View Full Version : The Barrogill Hall
I wonder how many of us went to Sunday School in the Barrogill Hall - lots, I would think.
Let's share our memories here.
I recall going every Sunday afternoon, listening to the stories and singing the wonderful hymns.
I particularly remember one Teacher - Mr Sinclair Lyall who returned after the war, looking so handsome in his RAF uniform.
How I loved the Christmas Parties, the Picnics and the great 'baggies' of such treats from Willdag Miller and Chessie Clyne.
What do you remember?
Trinkie
yes Trinkie -
I am one of the many folk who used to go to Sunday School and attend the parties and picnics. Your bag of goodies - usually an empire biscuit, a couple of sandwiches, sometimes a sausage roll or pie out of Wildags - occasionally an old penny sweetie was in there too - but it was great everyone swoping sandwiches and bits and bobs, nothing went to waste. Even if the sandwiches were covered in sand when on the picnic folk eat them saying a little bit of dirt did not hurt anyone.
Can remember Sunday School teacher was Jennifer Mackay - now Spence.
The place used to be alive with youngsters, but when came near Christmas Party or picnic time the numbers trebled - wonder why?
yes Trinkie -
I am one of the many folk who used to go to Sunday School and attend the parties and picnics. Your bag of goodies - usually an empire biscuit, a couple of sandwiches, sometimes a sausage roll or pie out of Wildags - occasionally an old penny sweetie was in there too - but it was great everyone swoping sandwiches and bits and bobs, nothing went to waste. Even if the sandwiches were covered in sand when on the picnic folk eat them saying a little bit of dirt did not hurt anyone.
Can remember Sunday School teacher was Jennifer Mackay - now Spence.
The place used to be alive with youngsters, but when came near Christmas Party or picnic time the numbers trebled - wonder why?
hey pat that hasnt changed lol, if the kids think there will be something good going to happen it amazing how many kids will join for a week or 2 lol.
dirdyweeker
30-Sep-08, 14:36
I remember e' Barrogill Hall and Sinclair Lyall.
(Funnily enough I was trailing through Groats from 1962 in the library yesterday and there was a picture and article about him....wish I'd read it now!)
Certainly remember picnic bags, a fire in the Hall and lots of kids probably sent there to give their mum's a bit of peace for a while! That's what I call the good old days!:lol:
Thank you for your memories...
Pat, I think you are much younger - .
Dirdyweeker mentions the fire... Do you mean the huge belly stove with the long chimney reaching to the roof?
On cold winter days the stove would be red hot, how we loved to sit close to it.
I think there was a kitchen and another room at the back where we would change our clothes for Plays or concerts.
On the Huddart Street side there was a flight of stairs - near Willdag Miller, and the main door was in Rutherlford Street - hope I'm right.
Speaking of Willdag, on Sundays in summer, we would have ice cream made by him - you supplied your own jug, and ran furiously home before it melted !
Happy Days
Trinkie
Trinkie
The street was Barrogill St not Rutherford St - thats where the Hall got its name from I believe.
Steps were on Huddart St side, through the back was where you did get changed for plays etc, there was a big room or two not sure, kitchen, toilets and a wide corridor to the steps.
Sinclair Lyall was there but I cannot put a face to him at all - sometimes you cannot remember.
Remeber the pot bellied black stove that used to throw out a lot of heat - it was great when you came in cold and wet, did not take long to dry but then when you left - oh did you feel the cold, made getting home that bit faster!
Definitely older than Dirdyweeker.
Remember going to the Scouts concert there. They used a lot of the Caithness language in their sketches. Just wish I could remember. oh dear......!
