History

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Contents

Overview • Before Construction (Pre 1801) • Design and Construction / Wm Sibbald (1801) • Captain Ellis Family (1818-1849) • Milne Family (1850-1870) and the Window Etching • Ebsworth (1871-1873) • Burt Family (1874-1880) • MacKenzies (1881-1898) • McLaren Family (1899-1908) • Spens Family (1908-1951) • McTaggart (1951-1966) • Women's Royal Voluntary Service (1966-2005) and MORI (2001-5) • Edinburgh Baha'i Centre (2005-) • Life at the Centre in the Past

Overview

The Edinburgh Baha'i Centre at 44 Albany Street is a large Georgian House, situated right in the heart of the City of Edinburgh. Georgian Architecture covers the period of 1720-1840. When Abdu'l-Baha visited Edinburgh in 1913, He stayed nearby in the similar "Georgian House", 7 Charlotte Square, now a period museum.

Before Construction (Pre 1801)

Originally, Edinburgh was much smaller than it is today (1769 View), and when Albany Street began to be built, there was a clear view from it out of the City toward the sea, as can be seen in this drawing a few decades before from Picardy Place close by: [→ Picture from Cassell's Old and New Edinburgh]

44 Albany Street in 1804 (•).

44 Albany Street, Edinburgh.

Design and Construction / Sibbald (1801)

Then around the turn of the 1800s, the Northern New Town was built in the city, including Albany Street on its East. It was full of many colourful characters, as can be found in the pages covering the area in Cassell's Old and New Edinburgh (read extract).

Work on Albany Street started in 1801, progressing west to east from low street numbers to the high, with number 44 seeming to become occupied in 1818.

→ Scottish Telephone Directories at National Library of Scotland at National Library of Scotland

Albany Street was, to complement the York Place beside it, named from the Scottish title of the Duke of York and Albany, second son of the King. It was often called Albany Row (occasionally Albion Row) for its first 20 years, before universally becoming Albany Street.

William Sibbald

44 Albany Street itself was designed in about 1801 by 'William Sibbald', possibly the elder. [→ canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/134245/drawings/edinburgh+albany+street+general/] William Sibbald (elder) was a Scots architect and builder, and Superintendent of Public Works in Edinburgh from 1790 until his death in 1809. He worked with Robert Reid on the layout of the first extension to the New Town, designed Lady Yester's Church in Edinburgh (1803), whilst his son, William Sibbald (junior), built the Bank of Scotland on the Mound, Edinburgh (1802–6), to designs by Reid and Richard Crichton (c.1771–1817) and died in 1823. Further work needs to confirm which of these two William Sibbalds, father or son, was the designer of the building.

→ www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-SibbaldWilliam.html
("Sibbald, William (d. 1809). Scots architect and builder. He was Superintendent of Public Works in Edinburgh from 1790 until his death. He worked with Robert Reid on the layout of the first extension to the New Town. He designed Lady Yester's Church, Edinburgh (1803), in an early version of the Jacobean style. His son, William Sibbald (d. 1823), built the Bank of Scotland on The Mound, Edinburgh (1802–6), to designs by Reid and Richard Crichton (c.1771–1817). Bibliography Colvin (1995); Germann, Gifford, McWilliam, & and Walker (1984); Youngson (1966)")
→ A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture

Captain Ellis Family (1818-1849)

Captain Ellis

A Cutter, perhaps like Captain Ellis'.

Captain William Ellis took up residence in 1818 until 1827. He was a sea captain, and in 1803 as captain of the Ross Cutter he married Miss Helen Mitchell. One can imagine he may have been away much of the time, and certainly we see that during this time, some other people stayed at the building.

One of these residents was Lady Davidson of Cantray. She lived in the building for 2 years from 1822-23, with Francis presumably her son who we see winning a premium award in Latin Class, and a little after Mr Mitchell Ellis is vying with him for awards by receiving 2nd Prize in Second Highest Class for 'Gentlemen'!

Lady Davidson of Cantray was presumably the wife of Sir David Davidson the Laird of Cantray in Inverness, who was born 1700 and knighted by King George III, unless the elderly wife of the previous Laird. There is a well-known tune called "The Lady of Cantray", companion piece to "Sir David Davidson of Cantray".

One imagines the Captain must perhaps have passed from this world in 1827 as the building becomes empty in 1828, and is hired out for 3 years to Robert H Barber and other operations, after which relatives move back in.

