History of Leith, Edinburgh

ADRIAN MATHER

FOR decades they were the most common mode of transport on the Capital’s streets. Affordable, comfortable and, unlike modern trains and buses, usually running on time, Edinburgh’s trams were an everyday sight.

From their early horse-drawn origins to the motorised carriages of their heyday in the 1950s, the trams carried hundreds of thousands of passengers from all across the Capital - taking them along city-centre routes such as Princes Street and The Mound, as well as to Leith and Portobello.

click introduction for full story.

This month’s Document of the Month features the image of a bogus government bond from the imaginary state of Poyais in Central America.
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Released: 30 Dec 2004

Casting a shadow over all else in 2004 is the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami that struck in the very last days of the year.

The disaster has overwhelmed several countries in Asia, brought destruction as far away as the East African coast and leaves no country untouched. (more…)

YOU CAN HELP - EVERY PENNY COUNTS

TSUNAMI EARTHQUAKE DONATE ONLINE

click on link (source) below

Due to high volume of traffic on our website you may experience difficulty making a donation online if this is the case, you can make a credit card donation by telephone on 0870 60 60 900 or please please try later, we need your money.

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The Scotsman - Edinburgh,Scotland,UK
… shape. A spokeswoman from Historic Scotland said the dig could uncover the earliest evidence yet found of the area’s past. “Archaeologists …
for more go to-

http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=1470082004

An historic discovery from Scotland’s bronze age past has been made by two children from Edinburgh who handed in an ‘an odd shaped stone’ to the National Museums of Scotland. (more…)

…great for Christmas quizzes or pass them on to your friends!

Mid-winter festivals were observed in Britain long before Christianity reached our shores. In ancient Britain, the Winter Solstice (near December 22) was seen as a turning point in the cold dark months. Rituals were held to encourage the return of the sun and banish evil spirits believed to lurk in the bleakest days. On the last day of winter, also called Yule, a huge log was added to a bonfire and people gathered round to summon the sun by singing and dancing. Houses were decorated with green plants, particularly mistletoe and holly, as a symbol of fertility and rebirth the new season would bring.
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Failing eyesight led to one of Christmas’s favourite characters

JIM MCBETH

HIS name became an aphorism for meanness, but the base nature of Ebenezer Scrooge was inadvertently fashioned by failing light and an author whose eyesight was equally dim.

The real “Scrooge", an Edinburgh merchant, could not have been more different from his literary counterpart. (more…)

The Scots language, the speech of Lowland Scotland which became distinct from Northern English in the 15th century, was the official language of the kingdom of Scotland until the Parliamentary Union of 1707. (more…)

National Covenant, 1638.

The National Covenant was a protest against Charles I’s religious policies. James VI had superimposed bishops on a presbyterian system, but when his son tried to ensure uniform worship in Scotland and England by introducing a new prayer book, there was a riot in St Giles. Charles had already alarmed the nobility by threatening to take back lands they had acquired from the old church. (more…)

To send an e-card please click on one of the thumbnail images below. You will then be able to enter your friend’s name and email address, and add a personalised greeting.

for more go to-

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ecards/

A FIRE engine zooms past the window on its way to the latest 999 call in the Capital. The loud wail of its siren is as instantly recognisable as the familiar red vehicle itself as it speeds towards the scene of the fire.

It is easy to take for granted today that a quick phone call will summon trained firefighters with a raft of equipment within minutes to save lives, homes and businesses from going up in flames.
(more…)

If history, genealogy and Leith are about anything its about families and that is why I have included this appeal on the site. They need our help are we really going to turn our backs on them.

Christian Aid Appeal 2004

If there’s anyone on earth who needs hope this Christmas, it’s the children of Bethlehem.

Despite the cosy images we see on Christmas cards, Bethlehem today is caught in a spiral of violence, fear and poverty.

It’s a broken town full of children like Jessica Safar, who dream of an end to their suffering.

When she was given a doll, Jessica removed its eye, saying: ‘like me, like her.’ But after counsellors from the Christian Aid-funded YMCA helped her, she felt less angry.
photo: Christian Aid/Simon Townsley

for more please click on http://www.christian-aid.org.uk/ or go to the link on the rhs

VIEW THE FIRST EVER EDITION OF THE SCOTSMAN FOR FREE

Dear John,

As a valued user of scotsman.com we are delighted to announce to you the launch of The Scotsman Digital Archive - archive.scotsman.com
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From the South Leith Commemoration Lecture 1920.

There are many people who worship in this ancient and beautiful church (South Leith Parish Church) who are quite ignorant of the historical associations which cluster around it. Some, perhaps cannot be awakened to take any interest in such matters; but it was in hope that others may be susceptable to the charm of the past that this Commemoration Lecture delivered annually was instituted. (more…)

Robert Fergusson (September 5, 1750 - October 16, 1774), Scottish poet, son of Sir William Fergusson, a clerk in the British Linen Company, was born at Edinburgh. (more…)

A journalist and poet born at Leith. He went to Edinburgh University, studied for the Church, then got a job on a newspaper in London. His health failed, and he retired back to Leith. (more…)

GO fetch to me a pint o’ wine,
An’ fill it in a silver tassie,
That I may drink, before I go,
A service to my bonnie lassie.
The boat rocks at the pier o’ Leith,
Fu’ loud the wind blaws frae the ferry,
The ship rides by the Berwick-law,
And I maun leave my bonnie Mary.
The trumpets sound, the banners fly,
The glittering spears are ranked ready;
The shouts o’ war are heard afar,
The battle closes thick and bloody;
But it ’s no the roar o’ sea or shore
Wad mak me langer wish to tarry;
Nor shout o’ war that ’s heard afar—
It ’s leaving thee, my bonnie Mary!

Robert Burns

Burns arrived in Edinburgh on 28th November 1786, and took up quarters in Baxters Close in the Lawnmarket, ( now demolished ) with John Richmond, a. clerk of his acquaintance whom he knew in Ayrshire. At that time Edinburgh was carefree, squalid, venerable, and literary ( what’s new ) with every family of quality in Scotland in residence. (more…)

IN years gone by, model railways and Airfix kits were a Christmas staple for children across the country.

Although they have now been superseded on most youngsters’ wish lists by PlayStations and Gameboys, Leith-based Harburn Hobbies continues to enjoy buoyant trade selling such traditional fare. (more…)

SARAH HOWDEN’S report (News, December 6th) on plans to sell Leith Theatre to help meet the cost of repairs to the King’s Theatre in Edinburgh was very informative. (more…)

The Living Memory Association is an Edinburgh-based group that aims to bring people together through reminiscence and oral history work.