Almost forgot. My sister had her wedding reception there in the 50's
Worked for Wildag,in the early 50's, delivering morning rolls. Sometimes not so easy in the middle of winter in these days. Can smell the hot butteries yet. yum yum
The thing that sticks in my mind the most about the Barrogill Hall, is the size of the doors inside. Maybe it was because I was small at the time but to me they were huge. I also seem to remember a stage in the main hall. Loved the picnics to Dunbeath with races and the baggies. Can also remember putting streamers out the bus window. Great days.:)
My memories of the Barrogill Hall are when it took on a different role in the month of December. It was there that the Post Office had their "Over-Flow" Sorting Office when the main sorting office in the market Square couldn't cope with all the mails during the "Christmas-Rush" period.
Jimmy Miller almost permanently unemployed ( Late of Argyle Sq. & son of Neil the joiner ) got a job there each year as a loader. His job was to meet the train and load the hired mails lorries we each day. I was Boss at the temporary Sorting Office at the time, when one day Jimmy asked if it was time for him to go to the station. I noticed my watch had stopped so I picked up the telephone to check the correct time .................
(You know ...@ the third stroke it will be four twenty nine and three seconds etc ) When I heard the time I told Jimmy to get a move on & I let him listen to the speaking-clock. Not being used to a telephone Jimmy took it in his hands cradle-like as if it were a baby and put his ear to the receiver. Then to my utter disbelief he said " Shay do at all aye time" ? LOL
dirdyweeker
30-Sep-08, 22:19
Dirdyweeker mentions the fire... Do you mean the huge belly stove with the long chimney reaching to the roof? Trinkie
That is the very one!
Sunday school picnics and in fact most bus outings always meant streamers....just like Venture said. Never seem to use them now on a bus. Mind you there are not as many windows that open in a bus nowadays.
Poultney lad
30-Sep-08, 22:27
Those were the days, Nancy used to the teacher when i went Anne Macbeath and Rennie Malcom and Mrs Munro use to help partys and trips were good
Some great stories coming in - many thanks.
Of course you are right Pat, it was Barrogill Street !
Rutherford was where my grannie packed the herring - I often played up there. Nearby was the Lemonade factory.
Poultney Lad - I remember many of the names you mention.
Scaraben - that was a great story ! I do remember the Hall being used for the Christmas Mail.
Venture, it did seem an enormous place at the time, the height of the ceiling etc. The sound of voices echoing through. It had that special feeling to it, we seldom missed a Sunday.
Do you remember when a man came from Peterhead to teach on the evils of Strong Drink ?? ''You will all go to the bottom of the bottomless pit'' sort of style !!
Yes, I remember the Outings and the Streamers on the bus. AND the singing ! How we loved all of that.
Only yesterday I helped out with a school outing where we had an hour on the bus. Another grannie and I began to sing, but alas, the children didn't know our songs, and we knew very few of theirs. The children liked what we sang though, and said, more, more !!
On the bus for our Barrogill Hall picnic, we always sang She'll be coming round the Mountain, with the verse, She'll be eating Willdag's biscuits !!
Domino - so it was you who delivered our morning rolls and butteries. Many many thanks. Like magic they appeared on the doorstep each morning, still warm ! Barrogill Hall and Willdag's Message Boy ! You can hold your head high indeed!
Thanks to you all,
Trinkie
I totally remember going to the barrogill hall sunday school and all the picnics. I remember vividly singing 'rollin over , rolling over,my cup's full of running over' etc. Doing all the actions I can still see Nancy standing there with a pale blue skirt and jacket doing the actions!!
Sunday school picnics, streamers (so excited getting to put a streamer out the bus window), singing 'ye canna shove yer grannie of a bus', pies, sand, being attacked by black headed gulls, plastic sandles, your best summer frock and baggies!
OMG the days of innocence eh
Trinkie what a fabulous thread! I am thoroughly enjoyin readin it! I am vehemently opposed to litter but the streamers out the window sound fantastic! :)
dirdyweeker
01-Oct-08, 11:20
I totally remember going to the barrogill hall sunday school and all the picnics. I remember vividly singing 'rollin over , rolling over,my cup's full of running over' etc. Doing all the actions I can still see Nancy standing there with a pale blue skirt and jacket doing the actions!!
