55 Albany Street

The Pott family lived here from 1839 until the 1850s and George was born here. It appears that the house was let by the Pott family for almost 30 years as George Pott returned to live here with his wife. In the intervening years. George and his family had resided in Roxburghshire, where he was a landowner and a keen huntsman. However, it seems likely that they moved to live in Edinburgh after their son, James, married Mary Anderson from Melbourne, and took over farming the estate. James later became a Jedburgh local councillor. George and marion had two sons. Alexander became a trader in Rhodesia and died there in 1907. George married Gwendoline Ward and they emigrated to New Zealand and farmed on the North Taranaki coast. From their New Zealand farm they supplied seeds to Sutton & Sons in Reading. (seed packet) George [senior] died in 1898 and Marion lived on in the house until her death in 1906.

1912 – 1960 Edward and Catherine (neé Scott) Ward and family

The Wards moved from Number 57, where they had run a boarding house and Ward’s Employment Agency for Servants. Both activities were continued here.

Edward Ward had been, for many years, House Steward to various people, including Lord Egerton of Tatten. At the 1901 census, living in the house were Edward and Catherine and one son, aged sixteen who was working as a Grocer’s Assistant, and one younger daughter. There were two boarders. Adverts that year offered boarding for ‘families and visitors’, and advertised ‘good cooking’ and the availability nearby of ‘trams to all parts’.

Their Servants’ Agency was advertised as being: ‘Patronised by the nobility and best hotels’ and workers offered ranged from valets to cooks to footmen to barmaids.’ The agency also advertised clerks, estate joiners, plumbers and other tradesmen, and offered: ‘extensive experience in organising the most successful Society Functions, such as balls, Dinners, etc. in London and the Country. Mr Ward is open to arrange similar entertainments in Scotland, and will undertake the furnishing and victualling of Shooting and Fishing Boxes and Country Houses in Scotland.’

The Wards diversity extended to advertising greyhounds for sale, including ‘Cherry Blossom 3, run first time at Falkirk but very unluckily beaten.’

Catherine died in 1935 and Edward in 1944. Their daughter, Catherine, lived on in the house, although it is not known if she continued to manage it as lodgings.

1960s - 1970 Ramsay and Primrose

Consulting Engineers

mid-1970s Help the Aged Housing (Scotland)