We encourage people to become actively involved in their community, share their memories, learn from one another, feel valued and respected, and give their knowledge of the past to younger generations. (more…)

Gerard DeGroot

CIVIL WAR: THE WARS OF THE THREE KINGDOMS, 1638-1660
Trevor Royle
Little, Brown, £20

IN APRIL 1639, James Turner, a Scottish mercenary who had been fighting in Germany, was preparing to join an English force gathering to do battle against the Covenanters in Scotland. Unfortunately, his baggage did not arrive in time for him to board an English ship which was supposed to take him to Hull. The next available transport was a Danish ship, bound for Leith.
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RECENTLY you had an article on an exhibition about the paper mills on the Water of Leith (News, March 18).

I was born in Leith 100 years ago. I started working in 1917 with Macniven & Cameron in Blair Street. I worked there for 56 years. The firm then were printers and lithographers. (more…)

IN December 1851, the Singapore Straits Times reported the death of Robert Burns. It was not an overdue obituary of the celebrated poet, whose memory millions of Scots around the world will be toasting this weekend, but the dramatic story of the young man reputed to be his grandson.
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For most of the 18th century Scottish shipbuilding was located mainly on the east coast, supplying the needs of a flourishing trade with Scandinavia, the Baltic and the German states. (more…)

Perth Amboy. In 1685, George Scot, Baird of Pitlochie, was given his liberty in Scotland provided he transported to East Jersey many of the Covenanters who had refused to take the oath of allegiance to a tyrannical and profligate ruler. Thus authorized, he proceeded to gather his company from those confined in the tolbooth of Leith.

for more go to the link on the rhs

LIKE many men suddenly released from military service, James Hastie did not find it easy to settle into civilian life. Returning to his home in Edinburgh, some time after the defeat of Napoleon in 1815, he was just one of thousands of men throughout Britain competing for work in a market ravaged by years of war and shaken by the gathering pace of the industrial revolution.
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TAKE a walk to Granton Harbour these days and it’ll be a peaceful affair.

Small yachts tied to the marina bob on the Forth, a man walks his dog on the pavement by the shore. There’s no discernible buzz about the place, no sign of the fast trade that kept the port afloat for three generations. (more…)

In 1709 Andrew Thomson inherited the business of his father-in-law, Mr Brown, who was a brewer and vintner in the Grassmarket, Edinburgh, Scotland. About 20 years later the business was moved to “The Vaults", Leith, Scotland, which were bought by the company on 29 July 1782.
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Up until the mid twentieth century the Water of Leith was an important industrial centre for Edinburgh, particularly in paper-making. (more…)

The Scottish language has changed over the years, being influenced by other languages and cultures. This section provides you with a definition of those words and phrases commonly found in documents and records throughout Scotland’s archives.

for more go the link on the rhs

The role of naval force in Scotland’s history has yet to be written, however for a brief overview the introduction given in James Grant’s The Old Scots Navy is probably, currently, the most useful.

for more go to the link on the rhs

Shops, Businesses, Services and Characters from the Past

Who can forget the little shops from your area that were run by characters?

for more go to the link on the rhs

LEITH MECHANICS LIBRARY and NEWS ROOM, Leith
24 Kirkgate 1848-49
13 Tolbooth Wynd 1850-66
58 Tolbooth Wynd 1867-77
Edin Dir

LEITH NEWS ROOM, Leith
51 Tolbooth Wynd 1850-55
Edin Dir (more…)

The Edinburgh Commissariot Court confirmed Testaments (Wills) for the counties of Midlothian (MLN), East Lothian (ELN), West Lothian (WLN) parts of Peebleshire (PEE), parts of Stirlingshire (STI) & Scots who died abroad. (more…)

Quayside Street, off Sandport Place, Leith, Edinburgh

The work which Simpson & Brown undertook at St Ninian’s Manse demonstrates the way in which minimum repairs and alterations can provide a sustainable new use.

St Ninian’s Manse played a vital role in the development pattern and identity of Leith because it stood at the head of the first bridge to North Leith and makes its first religious foundation
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THE remains of a house occupied by one of Edinburgh’s most respected 18th-century judges and the pioneer of evolutionary theory have been uncovered by archaeologists amid the demolition of Old Town vaults.

Experts believe the home - one of many buried for more than a century underneath the Waverley Station car park in New Street - was that of the eccentric Lord Monboddo. (more…)

Key points
• Medieval structure found on building site
• May have been built by James II in 1450
• Mansion excavated on same site in May

Key quote
“It was a defence for war and the plague. When there was a plague, they would lock the gates and not let anyone in or out. The Cowgate was never developed as a street until the late 14th century” - Russel Coleman, Headland Archaeology project manager

Story in full THE remains of a medieval wall built to guard the city have been discovered on a building site. (more…)

Giles St-Leith-Edinburgh

An enormous area (three thousand five hundred square metres) of the historic core of Leith is being excavated by Headland Archaeology on behalf of Barratt East Scotland. (more…)

The Leith Axe which was first recorded in 1521 was described as a long shafted weapon with a two edged axe blade and a hook projecting from the end of the shaft. It was similiar to the French halberd and was apparently made in Leith and use in the first half of the sixteenth century

from “Leith at Random” by David Valentine and can be purchased through this site.

The British Pathe archive is perhaps the world’s most famous newsreel collection. Spanning the period 1896-1970, the collection comprises 3,500 hours and contains some of the most iconic images ever caught on camera. The entire archive has been remastered and fully digitised. It is now possible to view every second of this outstanding collection online through this web site and there is absolutely no charge for this facility.

for more go to the link on the rhs

It has survived bombs and played host to celebrities and locals. But the end looms for Leith Theatre, as the city plans to sell the site.

SARAH HOWDEN

BUILT in 1929, the B-listed Leith Theatre sits proudly alongside Leith Library. The grand and imposing building, which was opened to commemorate the joining of Leith to the city of Edinburgh, had been a centre for entertainment, housing countless shows - local and national - throughout its history.

It attracted performers such as 1950s heart-throb Frankie Vaughan and Rod Stewart during its heyday, and became a popular venue for the International Festival Fringe. The Queen Mother visited and former prime ministers Edward Heath and Jim Callaghan delivered speeches there.

During the Second World War, a parachuted mine caused extensive damage, particularly to the north side, and all the windows were blown out.

One set of renovation was complete in June 1952, with more restorations beginning in 1959. The whole complex was reopened in 1961.

However, after 54 years, the famous performance venue closed in 1983, and subsequently fell into disrepair, being used as storage space and not as the entertainment venue it was designed for.