In 1831 we see one of these residents, R H Barber, signs a petition in the Scotsman with 150 others, demanding a public meeting of Edinburgh to consider addressing His Majesty William IV on the recent dissolution of parliament and to express to the Lord Provost, Magistrates and Council that representation of the city be conferred on Rt Hon Francis Jeffrey, Lord Advocate of Scotland.

William Ellis (1810-)

Mrs Ellis moved into 44 Albany Street in 1832. Mr William M(itchell) Ellis, presumably her son, was an Advocate and he appears here 2 years later, aged about 24.

William must have become of some importance since at Gräefenberg in 1843 as a Hydropathy patient (the curing of disease by the internal and external use of water), Dr Rishanek on receiving his card quoted him with a few others as a reference of recommendation for his work.

It seems that Mrs Ellis became ill and passed on, for she disappeared from the residence in 1844 and that same year contributed a sum of money to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, assumedly in connection with her illness.

In late 1848 William married Emily, the younger daughter of John Anderson of St Petersburg, and as a notable marriage this was broadcast in the newspapers. Within a year they had given birth to a son. But Emily died within 6 days, no doubt from birth complications, and within months, the whole building went up for sale of all its "elegant furnishings". One imagines that, distraught at having scarcely got over one death and now his new wife's death and with a new baby child, Census Info: Mr Ellis moves away to Duddingston where he lived with 2 servants, and at some time took up work as a corn merchant before returning to Advocacy. His child William disappears from the census before he is 11, and must either have died, gone to a boarding school, or moved with relatives. William himself passed on to the next world by the time he was 70.

Milne Family (1850-1870) and the Window Etching

After Mr Ellis' sad departure, the Milne family took up residence of the building.

The Milne Family

The Milnes were a most talented and practical family. From bell-founders, five generations of Milnes took to ironmongery, brass candlesticks, oil lamps, and pewter work, and then gas-engineering and gas meter making.

The head of the Milne family that moved into residence was John Milne (1805-1885), who worked with his father James (c1779-1863) in this business. The etch upon the upstairs window appears to be in memory of James when he passed on, likely by this John, signed JM, or alternatively James his 14-year-old son. Here is their story.

James Milne (1779-1863)

James Milne (1779-1863)

This older James (1779-1863) and his brother helped their own father extend the business, succeeding him at his death in 1811. They were educated at the High School of Edinburgh, and James developed an intimacy with Sir Walter Scott, with whom he used to go salmon-fishing. His brother went straight into the business, but James himself was apprenticed to a silk mercer; however this contract was mutually cancelled when it was realised he was colour blind. So he joined his brother some time after, a job much more suitable, and both found ample work. James appears to have been the more energetic and inventive of the two. With the apprenticeship complete, James went to London and perfected his brassfounding.

When their father died, the brothers soon parted company; the elder took over the ironmongery, and James acquired the workshop and foundry.

Oil lamps and candle fittings were already lucrative, and James seized on the invention of gas lighting to become its pioneer in Scotland. With gas engineering so new, he had to adapt and design fittings with much thought and effort, carrying out the first successful gas installation in Scotland. He laboured single-handed, mostly in the dark. Soon his little gas works were providing light for three of Edinburgh's largest shops. Sir Walter Scott's was one of the first buildings in Scotland to be lit by gas, generated by an onsite gas plant installed at the house by James in 1823. From 1820 erecting these oil-gas works in various places, he came to find the process costly and unsatisfactory and returned to coal gas works. With perseverance, James demonstrated the utility of gas lighting from its earliest stages, entitling him an honourable place in the annals of the country.

This success led to Edinburgh Gas Co., and for some time James had the field to himself, in demand from all over the country and abroad, designing gas joints, gas brackets, with great ingenuity and practical skill, and was among the first to manufacture iron gas burners, introduced water-slide gasaliers and other fittings, and co-invented the union jet which all came into universal use.

At that time, gas pipes were copper, whose chemistry produced a dangerous explosive mixture. James succeeded in making tin tubes, which he didn't patent but he gave freely to the world.

Brassfounding continued as usual. About 1820 James pursued constructing gas meters, having been made by others from 1815, but he developed this further and was at once copied; he was immediately successful, until a rather unfair action was taken against him, costing him much money, and although the judge disagreed with the principles of the case, he had to award it. He returned to internal gas fittings.

The business had been at Chalmers' Close off the High Street, with about seventy men employed, and Milne was at this period at his best.

