This is how I remember Whitfield, the 80's being the last time I was there.
It's difficult to get a similar angle on Google Street View for a comparison, but I reckon this was probably taken around the Murrayfield Place area, looking over to the shops in Whitfield Drive. You can make out the building that is the Library & Learning Centre, just at the base of the tower block.
Not sure if the Whitfield Bar is in shot.
Most of the "flat roof" look has since disappeared or been redesigned. So much so that I've been told that some Whitfield residents now refer to it as being the West Ferry!
They must have redesigned the map while they were at it!!
Whitfield was also featured in a 1 hour TV documentary in Feb 1981, as its construction was under investigation by the Dept of Architecture at Dundee University.
Whitfield was also featured in a 1 hour TV documentary in Feb 1981, as its construction was under investigation by the Dept of Architecture at Dundee University.
This image was taken on 8th March 1986.
Photo by Neale Elder
West Ferry is what the residents of Spam Valley call themselves. Spam Valley being Hawick Drive area at the back of Whitfield
ReplyDeleteWhy did some people have a problem with hawick drive ?
DeleteWas that shopping precinct where a CO-OP was? It would be facing the camera in this shot? Not sure.
ReplyDeletegreat picture ,hope there more to come of parts of whitfield
ReplyDeletelooks like this was taken from the top end of murryfield walk (near the quarry).
the big block to the right had side is murryfield quare,
the flat roofed house in the picture now have pitched roofs on them
the block to the left of the multi is part of salton cresent and the one to the right was part of ormiston cresent
Very brutal image. Reminds me of some of the housing estates on the outskirts of Moscow.
ReplyDeleteWhitfield bar is in the shot. White building with cars in front at left hand side of picture.
ReplyDeletepal's sister used to live in one of the skarne blocks - fab houses inside but.... however never felt any fear walking home to douglas at the time. would be a bit wary now!!
ReplyDeleteThe Skarne , was a total success in Sweden too, still is, wonder why ?
ReplyDeleteMy Granny Lived in the first multi you see in the shot. Kellyfield Court.
ReplyDeleteThe doctors surgery was there as well. In one of the houses near the road in the middle of the picture.
ReplyDeleteThose houses front of shot are Murrayfield Gardens. The furthest away is number 21....It's my old house!! Bloody awful damp ridden thing but we had some good times. As the earlier contributor says ...Whitfield Bar and shops in photo too. Quarry is a good bit to the laft though!
ReplyDeleteI was brought up in Fintry, and went too my first school..St Lukes.
ReplyDeleteI can remember the farms that were there originally. Whitfield was all berry and tattie fields. We used to watch the tattie pickers from our class. When you think that now there is nothing like the good auld berry pickers eh ?
Anyone remember the Skarne street names?
ReplyDeleteThe one's I can remember so far:
Inveresk Crescent
Ormiston Crescent
Sulton Crescent
Tranent Crescent
Haddington Crescent
Dunbar Crescent
Aberlay Crescent
Carberry Crescent
There is 3 street names I can't remember:
The One inbetween Sulton and Haddington crescent?
The one across from Ormiston/Inveresk?
And the one next to Aberlady crescent? (not Dunbar), think it was May-something.
Gosford Crescent
DeleteMind seeing place back in 91 when they started demolishin', names I recall:
ReplyDeleteGosford (1st on left Berwick Drive after Fintry)
Gifford (last on left near Tarzan-hill!)
Cranson
Inveresk
Ormiston
Salton (otherside o foot Bridge over Berwick Drive joining Carberry)
Tranent
Haddington
Dunbar
Aberlady
Carberry.
Tarzan's hill i think not.Its Tarzee's Island.
DeleteGreat pic, brings back memories, gonna try and get more in the comming weeks, i stayed in the large block at the right hand side, it was an L-shaped building and was Murryfield court, there was another block further to the left that had 3 sides to it, this one was called murryfield square ;)
ReplyDeleteMy family left Whitfield for Kirkton in 1979 and I remember having a wonderful time growing up there as a child. We lived in lower Whitfield at 13 Whitfield Terrace. Our neighbours were great and Ajaz ran the Spar at the end of the street. I remember the egg van coming and all the mums would get eggs every day in the afternoon. My brother and I would spend a great deal of time in the playparks on Whitfield Loan and Maybole place. I went to Kellyfield Primary and it was a nice modern school. Granny Edwards lived across the street from us in the "old peoples' maisonette and she was really nice to all of us. My father fixed her electric kettle once. I remember what we referred to as "The Big Shops"-Officially known as The Whitfield Shops. Just before Christmas 1978, I went to the Co-Op with my mother and I remember her ruefully complaining "You can only get two bags of messages for ten pounds these days". My brother and I got into a great deal of trouble once because we started a bonfire with a bunch of friends near to the Kellyfield Hotel in the woods and the fire brigade came. We used to go to the Montpelier House all the time and borrow library books. My Aunt Pam lived in the Skarne-in Haddington Crescent and her house was quite nice. My sister went to Greenfield Primary on Aberlady Crescent until Kellyfield was built in 1972 and one of our friends, Andrew Kennedy went to St. Matthews. Remember Tarzan's Island? Someone mentioned it here. My brother and I would go there all the time and I was truly convinced that Tarzan really lived there! I think it is too bad that the city council knocked down most of the buildings. I think with the right people and with upgrades, the area could have stayed nice.
ReplyDeleteDarren we lived at 17 Whitfield Terrace, across from you.....I remember your sister Veronica? as well as all the other neighbours! I remember living in Whitfield in the 70s as being great and we also moved away in 1979 the Menzieshill. Very sad to see that all the old buildings and play parks have been knocked down, the place looks depressing!