Now, despite a campaign to revive Leith Theatre as a multi-arts venue once again, the building is due to be sold to rescue the cash-strapped King’s Theatre.

But, for many people, the Leith Theatre evokes fond memories.

Local historian John Arthur, an expert on the theatre, says the venue was the people’s theatre and it will be sadly missed. (more…)

grateful thanks for contributions from Wilfred Brennan, Celie O’Neill, Jan Inglis and Maxine Petherick-Collins

In compiling a history of the Rooney family I learned that the father of my great-grandmother Janet Rooney (nee Weddell) had the unusual name of Newton. Or so I thought. When I decided to investigate its origins I found that it was far from unusual - and discovered no fewer than twelve Newton Weddells - all interrelated. The following is a brief account of them and their contemporaries. The story is complicated, and readers will find the family tree essential.

for more go to the link on the rhs

Johanna Mclean Sweeney born 15th January 1931 5 Laurie Street Leith Edinburgh Died 13th February 1931 and buried at Seafield Cemetery Leith Edinburgh (more…)

Why not buy this video for someone who “Loves Leith”

“Persevere, The Spirit of Leith” a Documentary about the past, present and future of “The Port of Leith” priced 8 pounds+p/p. This can be purchased either in the UK or USA video formats.

Please note p/p for UK is 1.76 pounds and for overseas is 3.93 pounds

Please send cheque made payable to the “Leith Local History Society” c/o Mrs Alice Lauder at 31 bellvue Garden EH7 4JX

For more details contact John Arthur at [email protected] or by phone at 0131 620 1545.or by writing to 12/3 Craigmillar Castle Road, Edinburgh EH16 4AR

Also various books can be purchased such as “Old Leith at Work” priced 2 Pounds and a series of four books called “Leith Lives” priced 2 pounds each. Furthermore a new book on the history of Leith with many pictures has been published called “Leith at Random” priced 10 pounds a must for anyone interested in the “Port and Town of Leith” there is only a limited supply of these.

Or the “Church in the Midst” which tells the story of South Leith Parish Church and the Town of Leith priced 5 pounds.

Please note p/p for UK is 1.76 pounds and for overseas is 3.93 pounds on all items

Please make all cheques payable to “South leith Parish Church” and send to the address below.

Again please contact John Arthur at [email protected] or by phone at 0131 620 1545 or by writing to 12/3 Craigmillar Castle Road, Edinburgh EH16 4AR

SOUTH LEITH,

FORMERLY RESTALRIG.

[By the first General Assembly of the Reformed Kirk of Scotland “it was found reasonable and expedient that the parochiners of Restalrig sould repaire to the Kirk of Leith, and that the Kirk of Restalrig sould be razed and utterlie destroyed as a monument of idolatrie.” (more…)

Pilrig Church first opened for public worship on 13 August 1843 in an unpretentious building, only the second to be opened in connection with the newly formed Free Church of Scotland.
The present building was constructed in 1863 and opened by Rev. Dr. Thomas Guthrie on 12 February 1863.
The building was damaged by fire in 1892 which broke out under the vestry. The blue ceiling with gilt stars was ruined and the pine woodwork had to be darkened.
A pipe organ was installed in 1903 partly funded by the Scottish philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.
With the union of the Church of Scotland and the United Free Church of Scotland in 1929, Pilrig joined the new Church of Scotland. In 1950 the congregations of Pilrig and Dalmeny Street churches were united in the Pilrig Buildings and the charge of Edinburgh: Pilrig & Dalmeny Street was born.
In February 1999 there was a further union between Pilrig & Dalmeny St. and Leith: St. Paul’s to form the congregation of Edinburgh: Pilrig St. Paul’s.

This information was taken from the book The Kirk at Pilrig written by my good friend Dr. Stuart W. Sime.

for more go to the rhs

The earliest ancestors can be traced to 18th century Edinburgh. Alexander Falconer, probably born in the 1760’s undertook an apprenticeship as a coachmaker. He married Margaret McKenzie on the 19th of April 1784. They had at least four children: Alexander, Jean, George and Margaret all born in Canongate parish, which encompasses the Old Town section of Edinburgh. (more…)

Second Generation

2. John 2Lees ( William 1 ) was born about 1852 and died around the age of 80

John was born around 1852 . He died on Wednesday 8 March 1933 in Haymarket, Edinburgh (15 Bright Terrace)

On Friday 27 November 1874 John married Agnes Duncan who was born around 1852 (Estimated).

John and Agnes were married in Leith, Scotland (16 North Junction Street). United Presbyterian Church.

John Lees and Agnes Duncan had the following children:

7. (i) Walter Hall Lees who was born around 1882 (Estimated) and died around the age of 86

He died on Sunday 4 May 1969 in Edinburgh (City Hospital)(49). Informant - N. Craigie (great-nephew)

- He was employed as butcher(49).
- He lived in 15 Bright Terrace, Haymarket (Edinburgh)(49).

for more go to the link on the rhs

Second Generation

3. William 2Craig ( William 1 ) was born 1837 and died at the age of 69

William was born on Wednesday 22 November 1837 in Newhall, Edinburgh. He died on Monday 4 March 1907 in Leith

On Friday 2 December 1864 William married Maragret Pringle who was born around 1837 (Estimated).

William and Maragret were married in Leith(17)

William Craig and Maragret Pringle had the following children:

10. (i) William Craig who was born 1865

William was born on Monday 4 September 1865 in Leith, Scotland(17)

11. (ii) Ann Barrie Craig who was born 1867

Ann was born on Tuesday 13 August 1867 in Leith, Scotland(17)

12. (iii) Agnes Hall Craig who was born 1869

Agnes was born on Sunday 26 December 1869 in Leith, Scotland(17)

13. (iv) Margaret Pringle Craig who was born 1872

Margaret was born on Thursday 13 June 1872 in Leith, Scotland(17)

14. (v) George Pringle Craig who was born 1875 and died at the age of 82

15. (vi) Annie A Craig who was born 1883

Annie was born in 1883 in Leith, Scotland(17)

for more go to the link on the rhs

The Barton family in Scotland were a famous family of mariners and naval officers. About 1500, an Alexander Barton married a Susan Stedman who was the heiress of family land in Scotland. He petitioned Queen Mary of Scotland to assume the Stedman name, and he became Charles Stedman. All of the documented Scottish Stedman families who came to America are descended from this man.

for more go to the link on the rhs

“In this parish are 5142 heads of families, 2439 male child, 2432 female child, 484 male servants, 935 female servants, in all 11432 individuals, and 2893 families. 432 individuals reside in Restalrig, 557 in Abbeyhill and 1497 in Calton of Edinburgh.”