John Milne (1810-1885) with his father James

James Milne (1810-1885) & wife Elizabeth, and eldests Elizabeth & Euphemia

Hamilton Mausoleum
Bronze Door

In 1823 his only son John (1810-1885), who later moved into 44 Albany Street with his wife and children, at fourteen was apprenticed and proved as gifted as his father.

Remembering his own London experience and seeing the growing value of artistic design as well as technical knowledge in metal work, James sent this son John to Paris before the end of his apprenticeship to study ornamental and figure casting, false-coring, and other special branches of foundry work, where he became one of the best figure moulders in the city. After perfecting this, John became secretary to and travelled with the celebrated Scottish botanist Loudon across the Continent.

About 1840 the famous Hamilton Mausoleum was planned by Alexander 10th Duke of Hamilton with the bronze doors of its chapel to be made on the continent, a reproduction of those of the Baptistery of Florence with panels of scriptural scenes in alto relief. The Duke's friend Sir J Robison recommended that John cast the gates at home. The Duke understandably wished to see a specimen of John's casting, so John took a very curly kale leaf and reproduced it in bronze, and the Duke on seeing it required no further proof of his ability. When he at length fitted the doors John allowed for heat expansion; but a complaint came of its slack fitting, and John, setting off to Hamilton, arrived at noon to find the sun had made a prisoner of the complaining official, who promptly reconsidered his hasty complaint!

Returning from the Continent, John became a partner, and the firm became James Milne & Son. John perfected the wet gas meter, and made many improvements for all kinds of gas apparatus.

Whilst water was still supplied by draw and pump, the firm likely made pumps, but as water companies superseded and water was supplied by gravity, the Milnes made water fittings of all descriptions.

With the rocky Scottish coastline, the Milnes enjoyed the highest reputation as lighthouse engineers, which involved the lighting and iron and brass work and fittings they were so good at, as well as coppersmith, clockmaker, lens-fitting and erection of the result by engineers, so these several departments all grew up in the business, resulting in international contracts for high-power lanterns.

The firm also made special scientific appliances for deep-sea soundings, used in the "Challenger", Arctic and other expeditions.

Move to 44 Albany Street

In 1850 John Milne moves into 44 Albany Street with his wife Elizabeth and then three children.

A fire in 1852 caused the works and offices to join Milton House and grounds (90 Canongate), a former convent, where the business became been located for 30 years, giving the offices more space, and showrooms, which is now (rebuilt) as the school that you see there to this day.

Shortly after, his father James retired from active management, living in the palatial 10-bedroom Borthwick Hall where he had lived for decades, but continuing to interest himself in the business till his death, finally departing this world at 39 Lauriston Place on 21 April 1863, aged 82, and his name is inscribed in old curly handwriting on the Baha'i Centre window:

This is the remarkable window etching on the top floor. Much more is visible to the human eye as you move your head to catch the light through the etching at different angles, than can be successfully caught by camera.

The J M here would likely be this son, John Milne (or perhaps John's 14 year old son James). This etching so obviously reflects a heartfelt relationship after so many years of work together, and an expression of great grief. Their engineering works would have provided an easy means to make the etch, perhaps with a diamond.

One cannot be too sure as to the reason for the 12-day difference in dates. There were strict mourning rules in Victorian Britain with the body laid out for up to 12 days, clocks stopped, and so forth. Hinduism also has a 12-day mourning period and may have interested some households through an interest in Theosophy. More mundane explanations could involve the family being away at the time and only hearing of the passing on their return, a state of grief before they collect themselves, or perhaps (as is a common experience) one of the house members felt they "saw" their father; after this lapse of time one can only speculate.

Extraordinary as this may seem, we therefore have etched on the upper floor window the most pivotal moment in Baha'i History; for it was on this date, 2nd May 1863, as the River receded, that everyone crossed over en masse for their final farewell to Baha'u'llah as He set off from the Ridvan Garden on 3rd May in triumphant departure into exile, embarking upon His public proclamation.

John's mother Euphemia passed to the greater world shortly after, no doubt in grief at her husband James's passing.

In 1867 John entered a separate partnership with Mr Thomas Miller for 17 years as Miller & Co., noted for its chilled calender (ie pressing) rolls, tramway wheels (Edinburgh's trams ran from 1871), and other chilled and special castings. Mr Miller acquired the business in 1884 greatly extended it.