DeleteIt's great to hear that you remember us. Yes my sister is Veronika. You can email me to let me know who you are. I remember the Greens moving to Menzieshill around '79.
DeleteDarren, Ajaz still has the Spar. It sticks out like a sore thumb now as the entire surrounding area was levelled a few years ago. He's hanging on waiting for the redevelopment but it's tough going. I grew up in Kilwinning Place (also gone) and we moved into one of the semi's in Strathaven Terrace. I spent 23 years in that area and it was a great place to grow up. My parents are still in the same house. It's a sterile, boring place now, fine for older families.
ReplyDeleteAjaz is still there in original building. I when in to buy few bits from him few weeks ago and he still remembered my and my kids. Now its my grandkids going in. 35 yrs later.
DeleteThe blocks are Murrayfield Court. I live there for a number of years. Neightbours where the Suttenwoods, the Irvins, Kat Courley etc. Good times mostly.
ReplyDeleteI actually lived in the manse next door to Whitfield parish church. My Dad was the minister there. We left in 1977 I think.
ReplyDeleteYou must've had a bro Euan eh wiz at the greenie wi him.
DeleteYour Dad must be Hugh. He was a great Minister and a great man. Remember his always being out and about and us all going on bus trips in the summer he had organised on a beat up old bus. Is he still around?
DeleteYour dad was our parish minister he owned a big 48 seat bus..he would take me and my bother and lot of other kids from the estate on day trips...afterwards me and my brother would help clean the bus. On the park between be whitfield and linlathen a large marque was erected for the weekend we had activities during the day and camped overnight. My brother Tommy and me (Alex) couldn't sleep and kept everybody awake so we were asked to leave by the adult supervisor...mum was not pleased when we turned up at the door at 2 in the morning and went to speak with the minister the next day...we were about 7 or 8 yrs old then.
DeleteI believe this is the same view, unfortunately it could do with a couple steps to the left, but Google haven't photographed that. yet...
ReplyDeletemaps.google.com
My mother lived in Murrayfield Walk for a few years - about 3rd floor in a block.
ReplyDeleteI remember looking down on flat roofs below and wondering what fools approved that design - most of them had a pond on them.
I was 2 at the time of this photo my family stayed at 68 murrayfield court.Scott Adams my mum and dad are Sheila and johnny Adams
ReplyDeletei stayed at number 68 aswell
Deletethe courty
good days
adso
Wow, it was good to hear back from someone; please email me and let me know who you are. Indeed Veronika is my sister. I remember the Coopers, the Clarks and the Greens living across from us.
ReplyDeleteI lived in 77 inveresk crescent when I was a kid my dad was a single parent to me and my brother have some memories of it especially. The fire in the landing loved being in the fire truck lol
ReplyDeleteI stayed at number 19 from 1968 (4 month old, moved out in 1885,age 16). Never been back,the place could burn down for all I care. YOS.
ReplyDeleteMy dad called it hells kitchen. Anybody remember the nut who got stuck in the duct for the laundromat,he tried to break into the chippy,ended up in the 'washy' had to get the polis + fireez to save him. Ha Ha.
ReplyDeleteI'm Scott (fino ) Finlay and I still live in Whitfield started in 1970 in 15b Whitfield court movin too 2d greenfield court in 78 coz mum Francis Finlay could not get a shower no pressure 15 up it was the best skeme ever havin the country side rite by the skeme if you wanted to party this was it drinkin beer and smokin hash pills and thills magic mushrooms too the friends' I had stuck by me through thick and thin Jim (hendo)Henderson and Cameron Mitchell n Davie (skinny) Leighton Richard (grubby)Grubb had great time's
ReplyDeleteI used to live in gifford cresent with my dog in the early 80's, but I had to return home to new zealand. Does anyone know if the houses or even gifford cresent still exists or have they all been demolished?
ReplyDeleteAll gone
DeleteIt was Maybole Place. I lived there with my family from 1978 - around ‘82. I’m absolutely fascinated to see these pics, as although I consider Whitfield a huge part of my childhood, we uprooted and moved to London when I was about 8 years old so my memories of it are quite hazy. Anyone any idea of the names of the blocks on Maybole place?
ReplyDeleteLived in kilwinning place late 80's downstairs neighbour had a spare key went away for a few days came back and they had taken absolutely everything from the flat, lovely memories lol
ReplyDeleteHi, I lived with my family in whitfield loan from 1972 until 1984, I can't believe ajaz is still there a lovely man albeit firm for our own good. We were the Reid family.
ReplyDeleteFor several years I lived in Haddington Crescent. During that time cleaned the landings throughout the area charging each household 10p a time. Remember me, anyone?
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ReplyDeleteIn those times I socialised mainly in the Kellyfield Hotel, My mates were Duncan Lindsay Snr, Sonny Roddie, Shug Ireland, Ronnie Mackenzie, the Boyack brothers, Boab the Doag, his brother Eck Thomson, Norrie Gowans and a host of others too numerous to name here. Happy memories of many of those lads no longer with us. RIP the Kellyfield heroes!
ReplyDeleteThis looks onto my mums Street she's been there from 85 till the day, proper Whitfield family YWS
ReplyDeleteMight anyone remember Stewart Banks who lived at 50 Inveresk Crescent in and around 1970? What became of Inveresk Cresent and why did it only exist from 1970 to 1990 - what is there now
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteGood times? Massive unemployment, high crime stats, substandard housing, universal poverty, drunkenness, youth gang warfare, highest incidence of unmarried teenage mothers in Scotland, corruption at council level, mass poverty, slum surroundings and much more. Good times! Were you sleep-walking?