back corner of the garden just behind where the bus-stop is today and where a very old wall remains.
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