Hello Mary most of the benches were placed in the gardens from the 1950s onwards. They are mostly memorial benches. It seems to me that Willie and May would either have dedicated a bench to a relative or perhaps the bench was dedicated to them. There is usually a little plaque screwed onto the back. There is no fixed lifespan, they are repaired by the Council as they need it, so the bench might still be there! A very helpful man at the Council is willing to look at the records for you, although he is not sure about the kind of information that can be given out (ie personal details of donors) snail mail is Department of Recreation Edinburgh City Council 49 York Place Edinburgh EH1 3JD you can also call +44 131 200 2000 which is the Council switchboard I forgot to get permission to post the email address and since it is one person's work address and not a departmental one I will send that to you privately. Judy Olsen ---------- >From: "legarthm" <legarthm@levin.pl.net> >To: SCT-EDINBURGH-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: [EDB] WOOD MONTGOMERY >Date: Mon, Sep 24, 2001, 4:53 am > > Oral history says that they donated a seat for the Princes Street Gardens.