CS12 Posts

AnnetteR · Post by **AnnetteR** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 4:22 pm

Hi Bob

Aahh - lovely memories of the auld tenements and the 'Leerie' how well I remember him. Not only did he light the landing lights he also had to light the lamposts in the street. Many a happy afternoon I spent playing on the landing with my pals - but it wisnae a landing - it was a castle, a ship, a mansion, a hospital or even just a wee hoose. We exchanged scraps on the landing when it was too wet to play outside. Our tenement had a big 'stoney' back court and we played rounders and cricket and just about anything you could think of. All the kids played in our back court as all the others were grass and not quite the same when you were playing cowboys and indians. Add to that the fact that we also had a wash house with a slanty roof which made for great climbing you can see why all the weans congregated in 'oor back court'. To this day I live in a tenement but I have graduated to the red sandstone but the camaraderie (did I spell that right) is not quite the same as it was in the auld days. Weans canny run in and oot the same because of the door entry systems and we no longer have to take a turn of the stairs as the building is factored and even though I own my flat I don't have the option to do my own stairs. I can see how that came about as some people were constantly forgetting (aye right) it was there turn of the stairs.

Thanks for the memories and I look forward to the next installment

Cheers

Annette

nelmit · Post by **nelmit** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 6:09 pm

Looking forward to next week Bob.

Annette M

Moonwatcher · Post by **Moonwatcher** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 7:30 am

Thanks AnnetteR and nelmit.

Annette,

Help me out here if you can, my memory's failing me. In single ends, can you recall where the coal bunker was located? Every recollection I have of tenement flats has the bunker in the 'loaby'. But for the life of me I cant visualise where the bunker was at 1/1 168 Millburn. There was no loaby, but there was an alcove just inside the door - between the door and bed recess, but I cant remember what was in there. Any ideas?

Bob.

CatrionaL · Post by **CatrionaL** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 8:42 am

Bob
Your word pictures are so vivid. I guess from your question to Annette that your busy preparing the next one. Great news!

It seems that the planners had forgotten the need of coal bunkers in the new buildings they moved folks too from some of the old tenements. As a miidwife, I did a number of home deliveries. When I wanted to get the new mum into the bath, I occasionally discovered that it had turned into a coal bunker!!!

Have a good day
Catriona

nelmit · Post by **nelmit** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 10:25 am

Hi Bob,

I don't know about Annette R but the wee alcove in our single end in Govan was a tiny toilet. This was in the late 50's.
For the life of me I cannot remember how we heated the room!
I remember the innovative luxury of a gas geysar so could we have had a gas fire and the bunker converted to a toilet?

Annette M

StewL · Post by **StewL** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 3:56 am

Hi Bob

I dont know about single ends. But the tenement we lived in in Faifley was 3 storeys six houses to a close, with two closes. As you entered our place top storey, left hand house. The coal bunker faced the stairs, right of the front door. first left was the toilet and bathroom, next on left was kitchen and laundry, then next was living room, on right of living room was main bedroom, then back from that was second bedroom (boys bedroom), then near coal bunker was smaller bedroom (my sisters bedroom).

Not much help I know, but your story brought back memories.

by the way it was 18e Swallow Road, Faifley, no longer there now I have been told.

AnnetteR · Post by **AnnetteR** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 5:15 pm

Moonwatcher wrote:Thanks AnnetteR and nelmit.

Annette,

Help me out here if you can, my memory's failing me. In single ends, can you recall where the coal bunker was located? Every recollection I have of tenement flats has the bunker in the 'loaby'. But for the life of me I cant visualise where the bunker was at 1/1 168 Millburn. There was no loaby, but there was an alcove just inside the door - between the door and bed recess, but I cant remember what was in there. Any ideas?

Bob.

Hi Bob

Sorry I took so long to get back to you but I am getting ready for the annual pilgrimage to see the defectors of the family who are living down south. So I'll be missing for a couple of weeks but look forward to reading up on the posts when I get back.

In our tenement flat in Kelvingbridge our coal bunker was in the 'Hall' - excuse me but that was the posh word back then because it wasn't your usual lobby - it was a big square hall and the bunker was diagonally to the right of the main door in a cupboard with a door an everything on it - quite posh eh? My sister however lived in a single end in Anderston when she first got married and her front door opened right on to the room so she didn't have a lobby but just opposite the main door, behind a curtain, there was a wee alcove and her coal bunker was kept in there. Behind that alcove was her bed recess.

Round the corner where I used to live the coal bunkers were kept on the stair head landing. I remember that so well as my friend's wee sister was murdered and her body was found in one of those bunkers on the next landing up from her own. That was a very sad time indeed - she was only about 5 years old.

Hope that has helped the grey cells into action.

Looking forward to the next installment

Speak tae ye soon

Annette R