Return to top Return to top

Jean Bell’s Dumbiedykes

Jean Bell (née Bottomly) was born in 1934 and grew up in the Dumbiedykes, living at no.38 Dumbiedykes Road.

Jean worked as a dresser and a ‘call boy’ in Edinburgh theatres. She recalls this part of her life in a 2011 interview which can be found on listennotes.com under the title “Backstage at the Playhouse and Kings theatres, 1950s & 1980”

Her brother Peter Bottomley, who features in a number of these photos, later played guitar with local band “The Embers” who can be seen elsewhere on the Edinburgh Collected archive.

Young Woman Lighting A Firework At 42 Dumbiedykes Road c.1955
Young Woman Lighting A Firework At 42 Dumbiedykes Road c.1955
View picture
Woman Standing By Bonnet Of Car c.1959
Woman Standing By Bonnet Of Car c.1959
View picture
Couple Relaxing In Their Home At 42 Dumbiedykes Road c.1955
Couple Relaxing In Their Home At 42 Dumbiedykes Road c.1955
View picture
Musical Get Together In Living Room At 10 Bellevue Street c.1962
Musical Get Together In Living Room At 10 Bellevue Street c.1962
View picture
Children's Birthday Party In The Back Garden At 10 Bellevue Street 1960
Children's Birthday Party In The Back Garden At 10 Bellevue Street 1960
View picture
Driver Sitting In Car With Door Open c.1959
Driver Sitting In Car With Door Open c.1959
View picture
James Clark School Class Sitting By Boys Playground, June 1949
James Clark School Class Sitting By Boys Playground, June 1949
View picture
Tynecastle School Class Portrait, June 1953
Tynecastle School Class Portrait, June 1953
View picture
Women And Children Outside Nursery School At Moray House c.1958
Women And Children Outside Nursery School At Moray House c.1958
View picture
Stopping Off At Transport Cafe On Day Out c.1957
Stopping Off At Transport Cafe On Day Out c.1957
View picture
Children's Birthday Party 1960
Children's Birthday Party 1960
View picture
Woman With Dog In Garden At Sighthill c.1956
Woman With Dog In Garden At Sighthill c.1956
View picture
Street Musician Mary Dunlop And Her Pony  Smokey 1940s
Street Musician Mary Dunlop And Her Pony Smokey 1940s
View picture
Brother And Sister Outside Their Home At 38 Dumbiedykes Road c.1950
Brother And Sister Outside Their Home At 38 Dumbiedykes Road c.1950
View picture
Family Standing In Doorway At 38 Dumbiedykes Road c.1949
Family Standing In Doorway At 38 Dumbiedykes Road c.1949
View picture
Winner Of Road Safety Competition Cambusnethan Priory c.1975
Winner Of Road Safety Competition Cambusnethan Priory c.1975
View picture
Woman At Top Of Steps By Floral Clock c.1951
Woman At Top Of Steps By Floral Clock c.1951
View picture
Princes Street Looking East To Calton Hill c.1950
Princes Street Looking East To Calton Hill c.1950
View picture
The Castle And Esplanade Seen From The Camera Obscura c.1950
The Castle And Esplanade Seen From The Camera Obscura c.1950
View picture
Girl Standing Outside Tenement At 30 Dumbiedykes Road 1963
Girl Standing Outside Tenement At 30 Dumbiedykes Road 1963
View picture
Young Boy In The Back Green At 38 Dumbiedykes Road c.1950
Young Boy In The Back Green At 38 Dumbiedykes Road c.1950
View picture
Coronation Day Street Party At "The Brickies" In Dumbiedykes Road 1953
Coronation Day Street Party At "The Brickies" In Dumbiedykes Road 1953
View picture
Coronation Day Street Party at 'Hen's Dyke' By Dumbiedykes Road 1953
Coronation Day Street Party at 'Hen's Dyke' By Dumbiedykes Road 1953
View picture
Coronation Day Celebration At "The Greens" In Dumbiedykes 1953
Coronation Day Celebration At "The Greens" In Dumbiedykes 1953
View picture