(From the Statistical Account of Scotland 1791-1799 Vol II)

First Generation

1. William 1Riddle

In 1943 William married Euphemia Fletcher Graham who was born 1913 and died at the age of 58.

Euphemia was the daughter of Andrew Graham and Helen Lauder Lees
Euphemia was born on Sunday 10 August 1913 (17)She died on Saturday 24 June 1972 in Leith, Edinburgh (Eastern General Hospital)(17)

William and Euphemia were married (17)

William Riddle and Euphemia Fletcher Graham had the following children:

2. (i) Margot Helen Riddle

She married Patrick Joseph Coyle..

3. (ii) John Riddle

for more go to the rhs

Robert Liddle (1823-1870)

Like his father, Robert Liddle worked as a carter in Coldstream. He married Isabella Kelly on 12 March 1847 in the Coldstream Parish Church. Born in Yetholm in the neighbouring county of Roxburghshire, Isabella was the daughter of a soldier, formerly of the Royal Artillery at Woolwich, Kent, England. The Coldstream Old Parochial Register records that banns was contracted on 28 February 1847 and Robert Liddle and Isabella Kelly, both of this parish, were proclaimed three times and married 12 March 1847. At the time of her marriage, Isabella was 4 months pregnant with her first child. Following the marriage the couple left the Borders region and moved north to Edinburgh in search of better employment prospects and perhaps also to avoid small-town gossip. (more…)

This page describes an important book entitled “Life of George Wishart the Scottish martyr with his translation of the Helvetian confession and a genealogical history of the family of Wishart", by Rev. Charles Rogers, L.L.D. It was published in 1876 by William Paterson of Princes Street, Edinburgh.

Rev. Charles Rogers was a prolific 19th century writer, and several of his books including this one are available for reference at the National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh. He was a historiographer to the Royal Historical Society, a Fellow of Antiquaries of Scotland, and a corresponding member of the Historical and Genealogical Society of New England.

The book is in three parts:
Memoir of George Wishart (58 pages)
The Helvetian Confession (9 pages)
Genealogical History of the House of Wishart (33 pages)

for more go to the link on the rhs (to see the complete book)

ANN GUN-AGED 32 SOUTH LEITH WORKHOUSE 5TH FEB 1860
6FT SOUTH 2FT WEST HENRY LEYS HEADSTONE SAILORS GROUND

ROBERT GUNN-AGED 5 SON OF JOHN GUNN LABOURER SOUTH LEITH
WORKHOUSE 5TH OCTOBER 1860. 23FT WEST OF LAWSONS TOMB EAST RANGE. (more…)

Search every edition of The Scotsman between 1817 and 1900 in our unique online archive.

Find out if an ancestor of yours appears in our births, marriages and deaths notices, or even in a news story.

Read contemporary accounts of events such as: the Highland Clearances; the Burke and Hare trial; the inauguration of the Wallace Monument.

The archive will soon be extended up to 1950 and eventually to the present day.

for more go to the link on the rhs

The wolf was the last of the large predators to roam Scotland.

Although wolves probably died out in Scotland in the 18th century, they were a threat to life and livestock for centuries, and the Scottish Parliament regularly passed acts offering rewards to those who caught and destroyed wolves. (more…)

This page provides links to entries extracted from books and other documents containing material related to the origins and histories of the Nesbitt/Nisbet families in Scotland.
Some entries are marked as being available through the UK branch of the Nesbitt/Nisbet Society (obviously our source of choice) and the complete list of available publications can be viewed at the Society’s UK web site.

for more go the link on the rhs

For much of its existence St Cuthbert’s was a country kirk, outwith the city wall and in the county of Lothian and Tweeddale. In the reign of King David I of Scotland (1124 - 1153), Edinburgh was clustered on the ridge which runs eastwards from the Castle. All along the foot of the northern slope of the Castle rock was a morass or marsh and from there northwards it was all countryside until one came to Newhaven and Leith on the coast. (more…)

The Water of Leith rises in the Pentland Hills and flows for a distance of 36 kilometres to meet the Firth of Forth at Leith. From its source among heather covered moorland and rough pasture above East Colzium, the Water of Leith flows into Harperrig, one of Edinburgh’s compensation reservoirs. (more…)

There is no accepted derivation of the name Currie but it is possibly from the Latin coria, a camp or meeting place, or from the Gaelic curagh/curragh, a mossy or boggy dell or the British word curi, a hollow.

Currie War Memorial: World War 1, World War 2

Documentary Evidence
The earliest record of a settlement in the Currie area are a Bronze Age razor (1800 BC) found at Kinleith Mill and the stone cists (500 BC) at Duncan’s Belt and Blinkbonny.
There are a few mentions of this area in mediaeval and early modern documents. One of the first is when Robert of Kildeleith became Chancellor of Scotland in 1249. Kildeleith means Chapel by the Leith, and survives today as Kinleith.
Robert the Bruce gave Riccarton as a wedding present in 1315 and in 1392 the land passed to the family of Bishop Wardlaw. In 1612 the land went to Ludovic Craig, a Senator of the College of Justice. In 1818 it passed to the female line and became the property of the Gibson-Craigs.
There has been a Christian community in the area for more than a 1000 years. In 1018, the archdeacons of Lothian set up their headquarters in the area. John Bartholomew’s Civic and Ecclesiastical maps of the 13th century do not show Currie, but the Index of Charters 1309-1413 records Currie as being ‘favourite hunting grounds’ for the Lords and Knights of Edinburgh Castle. A settlement began to take shape around Currie Kirk and the main Lanark Road, which was the main route south and continues to be known as ‘The Lang Whang’.

for more go to the link on the rhs

Dean Village (from dene, meaning ‘deep valley’) is a former village in the northwest of Edinburgh, Scotland. It was known as the “Water of Leith Village” and had been a successful grain milling hamlet for more than 800 years. At one time there had been no fewer than eleven working mills there, driven by the strong currents of the Water of Leith. (more…)

The Dean Group

Old Edinburgh was at one time crusted over with mottoed lintels, ornamental dormers, and panels bearing heraldic devices and the insignia of trade. They were the testimony of the faith and philosophy, the record of the family pride and the industrial importance of dead and gone generations, graven in stone. The city is still rich in these memorials. But they no longer challenge the eye, even in the oldest streets and closes. They have to be hunted for; and they grow scarcer. Time and our northern weather are constantly at work rubbing out the lettering and carving of the past. But the sculptured stones of Old Edinburgh and of its environs have other enemies. Accident, or vandalism, chipped a handbreadth out of one of the inscriptions noted in this article while it was being written. Account has also to be taken of the wear and tear of traffic, of the march of improvement, of careless or ignorant attempts at restoration, of the damaging effects of transplacement, even of misdirected antiquarian zeal in the acquisitiveness of archaeological collectors. (more…)

These two albums of the Edinburgh Calotype Club, the first photographic club in the world, are among the earliest photograph albums in the world ever assembled. They contain over 300 images by a group of pioneering Scottish photographers working in Edinburgh and St. Andrews

Newhaven fisherman and fishwife.

