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The Walker Family – A Family Of Millers On The Water Of Leith

From a collection of photographs provided by Lawrence Walker.

Lawrence Walker was the fifth generation miller in his family to own and run Bell’s Mill in the Dean Village. By the time Lawrence was working there, the mill produced sawdust, which was used in the production of linoleum and thicker types of cardboard.

Production ceased at Bell’s Mill in 1971 after an explosion burst through the mill, causing a fire, and leaving it in ruins. It was the build-up of the dust from the sawdust that was the cause.

The Walker Family also ran the mill at Redhall, and a mill at Blantyre in Lanarkshire, Lawrence’s brother operating one of them.

The Dragonara Hotel, which was a favoured location to many visiting celebrities, was built on the site of the mill. It is currently the Britannia Edinburgh Hotel.

Greenland Mill On The Water Of Leith By Dean Bridge 1880
Greenland Mill On The Water Of Leith By Dean Bridge 1880
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Boy Standing In Kilt And Boater With Pet Dog c.1900
Boy Standing In Kilt And Boater With Pet Dog c.1900
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Portrait Lady In Black c.1850
Portrait Lady In Black c.1850
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Miller And His Family Outside Bell's Mill House At Belford Bridge c.1890
Miller And His Family Outside Bell's Mill House At Belford Bridge c.1890
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Greenland Mill 1880s
Greenland Mill 1880s
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Careston Kirk 1890
Careston Kirk 1890
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Careston Railway Station In Winter 1890
Careston Railway Station In Winter 1890
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Holy Trinity Kirk And Dean Bridge 1880
Holy Trinity Kirk And Dean Bridge 1880
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Careston Castle c.1890
Careston Castle c.1890
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The Walker Family Of Bell's Mill On A Visit To Friends In Fife 1880s
The Walker Family Of Bell's Mill On A Visit To Friends In Fife 1880s
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Two Young Men On Tandem Bike At South Queensferry c.1905
Two Young Men On Tandem Bike At South Queensferry c.1905
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Two Young Men On Tandem Bicycle At South Queensferry c.1905
Two Young Men On Tandem Bicycle At South Queensferry c.1905
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Farm Labourers With Work Horses And Crop Binder 1890s
Farm Labourers With Work Horses And Crop Binder 1890s
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Belted Galloway Young Bull c.1900
Belted Galloway Young Bull c.1900
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Woman Seated Outdoor Holding Book On Lap c.1900
Woman Seated Outdoor Holding Book On Lap c.1900
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Family Portrait Outdoor Sitting In Front Of Doorway c.1900
Family Portrait Outdoor Sitting In Front Of Doorway c.1900
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Pony And Trap Outside Large House c.1900
Pony And Trap Outside Large House c.1900
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Girl Standing Outside House With Pet Lamb c.1900
Girl Standing Outside House With Pet Lamb c.1900
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Two Boys Sitting On Tree Trunk At Bell's Mill By Belford Bridge c.1890
Two Boys Sitting On Tree Trunk At Bell's Mill By Belford Bridge c.1890
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Family Group Portrait Sitting On Bench Outside House c.1900
Family Group Portrait Sitting On Bench Outside House c.1900
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Boy And Girl Posing By Tree Stump On Side Of Rough Path c.1900
Boy And Girl Posing By Tree Stump On Side Of Rough Path c.1900
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Racing Cyclist c.1905
Racing Cyclist c.1905
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Young Man And Woman Feeding Calves At Bogie Farm In Fife c.1908
Young Man And Woman Feeding Calves At Bogie Farm In Fife c.1908
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Woman And Boy In Front Of Glasshouse c.1900
Woman And Boy In Front Of Glasshouse c.1900
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Group Of Young Children Leaning Against Front Of Wall c.1890
Group Of Young Children Leaning Against Front Of Wall c.1890
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Young Man Leaning Back Holding Pony By Bridle At Bogie Farm In Fife c.1905
Young Man Leaning Back Holding Pony By Bridle At Bogie Farm In Fife c.1905
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Family Portrait Taken Inside Glasshouse c.1900
Family Portrait Taken Inside Glasshouse c.1900
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Two Young Women Posing In Garden, late 1890s
Two Young Women Posing In Garden, late 1890s
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Father With Children Playing In The Burn 1929
Father With Children Playing In The Burn 1929
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Workers At Bell's Mill By The Water Of Leith c.1895
Workers At Bell's Mill By The Water Of Leith c.1895
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Studio Portrait Minister's Wife 1870s
Studio Portrait Minister's Wife 1870s
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Farmer Sitting Reading Newspaper Outside Farmhouse At Careston 1890s
Farmer Sitting Reading Newspaper Outside Farmhouse At Careston 1890s
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Girl With Bicycle c.1900