Boys On Their Bikes Outside Waterstones Paper Shop In Dumbiedykes c.1955
Boys On Their Bikes Outside Waterstones Paper Shop In Dumbiedykes c.1955
View picture
Two Young Women On Motorbike At Dumbiedykes Road 1952
Two Young Women On Motorbike At Dumbiedykes Road 1952
View picture
Teenagers On Tenement Balcony At 42 Dumbiedykes Road, New Flats In Background c.1960
Teenagers On Tenement Balcony At 42 Dumbiedykes Road, New Flats In Background c.1960
View picture
Family Having Picture Taken In The Doorway Of Their Home At 38 Dumbiedykes Road  c.1950
Family Having Picture Taken In The Doorway Of Their Home At 38 Dumbiedykes Road c.1950
View picture
Young Girl In Front Of Clock At Home In 42 Dumbiedykes Road 1954
Young Girl In Front Of Clock At Home In 42 Dumbiedykes Road 1954
View picture
John Codona One-Man Band Playing Along Dumbiedykes Road c.1954
John Codona One-Man Band Playing Along Dumbiedykes Road c.1954
View picture
John Codona One-Man Band Playing In Dumbiedykes Road c.1954
John Codona One-Man Band Playing In Dumbiedykes Road c.1954
View picture
Young Woman Sunbathing At The Beach 1950s
Young Woman Sunbathing At The Beach 1950s
View picture
Workman On Roof Of The Empire Theatre, early 1950s
Workman On Roof Of The Empire Theatre, early 1950s
View picture
Boys With Bicycle In Back Green At 10 Bellevue Street c.1955
Boys With Bicycle In Back Green At 10 Bellevue Street c.1955
View picture
Bonfire Night At Dumbiedykes Lane c.1955
Bonfire Night At Dumbiedykes Lane c.1955
View picture
Two Children At The Kitchen Table At 42 Dumbiedykes Road c.1954
Two Children At The Kitchen Table At 42 Dumbiedykes Road c.1954
View picture
Boys Climbing Lamp Post On Corner Of Dumbiedykes Lane And Dumbiedykes Road c.1954
Boys Climbing Lamp Post On Corner Of Dumbiedykes Lane And Dumbiedykes Road c.1954
View picture
Two Children At The Kitchen Table At 42 Dumbiedykes c.1954
Two Children At The Kitchen Table At 42 Dumbiedykes c.1954
View picture
Woman Having Cup Of Tea And Biscuit c.1955
Woman Having Cup Of Tea And Biscuit c.1955
View picture
Young Girl On Tenement Balcony At 42 Dumbiedykes Road 1954
Young Girl On Tenement Balcony At 42 Dumbiedykes Road 1954
View picture
James Clark School Sports Day At Holyrood Park c.1948
James Clark School Sports Day At Holyrood Park c.1948
View picture
John Codona One-Man Band Playing Along Dumbiedykes Road c.1954
John Codona One-Man Band Playing Along Dumbiedykes Road c.1954
View picture
Boy Climbing Lamp Post On Corner Of Dumbiedykes Lane And Dumbiedykes Road c.1954
Boy Climbing Lamp Post On Corner Of Dumbiedykes Lane And Dumbiedykes Road c.1954
View picture
Godmother With Godchild At 30 Dumbiedykes Road c.1967
Godmother With Godchild At 30 Dumbiedykes Road c.1967
View picture
Practice Session In The Scout 'Gang Hut' Dumbiedykes c.1962
Practice Session In The Scout 'Gang Hut' Dumbiedykes c.1962
View picture
Theatre Crew On Stage At King's Theatre c.1950
Theatre Crew On Stage At King's Theatre c.1950
View picture

Browse related content

Edinburgh in pictures

Edinburgh Collected is a community archive of Edinburgh memories. Explore the city’s rich history through images, documents and objects.
Explore pictures

Edinburgh in scrapbooks

Scrapbooks are collections of our community’s memories giving unique perspectives on life in Edinburgh.
Discover scrapbooks

Edinburgh in words

Uncover personal memories of life in Edinburgh, recorded in the written word.
Read memories

Share your memories and make history

Sign up for your free account today, to share your photos and memories, and create your own Edinburgh Collected scrapbooks.
Join today
What type of memory would you like to add?