For more go to the link on the rhs

Welcome to our website which is a collection of pages dedicated to those who served in the Allied Merchant Navy during World War Two. All of us who have contributed to this site hope that you will find our topics interesting and educational as well a lasting tribute to the Merchant Navy and all the others who aided them in their vital role. The world today can never repay the debt owed to these men and women. To them we say “Thank you – we will never forget what you did.”

for more go to the link on the rhs

A series of hand coloured steel engravings from the drawings and paintings of Thomas H. Shepherd. Engraved by various engravers and published in London 1829 - 30.

For more go to the link on the rhs

Seadolby is the stories, articles and tall tales of the sea, travel, people and places. The merchant navy, the sailor, the culture shocks and the traveller by Ieuan Dolby

for more go to the link on the rhs

Leith was part of Edinburgh, became separate and rejoined in 1920. Technically becomes Leith a bit down Leith Walk, the real centre is the Foot of the Walk at the junction with Great Junction Street.
(more…)

THE earliest centre of religious life in our Leith district was at Restalrig, where a church or chapel of some kind has existed from very remote times. Legend tells us that among those who came to Scotland with St. Rule, the founder of the first Christian church at St. Andrews, was St. Triduana, who had consecrated herself to the service of God. To avoid the attentions of Nectan, King of the Picts, who ruled from 706 to 732, and who greatly admired the beauty of her eyes, the saint plucked them out and sent them to him skewered on a thorn, after which she was allowed to live unmolested, and spent the rest of her days in devotion and service at Restalrig, where she is said to have died and been buried. (more…)

The abolition of Scotland’s feudal law system is completed today as three separate pieces of legislation come into force, marking the most far reaching changes to Scots property law in eight centuries.

The Abolition of Feudal Tenure etc (Scotland) Act 2000, the Title Conditions (Scotland) Act 2003 and the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004 are designed to modernise and simplify property law by giving owners greater rights. (more…)

Born: 11 August, 1929, in Edinburgh.
Died: 22 November, 2004, in Edinburgh, aged 75.

HUGH Riley was born and raised in the southside of Edinburgh into a boxing family presided over by his father and noted boxing coach and cornerman Johnny Riley.

Riley snr was a close associate of the legendary Scottish boxing teacher Charlie Cotter whose gym at the top of the capital’s Leith Street between 1895 and Cotter’s death in 1950 played host to many an international amateur and professional fight game luminaries. (more…)

Thanks for putting my article about the Garden Shed “on line” I hope someone may read about it and remember.I have another item which may interest Leithers if I can claim your indulgence,

On August 31st 1939(age10) I was taken from Fraser Grove to the City Hospital with Scarlet Fever.In consequence I missed the Wardie Primary Evacuation to the Wormit area of Fife.My Register teachr Miss Fraser was with the group.I was to join my Classmates once a reallocation of accommodation was provided for my mother myself and a classmate Jack Thomas.We were literally dumped in a farm bothy at Priory Farm Gauldry the farmer a Mr W Gray was singularly uncooperative and was only concerned with the money he was paid by the Billetin Officer!Imagine no electricity,well water,no running water Tilley Lamps and a dry lavatory next the pigsty.Roy Wilkie another classmate from Boswall area was ensconced in the local empty Manse with his mother and two sisters and all mod cons,yet they were only 100 yds from the Farm !That apart We enjoyed the lovely Autumn of’39 and even got paid 2/6 (25p today) at the “tattie howkin” (more…)

I guess every family has a tale to tell and a mystery to solve and my family is no exception. After many years of trying to solve these mysteries I have decided to place these stories on the internet to give all you budding Genealogists a challenge to achive something that has eluded me for years. There are no prizes and I have no wish to engage a professional researcher this is here for a bit of fun. Family research is my hobby and I enjoy helping others where I can.

for more go to the link on the rhs

FIFTIES’ dancehall dreams, poverty and the arrival of the Swinging Sixties are just three of the themes explored at the Church Hill Theatre on Monday when the Citadel Arts Group takes a backward glance at the Leith of days gone by.

Based on and inspired by the stories and the memories of people brought up on the north side of the city, It Seems Like Yesterday! is an evening of three one-act plays: Stain Remover by Anne Stenhouse, On With The Dance by Millie Gray and The Father Of The Man by San Cassimally.
(more…)

Saint Andrew is the Patron Saint of Scotland, and St Andrew’s Day is celebrated by Scots around the world on November 30 each year.

The original Andrew was a fisherman in the Holy Land, one of the 12 disciples of Jesus helping to spread the Christian faith. (more…)

I would be interested in receiving your stories about Leith in the past to Post onto the Site as there are many Leithers or people of Leith descent living around the world that would enjoy reading about there old haunts and to rekindle warm memories of the past.

So please let me hear from you as this is important to future genearations of Leithers. In order that they don’t forget that they do have a past and that memories are important to all of us.

John Arthur

My Late father John Thomson was an L.N.E.R.Goods Inspector in charge of Freight movements at Albert and Commercial Docks Leith (in fairness assisted by one Geordie Grosset)he was in charge of ship to shore military freight during the entire period of WW2. He had many adventures including escaping from a German bomb at Portland Place the day Leith Library was hit in 1941(?) (more…)

“Faith Comes to Life” comes to life at the recent Apple tree planting at South Leith Parish Church Churchyard overseen by the Rev. Ian Gilmour Parish Minister of South Leith with the help of Mr Jack McDonald and the Sunday School and Congregation of the Church.

The Apples of the tree will represent the organisations connected to the Church and the service provided by the Church to the town of Leith, the wider community and the whole World. it also represents the generations of service that the Church has given and the Christian Witness in Leith spaning almost 1400 years.

This is a notebook kept by George Gerard of Cragiebrae in Aberdeenshire to record personal notes, many of them religious in nature (GD1/768/9). However, he sometimes recorded details of contemporary Scottish affairs in the mid 18th century.