Sunday school picnics, streamers (so excited getting to put a streamer out the bus window), singing 'ye canna shove yer grannie of a bus', pies, sand, being attacked by black headed gulls, plastic sandles, your best summer frock and baggies!
OMG the days of innocence eh
Not being critical as I well remember all these b ut was it not "running over"? as opposed to "rolling over"?
Trinkie....if your granny packed herring I am wondering did she work for my Grandad / Dad as they had a fish gutting yard in Rutherford Street.:D
Not being critical as I well remember all these b ut was it not "running over"? as opposed to "rolling over"
Yip you are correct, I was getting the actions of rolling your hands over each other, mixed up with the actual words. Just got masel too caught up in the memory:lol:
Dirdyweeker - The Fish yard could have been Taylors, I'm really not sure now. I think it was half way along on the left from the top of Huddart Street.
You are right about the song too -- Running over, my cup's full and rinning over ! with the actions ! This could be for another thread, but do you remember the Mission Tent coming to the Brae each summer - we sang such songs there too .... I loved it.
A friend was telling me her mother went to the Barrogill Hall as a little girl in the very early days - 1910s or before. There was a Meeting of some VIPs sitting on the platform with a huge bowl of fruit on the table in front of them. This little girl left her mother and strolled onto the platform and asked for an orange - a big treat at the time !
Yes - she was given one.
Anyone know when the Hall was built, and which church it belonged to? It could have been the Bridge Street church. Sinclair Lyall was a member there if I remember correctly.
Trinkie
Was definately the Bridge Street church that it belonged to. We had to go to the Bridge Street church and it was the same people involved in both. Remember Mr Roy coming up to the house for his tea and cake!! We used to be well warned that when he came in we had to sit and not move or say a word. We knew fine well what would happen if we didn't.
Can remember Sinclair Lyall and the other ladies who were sunday school teachers - memory coming back now and I do think it was the Bridge Street church as when Andrew Roy first came to Wick he used to come there and help with the youth groups before he got the ball rollling for the one below the Bridge St church.
Remember all the sales of work, tables set for sitting down to tea and cakes too.
Playing badminton in the halls.
Dances used to be held there too - before the Academy School changed into the Assembley Rooms and dances changed to being held there with all the big groups of the day coming up.
Here is a link to an article written by Rev Roy.
http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/3103/Church_'hallie'_that_was_built_on_self-help.html
dirdyweeker
02-Oct-08, 11:09
Here is a link to an article written by Rev Roy.
http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/3103/Church_'hallie'_that_was_built_on_self-help.html (http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/3103/Church_%27hallie%27_that_was_built_on_self-help.html)
Very interesting article, not dissimilair to the one in "The history of the Bridge Street Church 1843 - 1999" by Rev Roy. It has put the date for the building of the 'Barrogill Hallie' at about 1893
Venture - great article, thank you for that.
Rev Roy came after my time, but I remember Rev Scott and Rev Ballantyne. ( We were always invited to the Manse to collect rhubarb in the summer ! What a trip that was, all the way from Pultney to the Wick side !! -- scarey !)
Yes, when the Minister visited the houses, the children were well warned to stay quiet, and not to eat all the cakes... FHB as my father would say, then PMK .
Tisme - you are right, it was Bridge Street Church, and I'm told my grandfather took the Sunday School in the early 1900s.
Another Bridge St Church member was John Cormack - he of the best Fish and Chips in the county - was he involved with the Barrogill Hall too ? I seem to think he was.
Happy Days
Trinkie
I went to the hall on a sunday afternoon to learn the good way, I remember waiting for the lady Nancy to put the money in the meter so we could get lights and heat for when we went in. Got a good memory of singing away and getting told stories about the loaves and the fish, the water and the wine.
