Origins in the 1970's

The first meeting of the Currie District History Society (now called the Currie and District History Society)was held at the home of John Tweedie at 30 Palmer Road, Currie on 16th. June 1970.

 The first number of the Currie Chronicle (the Journal of the Society) of September 1973 states: "Currie District History Society was formed by a number of people interested in Currie and district, to provide a focal point for those with a similar interest in the district around us, and as an organisation where information can be gathered, exchanged, stored and discussed in an atmosphere of friendly cooperation."

 There were twenty "founder " members and by the next year, they had been joined by six honorary members, seventeen full members and four associate members. John Tweedie was the Chairman, George M. Jack was the Bibliographer and Mrs O. M. Robertson-Mitchell was the Secretary.

 Mrs Mollie Tweedie, a founder member and Miss Betty Dagg (who joined in 1971) are now both Honorary Members.

Membership

 In the early years there were two types of member - "Full" working members who attended twelve meetings per year for discussion, research, etc., with full access to all Society documents, records and results of research. "Associate" members were those who, though interested in furthering the objects of the Society, were unable to participate actively in its working. They could only attend the four open meetings of the year, and receive an annual report of progress and a programme. They could also attend summer outings but had no voting rights. They only paid half of the annual subscription which was then £1.50. (The present Annual Subscription for all members is £15.00)

 Honorary Members could be appointed at the discretion of the Committee and the programmes varied for those of today. Meeting were of two types: "Working" meetings which were for the exchange of information and discussion between members, and four "Open" meetings which were usually in the form of a talk by a guest speaker on a wide variety of subjects. These meetings took place in Curriehill Primary School. During the summer months visits were made to places of interest in the locality such as Torphican Priory and Cairnpapple Burial mound in the Bathgate Hills; Limphoy and Malleny; the Riccarton Estate; the Union Canal and the Water of Leith.

Topics

 Looking at early programmes half the Open meetings were based on Currie, one was at Corstophine and one on Cramond. In 1974/5 they were Currie, Juniper Green, Rights of Way, the Natural and Industrial History of the Water of Leith, the Pentland Hills and Local Water Supplies. Members nights were mainly on Currie and the immediate area.

The 1980's

 By 1980 the Open nights were becoming more far flung - to Edinburgh and New Lanark, the Hills of Breadalbane and Orkney. John Tweedie was holding a local history class at Currie High School and the Society began to look further outside its immediate area. Meetings were still held at Curriehill School but as the 80s proceeded the rent rose and restrictions on time were introduced - we had to be clear of the School by 9.00p.m. and this meant practically that we had to be finished by 8.30 p.m. and we had to replace chairs and set the classroom to right.

In 1986 we moved our meetings to the small hall of the Gibson Craig Hall. Alterations to the hall and the increasing membership forced us to move again in 1988 to the Masonic Hall. This enabled us to end the meetings with a cup of tea and an opportunity to talk and exchange ideas after the meeting. Later on the Society moved to the Community Room of Currie High School where it met until the summer of 2005.

Current Activities

It has now moved back to the Gibson Craig Hall where it meets on alternate Monday evenings at 7.30 p.m.

Syllabus 2010-11

 The Exhibition was an annual feature for some years, when the Society's archives of photographs and slides, together with John Tweedie's research material was displayed to the public. With John's death in 1984, the engine and driving force behind our research and exhibition was lost. We do still exhibit and show the photographs, These are pictures showing the display at the Currie Flower Show 2008

The pressure of modern living and the restricted opening hours of the Record Office and libraries make full time working and historical research a difficult task.

Photocopying, etc. can be a help, but nothing beats the feels and thrill of handling original documents and deciphering what they say. Several of our retired members do work away at their own interests
There are many ways in which we gather material which will be valuable for the future.

Members are encouraged to collect programmes and posters of local events, postcards, take photographs of these or of any changes taking place in our local areas, and any sort of ephemera which show the way of life today.

Publications

We produce the "Currie Chronicle" twice yearly in March and September which records various subjects and ideas of local history. In 1995 we produced the "Silver Jubilee Chronicle" and in 2001, "Local Street and Place Names of Balerno, Currie and Juniper Green".
This year we held our 40th Anniversary in Malleny House Garden and published a special colour edition of the Currie Chronicle.

We also have a library of local history interest books which can be borrowed at any time.

Syllabus

September 2010