These include a threat of invasion by France and, on the pages here, the progress of Prince Charles Edward Stewart, the Young Pretender. Gerard indicates in these pages that he does not support the Jacobite rebellion and laments the defeat of General John Cope and the Hanoverian army at ‘The bloddy Battle of Gladsmure’. (more…)

Golf’s Great Heritage: Patersone’s Prize
by Bob Weisgerber

Golf bets. You’ve done them; I’ve done them. But few are as rewarding as the match that John Patersone took part in on Leith Links–Leith was a port in the Edinburgh area centuries ago. It is a good story, worth telling. (more…)

Leith was the site of some of the first attacks and injuries in golf. The first of these was 1575 when golfers were attacked and fought back successfully. On a later occasion, in 1690, Sir Robert Sibbald was crossing the Links when a young boy who did not hear him approach, apparently hit him on the backswing with his club. Sir Robert required medical attention, but the name of the golfer is not mentioned, nor whether he carried any insurance. (more…)

The Logans originated in the southeast of Scotland in the early 12th century. The MacLennans, according to a number of sources, are a branch of the Logans.

According to Major Logan-Home, the first Logan was Thomas (c. 1150) the son of the Prince of Galloway [p.1]. He believed Thomas Logan was the great grandson of Fergus the first Prince, grandson of Gilbert, and the second son of Malcolm of Galloway. (more…)

IT was once the world’s most feared weapon and for hundreds of years it guarded Edinburgh Castle from atop the ramparts.

But concerns over the deteriorating condition of Mons Meg doomed the legendary medieval siege gun to two decades of exile in the Castle’s bowels.

Now, the landmark cannon has been returned to its place of honour in a tricky operation which has also ended the ancient mystery of just how much the massive relic weighs. (more…)

REMAINS of a 16th century fortress unearthed at a building site are set to be reburied under the car park of a new block of flats.

The 30-metre wall, discovered in Leith, is believed to be the remains of the Ramsay fort, the first in Scotland designed for a battle involving cannon.

Archaeologists say the wall is of “national significance” and solves confusion over the exact whereabouts of the fortress. (more…)

The Graffiti

Graffiti carved into prison doors reveal the names and sentiments of many of the men there. Some of them etched crude drawings of their vessels. Three of the original wooden prison doors will be on display within the exhibition.
(more…)

ANY account bearing upon the history of the commerce and shipping of Leith should not fail to include reference to the body by which the affairs of the Port have been administered—and that with outstanding success—for close upon one hundred years. This, then, may be conveniently introduced at this point.
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Commentary
This report begins: ‘A Full and Particular Account of the COMET, a fine Smack belonging to the London and Edinburgh Shipping Company of Leith, on her passage from London, on the morning of Tuesday last, on Yarmouth Sands; with the Wonderful preservation of the Passengers and Crew, and their astonishing Sufferings and extraordinary escape, when the Vessel sunk in deep water.’ A woodcut of a sailing ship adorns the top of the sheet.

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Edinburgh, Athens of the North

Kate Patrick explains what makes Edinburgh such a magnificent and lively city, sublimely combining the modern with the ancient.

Too well known to admit description,” was how Dr Johnson felt about the city of Edinburgh in 1775, although he is said to have acknowledged the “noble appearance” of the breadth of the streets and the loftiness of the buildings. But it’s true that because Scotland’s capital city is generally the first stop on touring agendas, there are many people who know at least a little about the place. To those of us who live and work here, Edinburgh is a city with increasingly modern dynamics that thrives within an exquisite Georgian and, in some parts, mediæval setting. Which makes it, in short, a cracker of a place to live. (more…)

At what period Newhaven became noted for its fisher population it would be difficult to say. A persistent tradition tells that the fisherfolk came from the Netherlands. We have already seen that a goodly number of the gunners and shipwrights introduced by James IV. (more…)

If you visit the coast of Scotland east of Edinburgh you might hear the legend of strange goings-on long ago in the village of North Berwick. The details vary from one teller to another but the people involved are portrayed the same, as a sinister band of witches. Here is the tale - in the autumn of 1590, a group of wicked men and women came together to perform a hideous ritual in an empty church not far from the North Sea. The intentions of the witches were both grand & terrible, they planned to take control of the forces of nature and to change the course of Scottish history by raising a terrible storm at sea.

for more go to the link on the rhs

“THAT marvellous country,” says Froude of Scotland, “so fertile in genius and in chivalry, so fertile in madness and crime, where the highest heroism co-existed with preternatural ferocity, yet where the vices were the vices of strength, and the one virtue of indomitable courage was found alike in saint and sinner.” The criminal records of Scotland, especially those of Edinburgh, illustrate this quotation. They are strange reading, with a horrible fascination of their own. Here are two instances, the very pick of the bundle, united by no other bond than that both are inexplicable to the verge of lunacy. The first is the case of Major Weir, which had for admirable theatre the West Bow.

for more go to the link on the rhs

EDINBURGH has a reputation for being the most haunted city on the planet. With its wealth of moody Gothic architecture and grisly past, it is easy to see why.

Arguably the most famous resident ghost is Major Thomas Weir, a 17th-century Presbyterian minister who fell from grace and was burned at the stake after admitting committing acts of bestiality and incest. (more…)

Mary King’s Close was a 17th century street in the old city of Edinburgh. Much of the Close is still intact and in its original state. Shops and houses can be inspected - and some ghostly figures have been experienced over the years in this ‘Street of Sorrows.’
The Close runs from the High Street northwards underneath the present City Chambers. Before the building of Cockburn Street, the close had continued down to Market Street where the north-most exit is marked, these days, by the Hebrides Bar! (more…)

Ancient town of Leith, most wonderful to be seen,
With your many handsome buildings, and lovely links so green,
And the first buildings I may mention are the Courthouse and Town Hall,
Also Trinity House, and the Sailors’ Home of Call.
Then as for Leith Fort, it was erected in 1779, which is really grand,
And which is now the artillery headquarters in Bonnie Scotland;
And as for the Docks, they are magnificent to see,
They comprise five docks, two piers, 1,141 yards long respectively. (more…)

My entire family is from Leith. My parents, their parents and most of their relatives all hail form Leith. I hadn’t given it any real thought, and it had never really been discussed at any real length in my life, at least not with me, until I moved here last year. It was something of a revelation coming to live here, knowing I was returning to my roots. I began to be told things about my family which I had never known, possibly because my parents themselves hadn’t thought about Leith for a long time. My moving here seemed to trigger in them recollections and stories which had lain buried.

for more go to the link on the rhs

SIR GEORGE MACKENZIE of Rosehaugh has been described as one of the most distinguished historical figures of the Scottish Bar. Appointed Lord Advocate for Scotland in the reign of Charles II many of his judgements still form the backbone of this nation’s legal system.

