Uncovering street features from the past

There are many old architectural features still to be found in the streets of Helmsdale, which are the lasting remnants of a way of life long gone, but not forgotten!  The members of the group have been collecting this information and many interesting sites have come to light.

Belgrave Hotel in Dunrobin Street

The two most Easterly windows at street level facing Dunrobin Street, have iron spikes inserted in the window sills.  This was done to discourage the practice of men congregating at Street corners for a blether and if a window sill was at a convenient height it could be used as a seat.  A regular window sill where this practice was carried out was opposite the above mentioned windows, where the window at Alf's Corner was used.

Spikes on the window sill of the Belgrave Hotel

Rutherford Terrace (Old School)

Original school bell still in situ.

AR McLeod's store in Trentham Street

A wooden hatch fitted in the wall at North end facing Trentham street, enables coal to be shoveled from a lorry into the shed when McLeod's sold and delivered coal circa 1955-1964. 

Trentham Street east pavement 

Outline of the covers where the three petrol pumps and one diesel pump existed, circa 1948-1996.

Co-op Lane

A hatch was built into the wall of the former CO-op bake house at ground level.  Fresh bread and rolls could be purchased from the bakers at this hatch in the early morning before the main shop opened.

The Green Stag (part of the Bridge Hotel), Dunrobin Street

A curved stone canopy, where a post-box used to be located, still exists in the wall at the corner of this building. 

Stone canopy for a post-box (post box now long gone)

La Mirage in Dunrobin Street

A very unusual barrel-shaped stone feature exists on the top of the front wall, at the western corner, where the roof meets the wall.  This is the usual location for datestones.  The barrel symbol may relate to an earlier use of the building as a public house.

Unusal barrel feature on roof of La Mirage

Wall on Stittenham Road

This wall has many interesting features such as blocked up doorways and an unusual masonry block inserted into the wall, with what looks like pre-historic cup-marks on it.

Possible pre-historic cup-marks on a masonry block inserted into the wall

Do you know of any more architectural features?

If you do please get in touch and share this information with the Helmsdale community!