36 Albany Street
1879 – 1921 William Middleton
William Middleton, a retired banker, was unmarried and in 1901 employed a cook and a maid. He died in 1921, aged 83. His estate was valued at £42,414 and the bulk was left to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.
1922 – (around) 1970 Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders War Memorial Club
In October 1923, the Club was formally opened by Her Royal Highness, the Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll. In declaring the Club open, the Princess said: ‘At first we were all rather at variance as to what form the war memorial should take, but you will agree that a Club maintaining the spirit of comradeship and unity most fittingly recalls those who have been taken from us.’ Of the 45,000 who served in the regiments in the First World War, 6,868 died.
At the Club’s annual Burns Supper in 1927, Major Keddie, proposed the toast of ‘The Immortal Memory’ and said: ‘the world today resembles an armed camp, wars and rumours of war everywhere, tumult, threats of revolution and interline strife all around and yet, within the next week, Scotsmen and other admirers –and their names and nationalities are legion - will turn with one accord to pay their sincerest respects to the memory of the ploughman poet, the songster of the soil, the incomparable, Scotland’s own Robert Burns. One can imagine Burns penning lines that would be an exhortation to his fellow-countrymen to desist from class warfare. He would attack all parties in the State for their indifference to, and their neglect of, the interests of ex-Servicemen.’
For many years in the 1930s, when rugby internationals were being played at Murryafield, the Club welcomed opposition supporters to the club. In 1936 ‘nearly one hundred of the visitors from Wales were invited to have breakfast and lunch in the club, and on the Saturday evening a smoking concert was held. Following the gathering, a kilted member of the Club piped the visitors off to the railway station.’
In 1939, the President of the Club wrote to The Scotsman to say that a ‘Comforts Committee’ had been set up by a number of ladies for the purpose of kitting socks, mitts, etc. for soldiers, and seeking donations of wool, or other comforts or cash, to assist. As the war progressed, the Club provided accommodation to members of the regiment passing through the city.On 15 July 1947, Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten visited the Club. The Scotsman reported: ‘An incident that particularly charmed Her Royal Highness was the informal presentation to her by Major-General Gervaise Thorpe of his own regimental plaid brooch which he had worn fifty years ago when a member of the Guard of Honour receiving Queen Victoria at Balmoral.’ The Princess met 60 veterans of the regiment . ‘Mr Mountbatten remarked to one on the number of medals he had. “But you, perhaps, have about as many yourself?2 the man replied to which the Lieutenant with a quick, good-natured smile which clearly disclaimed so much distinction responded: “I don’t think so.”’
1970 - 1978 Sumlock Comptometer Company
The comptometer was the first commercially successful key-driven mechanical calculator, patented in the USA in 1887.Manufactured without interruption from 1887 to the mid-1970s it was constantly improved; first it was made faster and more reliable, then a line of electro-mechanical models was added in the 1930s, but especially it was the first mechanical calculator to receive an all-electronic calculator engine in 1961, with the ANITA Mark VII model released by Sumlock Comptometer, therefore creating the link in between the mechanical and the electronic calculator industries.
1979 to at least 1980s Hanover Housing Association
This housing association was formed in 1979, as a Scottish offshoot of the Hanover Housing Association in England and became Hanover Scotland.
The association was set up 1963 by the National Corporation for the Care Old People, and provided sheltered housing.