Such a man of sterling quality he , like his contemporaries, had little time for such things as apparitions - or witchcraft. Indeed as late as 1678 he wrote ; “That there are witches, divines cannot doubt, since the word of God hath ordained that no witch shall live; nor lawyers in Scotland, seeing our law ordains it to be punished with death".

A man of both high principle and ingrained habits he always ensured he took a constitutional walk through the streets of Edinburgh before his evening meal. His favoured route was to stroll deep in thought along Leith Walk - then a quiet thoroughfare.

for more go to the link on the rhs

George Monk is one of the enigmas of the Civil War period. Born a Royalist, the second son of a minor aristocratic Devon family and fighting on the King’s side till his capture by the Parliamentary party at the Battle of Nantwich, be became one of Oliver Cromwell’s most effective generals and his deputy in Scotland.
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It was a time when rational men thought nothing of splitting religious hairs with cannonballs. It was the era of the English Civil Wars, 1642 to 1651 – an historical misnomer, since most of the carnage in those wars was in fact suffered by Ireland and Scotland rather than England. Almost every student in the English-speaking world has learned the details of the Battle of Naseby, and Oliver Cromwell’s subsequent execution of King Charles I. But few of us were taught anything about the Battle of Dunbar, September 3, 1650, where Scotland squandered an incredible opportunity to defeat Cromwell and change the course of British history. It was Scotland’s best and last realistic chance to chart its own political and religious destiny. That chance was wasted by a committee of Presbyterian ministers, blinkered by religious fanaticism. And the fiasco ended in an English-controlled death march of 5,000 Scottish prisoners of war, one of the most unsavory pages in British history.

for more go to the link on the rhs

The Knights Templars were the earliest founders of the military orders, and are the type on which the others are modelled. They are marked in history (1) by their humble beginning, (2) by their marvellous growth, and (3) by their tragic end.

for more go to the link on the rhs

Legend has it that this woman first settled in Angus. She attracted the attention of a Pictish Prince, Nectanavus which was abhorrent to her pious nature. When she demanded what it was he desired of her he sent a servant with the reply,’The most excellent beauty of thine eyes.’ Upon hearing this she plucked out her eyes and presented them to the, presumably, shocked servant. After this she retired to St Margaret’s in ‘Lestalryk’ where she lived until her death in 510. The local spring waters have since been renowned for their healing powers, particularly with regard to eye complaints.

(Also called NICHOLAS OF BARI).

Bishop of Myra in Lycia; died 6 December, 345 or 352. Though he is one of the most popular saints in the Greek as well as the Latin Church, there is scarcely anything historically certain about him except that he was Bishop of Myra in the fourth century.

Some of the main points in his legend are as follows: He was born at Parara, a city of Lycia in Asia Minor; in his youth he made a pilgrimage to Egypt and Palestine; shortly after his return he became Bishop of Myra; cast into prison during the persecution of Diocletian, he was released after the accession of Constantine, and was present at the Council of Nicaea. In 1087 Italian merchants stole his body at Myra, bringing it to Bari in Italy. (more…)

(NINIAS, NINUS, DINAN, RINGAN, RINGEN)

Bishop and confessor; date of birth unknown; died about 432; the first Apostle of Christianity in Scotland. The earliest account of him is in Bede (Hist. Eccles., III, 4): “the southern Picts received the true faith by the preaching of Bishop Ninias, a most reverend and holy man of the British nation, who bad been regularly instructed at Rome in the faith and mysteries of the truth; whose episcopal see, named after St. Martin the Bishop, and famous for a church dedicated to him (wherein Ninias himself and many other saints rest in the body), is now in the possession of the English nation. The place belongs to the province of the Bernicians and is commonly called the White House [Candida Casa], because he there built a church of stone, which was not usual amongst the Britons". The facts given in this passage form practically all we know of St. Ninian’s life and work. (more…)

The recorded history of North Leith begins in 1128 when King David of Scotland granted land to his newly founded Monastery of Holyrood. By the end of the 15th century the population had grown considerably and in view of this the Abbot of Holyrood in 1493 built a chapel dedicated to Saint Ninian on the north west bank of the Water of Leith, right beside the bridge which he had also constructed for the benefit of the people. That bridge was demolished and replaced in 1788.

For more go to the link on the rhs

Portobello History Society
Contact: Archie Foley
21 Joppa Road
EH15 2HA

The organisation exists to promote interest and knowledge in the history of Portobello. £4 per session waged, £2 per session unwaged and £1 per evening non-members.

Meetings take place 6:30, 1st Wednesday of the month September - June (not January).

At : St Marks Episcopal Church
Portobello High Street
14 Rosefield Avenue
Edinburgh (more…)

Edinburgh City Archives

1130 to yesterday

The archival records of Edinburgh are many things; unique, irreplaceable, trivial, priceless, fascinating, boring, copious, dirty, delicate, robust, leather bound, centuries old, yesterdays, published, unknown, significant and voluminous. Above all they are a hugely significant memory and resource of inestimable worth to Edinburgh, its inhabitants and its visitors. (more…)

The Club is Edinburgh’s local history society, concerned with all aspects of the city’s history and development.

For almost one hundred years we have encouraged interest in Edinburgh’s history through lectures and visits. We also publish The Book of the Old Edinburgh Club, which is renowned as a source of well-authenticated information on all aspects of Edinburgh history. (more…)

INTRODUCTION
Conservation Areas
Section 61 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland)
Act 1997, describes conservation areas as “… areas of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance”. The Act makes provision for the designation of conservation areas as distinct from individual buildings, and planning authorities are required to determine which parts of their areas merit conservation area status (more…)

Viewpoint and Monuments in the Centre of Edinburgh

Calton Hill overlooks the centre of Edinburgh with great views within the reach of everyone.
Calton Hill is just 100m high, and is at the east end of Princes Street.

At the top of the hill are an assortment of monuments.

From the top you can look right down Princes Street, view the Old Town and castle and Holyrood and Arthur’s Seat. (more…)

Along the Royal Mile–Old Town’s Royal Mile stretches from Edinburgh Castle all the way to the Palace of Holyroodhouse and bears four names along its length: Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street, and Canongate. Walking along, you’ll see some of the most interesting old structures in the city, with turrets, gables, and towering chimneys. Take bus no. 1, 6, 23, 27, 30, 34, or 36 to reach it.

A Note on Museum Hours–Be aware that many museums that are usually closed on Sunday are open on Sunday during the Edinburgh Festival. Some museums that open only in summer are also open on public holidays.