James (1849-1925) and John (1852-1908) partner with their father John

In the original business John continued alone until in 1872 he partnered with his eldest son James (1849-1925) and then some years later his second son John (1852-1908), who, described below, were children living at 44 Albany Street. Both these sons travelled before joining as he had and they made the work easier.

In 1884, at 75, John finally retired, dying in 1885/6, sincerely mourned as a man of sterling integrity, generous disposition, and an unassuming manner, and for his mature wisdom and sagacious counsel which were ever at the command of any gas engineer; many men who have risen to high position in the industry gratefully acknowledged John's helpful counsel in time of difficulty, and testified to the friendly, ungrudging, and wholly unassuming manner in which aid was given. The attachment of those he trained was proverbial, and the long and loyal service of Milton House workmen to the firm a testimony to this.

John Milne, as well as his profession in engineering, had many educational leanings. He was a Director of the Philosophical Institution at 4 Queen Street, which had the most noble goal, "to place within the reach of the Public the means of cultivating and extending the growing taste for Literature, Science and Art, and of acquiring full and authentic information on all topics both of immediate and permanent interest. For these ends there are provided - First, a SERIES of POPULAR LECTURES; Second, a READING-ROOM and LIBRARY; Third, a NEWS-ROOM." He was also on the Board of Examination for Schools and can be seen witnessing exams in Peebles, and served as a Special Juror in an indictment case against a murderous doctor.

Midlothian was the seat of paper-making in Scotland and internationally famed for its paper-making engineering, and the two sons James & John partnered with two well-qualified papermill-machinery engineers, James Macfarlane and Thomas Lumsden, to give special attention to the engineering departments, and take up manufacturing paper-making machinery. Whilst Milton House grounds were extensive, the steep gradient prevented adding paper-making machinery and in 1885 they erected 3 acres of new works at Abbeyhill on the East side of Carton Hill, complete with travelling crane for paperwork machinery, whilst continuing all the old industry, with a staff of over 400.

A London house was opened by the firm about 1850 and a partner Macfie found for it in 1882, assumed as partner in Edinburgh in 1886; a Glasgow house was opened in 1887 for the sale of gas and water fittings; it became a Limited Liability Company in 1892; in 1893 the firm opened a spacious warehouse and workshop in Leeds to cover the Midlands.

Brass Pouring.

Wife Elizabeth Sarah Law (1823-1903) and Children

John Milne lived in 44 Albany Street with his wife Elizabeth Sarah Law (1823-1903) and their eight children Elizabeth, Euphemia, James, John, Alexandrina, Frederick, William and Charles, who all, except William, went on to marry and have children. There were 3 domestic servants and a governess for the children.

James Milne (1848-1925)

His son, James, named after his own father, grew up in the building and was a lifelong friend of the famous author Robert Louis Stevenson; they went to school together just up the road from Albany Street, came to 44 Albany Street for children's parties, and visited Colinton Farm where Henrietta Traquair lived, who became James' wife. James left this colourful account of Robert Louis Stevension -

Robert Louis Stevenson aged 7

Robert Louis Stevenson lived nearby and was a visitor and close friend.

Src: "I can remember Robert Louis Stevenson" edited by Rosaline Masson, 1922

Henrietta Traquair (1850-1902)

When he was 25, James married Robert Louis Stevenson's favourite cousin and childhood playfriend Henrietta Traquair (1850-1902), who was the daughter of Ramsay Traquair a farmer who owned Colinton Farm. Robert Louis Stevenson often depicted her in the characters of his books, and in the following letter he describes her recognising some of those characters and their antics in 'A Pirate Story' in 'Penny Whistles', which was the privately-printed trial issue of 'A Child's Garden', a pamphlet of forty-eight poems. She recognised herself and her brother William (1851-1923); they are commemorated in one of the Envoys to A Child's Garden:-

To Mrs Milne, Cointon Road, Edinburgh.

[? 23 October 1883] La Solitude

My dear Henrietta, Certainly; who else would they be? More by token, on that particular occasion, you were sailing under the title of Princess Royal; I, after a furious contest, under that of Prince Alfred; and Willie, still a little sulky, as the Prince of Wales. We were all in a buck basket about halfway between the swing and the gate; and I can still see the Pirate Squadron heave in sight upon the weather bow.

