Golden Memories:
50 Years of the Cramond Association
In 2010 the Cramond Association will mark the 50th anniversary of its founding. The Association owes its origin to growing general concern, half a century ago, about such matters as the deterioration of Cramond House and Cramond Tower, the neglect of the Roman Fort, the overgrowth on the Almond riverside walk, the spate of new building – not all of it in keeping with a beautiful and historic place – to mention only some.
Members of the community pressed for the formation of an Association to represent them and accordingly a meeting, presided over by the Rev. Campbell Maclean, was called to discuss “the desirability of forming a society to preserve the antiquities and develop the amenities of Cramond.”
A well attended meeting, on 5 December 1960 resolved that the Cramond Association should be formed and a constitution was approved. The object of the Association was agreed to be “to promote the amenity of the community of Cramond and safeguard its heritage”. The boundaries of Association membership were broadly those of the Parish of Cramond, thus including Barnton and Cammo, and the initial subscription was fixed at five shillings. The first meetings were held in the old Primary School.
Early Successes
The Association got off its mark quickly. The Lord Provost, the Town Clerk, the City Engineer and other officials were soon in receipt of the Secretary’s letters. In the first month a demand was made to the Council that the Roman Fort should be excavated. This was quickly followed by requests that the Walled Garden should be made an amenity area, that more shops were needed, that the riverside walk should be improved, that more car parking space was required, that the deterioration of Cramond Tower required urgent action, that a tearoom should be provided at the foreshore and the bus service should be improved.
City officials, and successive Lord Provosts, proved very willing to meet Association representatives and face to face meetings produced many favourable outcomes. Useful relationships were established with our MP and with our Councillors.
In 1962 a Historical Subcommittee was formed, (with an initial grant of £5) and this has met ever since. Other interest groups were to follow soon afterwards, including the Music Group and the Gardening Group, which did extensive tree and bulb planting throughout the area. The Association later developed cordial relations with the Dunfermline College when the Campus was opened in 1966 and facilities were made available to members for very well attended Swimming, Tennis and Badminton Sections and Association open meetings were held for several years in one of the lecture halls.
Heritage Trust
In 1978 the Association formed the Cramond Heritage Trust as a registered charity to encourage the preservation and improvement of features of natural and historical interest within the Association’s area. The Trust is based at the Maltings on the foreshore and is acknowledged to be a splendid local museum. It is also home to an extensive archive which is widely consulted and has produced several interesting publications. The Trust maintains an exhibition and education centre at the Maltings, open to the public on summer weekends and on afternoons during the Edinburgh Festival. Knowledgeable guides take organised parties, including school groups, to explore, for example, the Roman Fort (now excavated!), the 18th century village and the Iron mills
Edinburgh Airport
In 1967 BAA announced plans to realign the main runway at Edinburgh Airport. The Association disagreed strongly, considering it to be ridiculous for Edinburgh and Glasgow, 45 miles apart, to be developing major, costly, airports. The obvious course, we maintained, was to build a Central Scotland airport serving both cities and their surroundings and located near Slamannan. The Association engaged Counsel and at the Public Inquiry the Reporter found in favour of the Association’s view. The Secretary of State, however, overturned the Reporter’s finding so we lost the day.
Links with the Community Council
On two occasions members were asked for their views on reforming the Association as a Community Council. Both times the verdict was unanimously in the negative in the belief that the Association’s objectives were better served by a membership body. This was in accord with the Council’s 1976 view that they “thought there was no need for Community Councils within the City area as these functions were adequately covered by existing amenity groups”. But views, and times, change and we now have a Cramond Community Council. I am glad to say that the Association welcomed the new body and cordial working relationships were quickly established. Two Association members sit on the Community Council and we are agreed that Cramond resident’s interests are better served by a membership and an elected body
Cramond Management Group
Past President and Committee member John Dods chairs the Cramond Management Group formed in 2001 in response to the Scottish Parliament’s stricture that more should be done to preserve the historic site, to restore the ancient woodland, to improve signage and make the area more attractive. The Group’s aim is to rehabilitate the area around Cramond House and to make it more accessible to the public. It is hoped to restore the old Kennels building and turn it into an education centre and museum to house the large quantity of artefacts which have been discovered in the area. Some are of major importance such as the Roman Lioness found a few years ago in the River Almond. Already much work has been done to rid the ancient woodland of non-native trees. The Roman Fort has been re-excavated and the exposed walls will be stabilised. A number of archaeological finds were discovered during the excavation. Signage at the Fort has been improved.
Looking to the Future
The Association is active and thriving. Membership has risen from 130 and is now well into four figures. The subscription has gone up to £5 but still seems to be regarded as good value for money. Well attended meetings are held at 7.30 on the last Monday of each month from September to April in Cramond Kirk Hall and we are still able to attract interesting speakers. Behind the scenes Committee members all have defined tasks and work hard at such matters as planning, transport, the airport, the Civic Trust and the Cockburn Association and road safety to mention only some. Carols by Candlelight in early December signals the start of the Cramond Christmas season.
To mark our half century we have produced Views of Cramond, a stunning calendar showing many interesting features of Cramond, Barnton and Cammo with many scenes from the past that will bring back memories. Click here for details.