Philanthropists and forward thinkers...we owe a lot to this type of person.
If you are ever in Edinburgh there is a shop where the items are so well made and all for a good cause.The knitting is superb and think fair isle socks...babies jackets/shawls..
I like to think of the good people who have benefited society in the way you tell Lola..and the Abbeyfield concept.
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The Royal Edinburgh Repository
And Self Aid Society

The Repository for Gentlewomen was started in 1882 by a Mrs. Humphrey and run by two sisters from their homes in York Place. There was obviously a need for this kind of charity and it progressed through various rented properties until finally in 1921 they bought 137, George Street where they flourished and became part of the Edinburgh scene until moving to the current location.

In 1921 the Repository wrote to Queen Mary to ask if they might make some of Princess Mary’s trousseau – this was declined, but the Queen said that as she recently purchased some garments from the society, these could be included in the trousseau.

Sale of Work NoticeThere were a large number of sales of work in houses and several others in locations outside of Edinburgh, including London in 1897 with the goods being transported to and fro by a horse and cart for 7/- an hour!

For the start of The Self Aid Society, we have to go back to the aforesaid Mrs. Humphrey who, after running the repository for 11 years, became seriously ill and was away for some time. On her return it was found that were several irregularities for which she was unjustly held responsible – so she left, taking many friends and supporters with her and started up another society – The Self Aid for Gentlewomen, and it was finally constituted in 1893. We don’t think that they possessed any premises until the late 1900’s because the work was all done by orders and posted to members, but they did have the big sale annually in the church hall. The society moved to the basement of these premises, for a rent, sometime before 1930. In 1941 there was a great difficulty in getting materials and wool to work with because of the rationing, and both societies, with much petitioning of the Board of Trade, and help from the W.V.S., obtained trading coupons to buy the necessary materials.

The Self Aid Society managed to buy the whole building in Castle Street in 1946 and with the letting of its upstairs floors; the ground floor was used as the shop.

SamplerAs time went on, it was obviously uneconomic to run the two shops doing virtually the same thing – so with much legal palaver and extra committee meetings, the amalgamation took place in 1977 remaining in the Castle Street building as it was a larger premises than the George Street Shop. This was the forming of The Royal Edinburgh Repository and Self Aid Society. In 1986 the shop received a face lift to bring it fresh into the modern age.

Our aims have not changed over the years, the only difference is that we now have male, and younger members as well – owing to changing circumstances we now have member's who's partners are unemployed and also "one Parent Family", members. At present we have well over 250 members from throughout the U.K.