I wrote a piece besides on Giant Bunker: but I was not happily inspired, and it is condemned. Perhaps I'll try again; he was a horrid fellow, Giant Bunker! and some of my happiest hours were passed in pursuit of him. You were a capital fellow to play: how few there were who could! None better than yourself. I shall never forget some of the days at Bridge of Allan; they were one golden dream: see 'A Good Boy' in the Penny Whistles, much of the sentiment of which is taken direct from one evening at B. of A. when we had had a great play with the little Glasgow girl. Hallowed be that fat book of fairy tales! Do you remember acting the Fair One with Golden Locks? What a romantic drama! generally speaking, whenever I think of play, it is pretty certain that you will come into my head. I wrote a paper called 'Child's Play' once (published in the Cornhill Magazine in September 1878 and reprinted in Virginibus Puerisque), where, I believe, you or Willie would recognise things.

Yesterday I had toothache, and today I have a crick in my neck. These are details, but eloquent to me.

I wonder why Willie will be such an ass? he should be made to holiday - Willie-nilly. Tell him to write me a letter and I will answer it. I am taking my vacations at present, because of yesterday's toothache; my vacations generally last for twenty-four hours; but some day I mean to have a real [wallow/lounge] (blank in the printed text) in idleness. Now when the work is stopped, the letters begin.

John Docherty Barbour, Elizabeth Milne's husband.

But what I want to know is, How about Mrs William Traquair? Surely Willie is just the man to marry; and if his wife wasn't a happy woman, I think I could tell her who was to blame, Is there no word of it? (William Traquair married Cecilia Ross Munro on 11 June 1884. When the news of the engagement reached RLS in December 1883, Fanny wrote to MIS: 'He was much excited and pleased over the news, and wrote instantly to Willie Traquair'.) Well, these things are beyond arrangement: and the wind bloweth where it Iisteth - which, I observe, is generally toward the west in Scotland. Here it prefers a south-easterly course and is called the Mistral - usually with an adjective in front. But if you will remember my yesterday's toothache and this morning's crick, you will be in a position to choose an adjective for yourself. Not that the wind is unhealthy; only when it comes strong, it is both very high and very cold, which makes it the d-v-l. But as I am writing to a lady I had better avoid this topic; winds requiring a great scope of language.

Please remember me to all at home; give Ramsay a pennyworth of acidulated drops for his good taste. And believe me, your affectionate cousin Robert Louis Stevenson.

Elizabeth Milne (1846-1934)

In 1864, Elizabeth married John Doherty Barbour (1824–1901) of Ireland, one of whose children was the MP John Milne Barbour. This provides an interesting possible connection to 7 Charlotte Square where Abdu'l-Baha stayed, for of course Mrs Whyte's maiden name was also Barbour.

Euphemia Milne (1846-1934)

Euphemia went on to marry Robert Thorburn (1841-1910) of Peebles, where they had frequented, and had five children.

Robert Henry Usher

Alexandrina Law Milne (1853-1943)

Alexandrina married Robert Henry Usher (1840-1898), moving to London, and after Robert's death, returned again to Edinburgh to complete her life, "living on her own means".

Frederick Law Milne (1855-1943)

Frederick moved to Croydon, marrying Amy Prest (1860-1935), and moved to Canada; living out his life in Devon after Amy's death.

William Law Milne (1857-1880)

William seems to have lived his entire life in Edinburgh.

Charles Law Milne (1865-187?)

Ebsworth (1871-1873)

His brother, Joseph Woodfall Ebsworth (1824–1908).

His (JWE's) North View from the Scott Monument 1845

After the Milnes, for a short period the 33-year-old George Henry Ebsworth (1838-1909) lived in the building.

He came from a remarkable family. His father Joseph Ebsworth (1788-1868) was an exceptionally talented and energetic artist, adept at jewellery, opera, drama, music, linguistics and an amateur artist. Soon after 1826 he moved to Edinburgh, engaged at the Theatre Royal as actor and prompter and became established as teacher of music and singing, accepting the position of leader of the choir at St. Stephen's Church. From 1828 he ran an "English and foreign dramatic library and caricature repository" at 23 Elm Row, with concerts at the Hopetoun Rooms, Queen Street. He is buried at the Dean cemetery. His mother Mary Emma Ebsworth (1794–1881) was a dramatist, and his brother Joseph Woodfall Ebsworth (1824–1908) was a painter, engraver, and prose and verse writer, who became a priest. He left views of Edinburgh in all directions painted from atop the Scott Monument (example picture, right).

