The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Adam Brown

Bertram's St Katherine's Engineering Works War memorial
Location: Lady Haig's Poppy Factory
OS Ref: NT 252 751

According to the very friendly staff of the Poppy Factory these memorials were donated to the factory after being in somebody's loft for a while.

I haven't been able to find out much about this factory.

I think it may have been built on the former site of the Dominican Convent of St Katherine of Siena at Sciennes which explains the name of the factory and the portrait of St Katherine.

I've found a reference to a fire in the factory in 1983 and perhaps that contributed to its closure?

Adam

Adam Brown · Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 10:54 pm Post subject:

Quite a mix of regiments on the Great War panel but only one Engineer. On the Second World War panel three out of six served in the Lothians and Border Horse.

Adam

ADP · Joined: 13 Jun 2008 Posts: 467 Location: Edinburgh

A Google search reveals that Bertrams of Sciennes were primarily in the business of design and making of machinery for the papermaking industry. There are papers in the National Archives of Scotland for 1821 to 1980 for their company. One website says that Bertrams went into liquidation in 1988. With the decline in papermaking in Scotland, it is hardly surprising that their business did not survive in supplying that industry.

The works stood on the corner of Sciennes and Sciennes Road. The site is now taken up with flats in Sciennes, Sciennes Road, and Sienna Gardens. Click here for a current view of the site.

ADP