208 Leith Street

In the 1960s a flat called Che Choux at 64 Heriot Row (Cabbage House, named for the Cabbage Tree in the front garden) also had letterhead which was printed at the Christs College Press. Unfortunately there are no copies of the letterhead available in their archives.

In the early 1970s a flat called The Spanish Slum, 16-18 London Street, also had letterhead, though it is unknown where this was printed.

It is interesting to see the shift in personalisation of communication forms from a hard copy print environment, to the digital; from email, to social media where platforms like Facebook suddenly make it very easy to communicate with many people simultaneously. Where once flats went to the extent to have letterhead designed and printed, todays students can easily set up a Facebook page for their flat. There are several examples, of this practice, such as The Chateau at 47 London Street, The V Flat at 97 Dundas Street and the 8 Man at 627 Castle Street.

Did you have letterhead or a Facebook page for your student flat, or do you know of a flat that had letterhead or has a Facebook page? If so, Id love to hear about it.

The Student wept like anything to feel starvation dire.

“If I don’t get a feed,” he said, “I really shall expire.”

“Seven deaths in seven months will ruin me,” she cried.

“You wouldn’t care,” the Student said, “if I lay down and died.”

“What nonsense!” said the Landlady, “do you think I’ve got no pride?”

The Student and the Landlady are bitter foes you know;

The Student wept like anything because she bade him go.

“How cruel it is, ” the Student said, “to deal me such a blow.

Seven shifts in seven weeks I really can’t afford;

But pack my books and shirts and things I’ll go and hire a Ford

“I doubt it,” said the Landlady, “unless you pay your board.”

I’m attempting to relax it using a damp cotton tea towel sitting in a roasting dish and misting it gently with water.