Such were George Ebsworth's notable family, whilst he himself was of quite a different calling. He tended to move around a lot and live as a lodger. Three years after marrying his wife Maria, he moved from Leith to Albany Street, having three children, Joseph (1869), Charles (1870), and Isabella (1872), who was born at 44 Albany St on Christmas day. Whilst living there, we find George as a corn merchant with his shop on Constitution Street in Leith, and also subscribing a large sum to fund opposition to the St Mary's Loch scheme, which began in July 1871 as a means of bringing in water for the City from the Loch 50km to the South; vigorous opposition to the plan caused it eventually to be dropped. He was an importer and exporter of fish and senior partner of Ebsworth & Hoeppner, Leith; but in a short space of time he became bankrupt (1877) and became a Commission Agent, his mother left for London, and his wife died shortly after (1879) aged only 47 and his children seem to have been looked after by others. We see him as a commercial agent (1881) and after moving back to Leith as an insurance clerk (1891), a newspaper porter and coal merchant (1901), before he himself passed away in the General Hospital, Leith, in 1909.

Burt Family (1874-1880)

Following the departure of Ebsworth, Mrs Burt moved in with her children.

She was the widow of John Burt, President (1863) of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (9-10 Queen St), and its Vice-President at the time of his death in 1868. On his death, a commemorative marble bust was made for the college. Mrs Burt moved with her children Dora (14), Henry (12), Anna (10), Charles (9) to 12 York Place, and then 5 years later to 44 Albany Street.

She passed on in 1877, and her children continued to live there. They had a black and white fox terrier pup, which at one point went missing with a reward out for it.

Henry and Charles are attacked in the newspapers at various times in 1880 as "New Tory Faggots for Midlothian", and this may explain their departure from 44 Albany St that year.

The following beautiful tribute to Dr Burt appears in the Edinburgh Medical Journal for March 1868 p868 -

John Burt, President of the Royal College of Physicians

MacKenzies (1881-1898)

The two sisters Jane and Alice Anne MacKenzie, daughters of the late Richard of Dolphinton, took up residence in the building. Within months, Jane passed on leaving Alice who, following second thoughts on selling the house, remained in the building for 16 years. When she passed away in 1897, the contents of the building were auctioned off and the building was empty for a year.

It is there described as:-

The Desirable Self-Contained House, No. 44 Albany Street, consisting of Dining-Room, Drawing-Room, and Bed-Room Floors, with Kitchen, Servants' Apartments, Bath-Room, Washing-House, &c, and Excellent Back Garden.

MacKenzie & Kermack were given as contact for the title deeds.

McLaren Family (1899-1908)

The McLaren family moved in from 52 Albany Street just a few doors away, this was John, a Chemical Marine Manufacturer, and his two sisters Maria and Beatrice, and it seems at first a fourth. They had a Tablemaid and a Cook.

The neighbouring house also (42 Albany Street) was owned by James McLaren and Sons for 10 years as a wholesale tea dealer.

David passed on in 1908, and the funeral procession set out from 44 Albany Street to Warriston Cemetery.

All the contents, silverware and jewellery were auctioned off.

Spens Family (1908-1951)

William Spens (d 1868) father of the owner, likely bearing similar appearance

The period of 1908-1951 sees the building in the hands of the Spens family.

William George Spens (1845-1916) was a Glaswegian, living there most of his life. He was Secretary of the Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Company managed by his father William Spens, of whom (the latter) it is said,

Those who remember Mr. Spens cannot forget the charm and geniality of his manner, which was characterized by simplicity and gentleness very seldom met with. All his thoughts and feelings were influenced by a high sense of honour - "He bore without abuse the grand old name of gentleman."

When he was 24 he married (in Edinburgh) the Honourable Mary Catherine Borthwick. Together they had 7 children: Mary, Janet, William, Ariana, Alice, Archibald, and Walter. He and his wife moved into the building in 1908, at which time just Walter was still living with them aged 23, and he moved out by the next year.

His sister Joanna married John Ord Mackenzie (4th of Dolphinton), the building having been a MacKenzie home just before the previous owner.

William passed away suddenly just before Christmas 1916, and a service was held at Mary's Cathedral, Palmerston Place, from where he was buried in Dean Cemetery.

Mary continued to uphold the building, losing children in the War, and with her own passing in 1928 the building passed on to her daughter Janet Ariana ("Netta") who in 1917 had married Reverend Dr Arthur H Power in a quiet wedding. It must have been a terrible blow that he too passed away that year.