That was in the mid to late seventies. It was sunday school on the sunday morning, barrogill hall in the afternoon for me. my whole day sunday was religion!
Think it finished not long after that.
I remember going to a Co-op treat in the hall in the mid 1940s. We had a go as you please concert (do your own thing) community singing then juice and baggies, ah sweet memory of life!
Mosser I'm glad you enjoyed your trip to e Barrogill Hallie.
All were welcome. Do you remember what you sang ?
I dont remember the actual age when you could go to the B.H. but every child in Pultney was expected to join sooner or later. ''Is that bairn going till e Barrogill Hall yet ?'' would be asked of the mother.
I remember introducing a little boy of about three, and after attending for a few weeks we arrived a bit late one particular Sunday. Sinclair Lyall I think was in full flow, and as wee Donald and I walked down the length of the hall to the front row, the eager boyagie could wait no longer and shouted oot ''For Christ's sake, Amen '' he was a quick learner and had the hang of it already! I turned bright pink as every one giggled, but no comment was made from the Platform ! Donald's Rite of Passage is forever marked on my memory.
Trinkie
Venture - great article, thank you for that.
Rev Roy came after my time, but I remember Rev Scott and Rev Ballantyne. ( We were always invited to the Manse to collect rhubarb in the summer ! What a trip that was, all the way from Pultney to the Wick side !! -- scarey !)
Yes, when the Minister visited the houses, the children were well warned to stay quiet, and not to eat all the cakes... FHB as my father would say, then PMK .
Tisme - you are right, it was Bridge Street Church, and I'm told my grandfather took the Sunday School in the early 1900s.
Another Bridge St Church member was John Cormack - he of the best Fish and Chips in the county - was he involved with the Barrogill Hall too ? I seem to think he was.
Happy Days
Trinkie
In the late 1950s John Cormack ran record hop style dances for teenagers on Monday nights, they were very popular at the time.
Mosser
Thank you Mosser - that was after my time, but sounds great fun.
Whilst speaking to an old Wick friend on the phone yesterday, of course I mentioned the Barrogill Hall and we had a good old blether with plenty giggles. She reminded me that it was never a concert at the B.H. but a..........
SOIREE !! or ........ A CAFE CHANSON !! she's right of course.
I can just tremember the bairnies saying " Are ye comin' till e cafe chaansaan e nicht?"
Mind you they were great evenings with wonderful talent.
My friend also asked if there was a bell? She recalls a bell ringing for Sunday school in the early days - I dont remember such a bell - do you ?
Trinkie
Yes I can remember the bell ringing - running up Barrogill Street to get in before bells stopped and the doors closed.
I don't think I made many trips over to 'Poltney' from the Wick side when I was young but I do remember going to a few parties, or socials as we called them, in the Barrogill Hall. I think they might have been put on by the scouts. That was likely the late 50's or early 60's.
When I was talking on the phone with my cousin in the States yesterday, he was telling me that the Apex Jazz Club was going in the 60's and he played with them there.
Memories of the Hall are surfacing all over the place.
I knew there would be a poem and I've just found it !!
Isabel Salmon wrote this great poem c 1980 - I'd better not copy it here for fear of copyright, but Isabel reminds us - on Friday night it was the Band of Hope - a ha'penny to get it.
Saturdays a Jumble Sale, and even Weekers crossed the bridge - aye lookin for a bargain !
On Mondays it was the Sisterhood meeting .
At another meeting were Rev Martin of Bridge Street Church and VIPs including Sir Archibald and his lady presiding and the guest singer was Miss Clyne, one time Head Teacher of the Sooth Schoolie .
Isabel goes on to say she will visit the Barrogill Hall next time she is north - dont we all do the same to this day ? I certainly wouldn't miss a walk round the Barrogill Hall any time I happen to be in Wick.
My thanks to Isabel Salmon for this poem. I seem to find so much social history in simple verses like this.
Trinkie
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