Queensferry History Group – behind this website – aims to research and record the history of South Queensferry and the surrounding area . . . and stimulate interest in local history.
Members undertake a number of activities and projects:
- organising exhibitions and displays;
- giving local history talks to groups on request;
- supporting Queensferry Museum;
- visiting sites of local interest;
- researching various aspects of the town; and
- responding to queries.
Perhaps you’d like to join us? Queensferry History Group welcomes new members.
Email: queensferryhg@gmail.com
Normally the group meets every Monday at 10 a.m. in the basement of: City of Edinburgh Council Offices, 53 High Street, South Queensferry, Scotland, EH30 9HP
The former Viewforth Hotel in the middle of Queensferry High Street is now the Council Offices, with the Museum upstairs. We meet in the basement. If you are interested in joining us, why not drop in one Monday morning, we meet 10am – 12.30 mid-day
Our Beginnings
The group grew out of night classes run at Queensferry High School, led by Pam Shaw. Some of those founding members were Ferry folk, born and bred. Others were not. All these years later, the group is still going strong, celebrating the amazing heritage of South Queensferry.
Major projects
Our current project is updating our Archives and with a grant received from the Community Grants Fund, City of Edinburgh Council, Inveralmond Area, we are creating office networking to enable more efficient research and archiving.
Our last major project was Queensferry at War.
The year 2014 was a significant year marking the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. The Group felt it was important to understand how the local communities of Queensferry and Dalmeny were affected by the war. Our first task was to research the names on both war memorials. 2016 commemorated the centenary of the Battle of Jutland which was one aspect of our first exhibition displayed at Queensferry Museum until 2018. Our 2nd exhibtion, Queensferry at War – The Final Chapter and Beyond was on display until November 2019. A booklet has been produced from our research work and the information collected for both exhibitions. This will be available soon. There is a separate section of our website devoted to our Queensferry at War project.
Queensferry History Group has collected a significant amount of local history information. This includes reminiscence work and photographic images. Our main project for 2020 is to reassess and organise this important archive. This will no doubt lead to other projects and exhibitions as we carry out this exercise.
We also look forward to working with and assisting other community groups.
Please get in touch with us. Email: queensferryhg@gmail.com
Publications
Our group has produced four very successful booklets:
- Doon The Ferry – memories and photographs of Queensferry
- Back Doon The Ferry – more photographic history of Queensferry, This book is now sold out!
- Walk The Ferry – a guided walk through Queensferry’s history
- Queensferry at War – how WWI affected the Queensferry community and with research on the names on Queensferry and Dalmeny WWI War Memorials.
These books are available from the Queensferry History Group at a cost of £2.00 each if collected, or with p&p £5.00 each, in the UK or £7.00 overseas. Email us for details.
The Queensferry at War booklet is available from The Library, Maisie’s Boutique on the Terrace and the local pub -the Ferry Tap, for a donation of a minimum of £1.
Registered charity
We are a registered charity and have been fortunate enough to receive awards from the Lottery Fund Awards for All Scheme and Heritage Lottery Fund. These awards have been put to excellent use in enabling the group to continue with it’s work to record Queensferry’s history and to share it with others by way of exhibitions and displays. This not only benefits the community as a permanent archive of Queensferry’s past, but also makes it accessible to all.
Special acknowledgement must be made to the Queensferry Association, which was the local Civic Trust for the Queensferry, Dalmeny and Newton area.
Queensferry History 
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