52 Albany Street

1897 – 1902 Thomas McNaughton

Thomas McNaughton was a widower, and had one son and one daughter. He was headmaster of The Edinburgh Institution for Languages and Mathematics in Queen Street. The school was founded in 1832 by the Reverend Robert Cunningham and set up in George Street, but soon moved to Hill Street. Unusually for the time the school focused on modern subjects, such as science, rather than classical subjects. In 1853, the school bought 8 Queen Street and later moved again to then to Melville Street. In 1936, the name of the school was changed to Melville College, and, in 1972, merged with Daniel Stewart's College to become Stewart's Melville College, one of Scotland’s leading independent private schools.

In the house at the 1901 census there were six boys between the ages of 12 and 16, presumably pupils of McNaughton’s, who died in 1902.

1903 – 1905 Walter Hardie

Nothing traced.

The house then lay vacant for a few years.

1910 – 1928 Boarding House

The boarding house was managed by William Bertram. The only lodger traced is Captain Steel who, in 1913, gave a £1 donation to The Antarctic Expedition National Memorial.

From 1928 to ?1970 offices and flats/workspaces.

Residents included Madame Stark who offered ‘Accurate Typing; MSS 9 pence per 1000 words'; Mr Berkeley of the Berkeley British Brush Company who sought ‘Sales Representatives wanted to introduce wide range of brushes to householders. [door to door salesmen]. Must be hard workers and not afraid of long hours’; a ‘Wholesale Warehouse’ in a First Floor flat selling Musquash fur coats for 18 guineas., and from 1928 to the mid- 1950s, Miss Alexina Crichton, a Ladies Tailor. Mr and Mrs Beck lived here in the 1930s. In the 1960s and 1970s residents included Mrs Marcella Fowlis, widoe of George Fowlis, and Ascher Stelmech.

Mid-1960s Forth Broadloom Carpets for a few years.