The last notice we have is of a lost short amber necklace in 1935.

Janet continued to live there with her brother Walter G Spens, until she passed away there in 1951, at which point Walter moved away.

McTaggart (1951-1966)

Artist William McTaggart (1835-1910) grandfather of the owner

Subsequent at some time to the Spens ownership, Dugald William McTaggart is associated with the building. Perhaps he intended to live in the building itself, but in the end it seems to have become used for non-residential purposes.

Dugald was born in 1917 in Lasswade to a family famous for its painting history; schooled in Edinburgh he moved to Australia with his parents when he was 16. His father was a mechanical engineer and eldest son of the second marriage of the famous Scottish painter William McTaggart (1835-1910) (view his paintings). Dugald took holy orders as a minister of the Presbyterian Church of Australia and was an army chaplain in the Australian Northern Territitories.

Articles in Australian newspapers from his time there give a flavour of the man and his mission, along with other advertisements of his preaching, such as the following -

However the hot temperature and ill health forced him to return (1946), allowing him to marry and do post-graduate work at Edinburgh University. He married Janet, and held from prior to his return, 1942-1960, some kind of residence in Glasgow. His involvement with 44 Albany Street will perhaps have arisen with his post-graduate work at Edinburgh, and may have represented an operation in the city. As well as his church calling, Dugald was a registered mason.

In Oct 1964, the building was Grade-A listed, and in 1966 Dugald sold it to the WRVS. In selling the building, he retained a renting lease on it until 1976; but he sadly died within a year, in 1967 in Stirlingshire, where he held a ministry.

Women's Royal Voluntary Service (1966-2005) and MORI (2001-5)

The building was purchased in 1966 by the Women's Royal Voluntary Service, a voluntary organization concerned with helping people in need throughout England, Scotland and Wales, and the largest voluntary organisation in British history, at its height having one million members.

The plan at the time of purchase was, at ground level, of the large front room as a Clothes Store, the large rear room for sorting clothes, and the third back room a 'Hospital Car Service', whilst the basement rear of the building was a garden with an access door to the lane; the building is described and drawn as having Basement (three rooms - the current front gathering room was divided by a passageway), Ground (three rooms), First (conference room and four rooms) and Second (four rooms).

In the 1960s and 1970s the building was the WRVS district office for Edinburgh (Lothian), mainly used for administration. A lease was present on the building until 1976.

Then, from the late 1970s to the early 1980s, at one time or other, the Local Authority made use of some of the rooms to run a single parent family support service.

In 1986-7 it was used for emergency service training, and to interview potential volunteers.

It was also used as a Clothing Store, where volunteers often met to knit together for various causes such as knitting baby clothes. In January 1996, the clothing store was moved to two floors in 30 Albany Street.

Another main use for the building was for the Books on Wheels Service for the Housebound, which celebrated it's 25th Anniversary in 1989. This service was slowly moved to other areas/buildings in the 1990s, and hoped to run its book stock down if running the scheme from Blackhall Library was successful; in 1996 the Books on Wheels vacated the premises and became a van service.

From late 2001 MORI took up the top three floors of the building with WRVS as the owners remaining in the basement running community services, up until their selling the building in 2005.

Edinburgh Baha'i Centre (2005-)

And so, after this long history through time, the Baha'i Community took up ownership of the building on 23 May 2005; and after refurbishment in 2010, on 23 May 2011 the Edinburgh Baha'i Centre was officially opened.

Life at the Centre in the Past

What follows, is the plan of each level of the building, with expected original room uses in brown, compared to their current use in black; rooms and tasks are depicted on the right through representative pictures of the time.

Basement

The Basement would have been where the servants resided and did their work.

At the rear of the building is an exit that has been bricked up. Perhaps this was to the old "Wash House" mentioned in the adverts, or some other room. The cellars at the front under the street were perhaps for coal and wood.

Victorian Kitchen

Victorian Servants' Hall, with Servants' Bedrooms Visible

Servants Washing

Ground

The Ground will have seen the main dining room at the entrance, and the master bedroom to the rear.

Victorian Bed Room

Victorian Dining Room

First Floor

The First Floor will have seen the main meeting and mingling rooms - the Drawing Room and Parlour.

Victorian Parlour (Informal)

Victorian Drawing Room (Formal)

The Top Floor will have seen the general bedrooms.