Girl With Bicycle c.1900
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Bogg's Mill By The Water Of Leith, early 1900s
Bogg's Mill By The Water Of Leith, early 1900s
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Ruins Of Redhall At Bottom Of Colinton Dell c.1900
Ruins Of Redhall At Bottom Of Colinton Dell c.1900
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Schoolboy Reposing On Fence, early 1900s
Schoolboy Reposing On Fence, early 1900s
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Children At Play In The Back Green On Washing Day c.1900
Children At Play In The Back Green On Washing Day c.1900
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Trawlers In Leith Harbour c.1900
Trawlers In Leith Harbour c.1900
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Damshead At Redhall Mills, 1900s/1920s
Damshead At Redhall Mills, 1900s/1920s
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Feeding Hens Outside The Wages Office Of Blantyre Mill By The River Clyde c.1902
Feeding Hens Outside The Wages Office Of Blantyre Mill By The River Clyde c.1902
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Close In Unidentified Scottish Town c.1900
Close In Unidentified Scottish Town c.1900
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Boy Washing Feet In Galvanised Tub c.1900
Boy Washing Feet In Galvanised Tub c.1900
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Unidentified Watermill c.1900
Unidentified Watermill c.1900
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Two Boys On Entrance Steps In Doorway c.1900
Two Boys On Entrance Steps In Doorway c.1900
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Street Decorations For The Coronation Of Edward VII At Foot Of Hanover Street 1902
Street Decorations For The Coronation Of Edward VII At Foot Of Hanover Street 1902
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Family Portrait Near Bell's Mill By The Water Of Leith c.1903
Family Portrait Near Bell's Mill By The Water Of Leith c.1903
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Children Playing In Garden At Belford Terrace c.1931
Children Playing In Garden At Belford Terrace c.1931
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Aunt With Her Two Nephews 1930
Aunt With Her Two Nephews 1930
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St Bernard's Well c.1900
St Bernard's Well c.1900
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Middle Mill At Markinch c.1880
Middle Mill At Markinch c.1880
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Three Children Seated Outdoor 1890s
Three Children Seated Outdoor 1890s
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Middle Mill At Markinch - A Provender Mill c.1880
Middle Mill At Markinch - A Provender Mill c.1880
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Children Playing By The Burn c.1930
Children Playing By The Burn c.1930
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Young Man Embroidering Tablecloth In Garden At Belford Terrace c.1912
Young Man Embroidering Tablecloth In Garden At Belford Terrace c.1912
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Family Picnic, late 1890s
Family Picnic, late 1890s
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Rear Of Redhall Mill By The Water Of Leith, early 1900s
Rear Of Redhall Mill By The Water Of Leith, early 1900s
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Couple Taking A Seat On Day Out, late 1890s
Couple Taking A Seat On Day Out, late 1890s
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Friends And Nurse Reposing In Garden At Belford Terrace, early 1900s
Friends And Nurse Reposing In Garden At Belford Terrace, early 1900s
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Double-Exposure Portrait Man Seated, late 1890s
Double-Exposure Portrait Man Seated, late 1890s
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Man Standing Arms Behind Back In Garden At Belford Terrace c.1901
Man Standing Arms Behind Back In Garden At Belford Terrace c.1901
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Young Woman In Garden At Belford Terrace c.1901
Young Woman In Garden At Belford Terrace c.1901
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Woman Reading Book In Garden At Belford Terrace, early 1900s
Woman Reading Book In Garden At Belford Terrace, early 1900s
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Wedding Party, early 1900s
Wedding Party, early 1900s
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Front View Of Blantyre Mill In Lanarkshire, early 1900s
Front View Of Blantyre Mill In Lanarkshire, early 1900s
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Family At Table Outside Of Bell's Mill House By The Water Of Leith c.1933
Family At Table Outside Of Bell's Mill House By The Water Of Leith c.1933
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Bogie Farm House Near Thronton In Fife c.1930
Bogie Farm House Near Thronton In Fife c.1930
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Two Sisters Sitting In The Sun At Bogie Farm Near Thornton In Fife c.1930
Two Sisters Sitting In The Sun At Bogie Farm Near Thornton In Fife c.1930
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Two Sisters Sitting Out In The Sun At Bogie Farm Near Thornton In Fife c.1930
Two Sisters Sitting Out In The Sun At Bogie Farm Near Thornton In Fife c.1930
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Peter Walker Grocer's Shop With Staff And Delivery Horse 1890
Peter Walker Grocer's Shop With Staff And Delivery Horse 1890
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Woman Steering Pony And Trap c.1900
Woman Steering Pony And Trap c.1900
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