Britannia: The People’s Yacht–In case Queen Elizabeth II never invited you to sail aboard her 125m (412-ft.) yacht, you still have a chance to board this famous vessel since the gangplank has been lowered for the public. The luxury Britannia was launched on April 16, 1953, sailed more than a million miles, and was decommissioned on December 11, 1997. Today, the ship rests at anchor in the port of Leith, 3km (2 miles) from Edinburgh’s center. (more…)

Photographs include Schools, Prominent Buildings, Monuments, etc., all of which featured Leith life over the centuries. This page is constantly being added to.

For more information go to the link on the rhs
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Pedestrian bronze statue, red sandstone plinth on polished granite base, four bronze plaques on each face of plinth. (Two added in 1901)

Erected by Leith Burns Club in 1898, unveiled on October 15th by Mr. RC Munro Ferguson, MP. At the ceremony it was offered to the Lord Provost of Leith who accepted it on behalf of the burgh. The sculptor was D.W. Stevenson RSA, and was cast at the foundry of J.W. Singer and Sons. (more…)

by Robert Louis Stevenson

I HAVE named, among many rivers that make music in my memory, that dirty Water of Leith. Often and often I desire to look upon it again; and the choice of a point of view is easy to me. (more…)

Edinburgh Castle is reputed to be one of the most haunted spots in Scotland. And Edinburgh itself has been called the most haunted city in all of Europe. On various occasions, visitors to the castle have reported a phantom piper, a headless drummer, the spirits of French prisoners from the Seven Years War and colonial prisoners from the American Revolutionary War - even the ghost of a dog wandering in the grounds’ dog cemetery.

For more information go to the link on the rhs

Situation: The valley of the Water of Leith from Balerno to Leith docks. (more…)

The Inverleith Hotel is a small privately-run hotel adjacent to the Royal Botanic Gardens in central Edinburgh. Robert Louis Stevenson once lived in this fine Terrace of Georgian and Victorian Houses in one of Edinburgh’s most desirable locations. The Inverleith Hotel, an Early Victorian Town House, has a friendly staff and warm family atmosphere whose top priority is to make your stay a comfortable and enjoyable one

For more information go to the link on the rhs

Hello there!
We are a small theatre group and we are looking for people to interview, about their most, and least favourite places in Leith.
Do you have any places in Leith that you really love or hate?
Why is this? Do you have particular memories linked to these places? They can be old or new, funny or sad… (more…)

A moonless night at the Mercat Cross on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile—and it’s Ghost Busters gone mad. Thirty people are following a black-cloaked witch down Advocate’s Close. From the screeches, something nasty is happening in the City Chambers porticoes…maybe it’s to do with the body-snatcher now racing down High Street. And here comes a vampire, chivvying his charges behind St. Giles High Kirk. There’ll soon be more screams if the trailing brown-cowled monk is a “jumper-oot.”

For more go to the link on the rhs

GHOSTHUNTERS are to spend a night in a cave said to be haunted by one of Scotland’s most notorious serial killers - the cannibal Sawney Bean.

The East Lothian hedger gained notoriety when he and his family of savages were discovered surviving in a cave by robbing and murdering passing travellers - then eating the corpses. (more…)

HE was a mean-spirited Leith publican who was driven to the verge of bankruptcy and allegedly doomed to purgatory for torturing children.
But now his angry spirit, said to have haunted one of the area’s oldest watering holes for decades, is set to star in American TV series Understanding the Paranormal.
Ghost hunters today claimed to have captured video evidence of the evil spook - reputedly the apparition of an abusive man who hanged himself in a room above the pub more than 100 years ago .

Please go to the link on the rhs

Edinburgh in the warm September of 1745 was a handsome, cramped and discontented provincial town of approximately 40,000 people, just embarking on modernity. As a capital city, it was nothing much. It had lost its royal court to London in 1603, when King James VI succeeded to the English throne, and its nobility followed at the amalgamation of the Scottish and English parliaments in 1707. Edinburgh had no manufacturing, and its trade was a set of pettifogging monopolies, down to who had the right to rent out the pall at burials or run coaches to the port of Leith. The town lived off lawyers attending on the Court of Session and clergymen coming to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and gentry sending their children up to school and spending the winter in town. In the first age of millionaires, an Edinburgh family was rich with £1,000 a year.

For more information go to the link on the rhs

News of events in Edinburgh, and news from around the world was reported in the Caledonian Mercury. In some cases the news was several months old when it reached Edinburgh.
Some of the readers would be disappointed to see this report received from Montreal, dated 12 December 1842:

Please go to the link on the rhs

The adverts for shipping, stage coaches, railways and other forms of transport are all taken from the Caledonian Mercury in 1842 make interesting reading.

The railway from London had not yet reached Edinburgh, so there were regular sailings from Edinburgh to London and to Newcastle.

However, 1842 was the year the Edinburgh-Glasgow railway opened, so providing a quick alternative to the canal and the stagecoach. (more…)

The first attempt at establishing a stagecoach service in Scotland occurred on 6th August 1678, when the magistrates of Glasgow entered into an agreement with William Hume, an Edinburgh merchant, whereby he would “Have in readiness ane sufficient strong coach, to be drawn by sax able horses, to leave Edinbro ilk Monday morning, and return again (God willing) ilk Saturday night". By way of a minor perk, the burgesses of Glasgow were always to receive preference, so if the coach was full and one or more of these illustrious gentlemen desired to reach Edinburgh, somebody had to get off. Since the fare was 4 pounds 16 shillings Scots (8 shillings sterling) in the Summer months and 5 pounds 8 shillings (9 shillings sterling) in the Winter months, it stands to reason that the sort of individual who could afford the trip would not easily be ejected from his seat.

For more information go to the link on the rhs

LEITH Franklin Cricket Club is believed to be one of the oldest outdoor sporting clubs in Leith and has been playing on the same cricket square for almost 150 years.The original cricket club was called the Hermitage which was formed some time before 1850 but in 1852 some workers in Fullartons printing works in Stead’s Place formed a club called Stead’s Place Cricket Club which was sometimes referred to as Fullarton’s Cricket Club but at the end of the 1852 season the members decided to open the membership to all interested in the game and they called the club after one of the most famous printers of the 18th century, Benjamin Franklin. (more…)

When I first read this poem, I felt it was a good choice for an introduction to this section. While it suffers modestly from the romanticism characteristic of the landsman, it’s a pretty good poetic summary of the sailor’s existence. A couple of years later, I discovered that sailors thought so, too! (more…)

KINNAIRD’S TEA GARDENS, ABERDOUR, FIFE
(Kinnaird Worldwide Family#24)

“Click on the photos to expand for a better picture”

Aberdour drew droves of visitors with its good beaches and bathing, pleasant walks and scenery. During the summer months, steamers arrive several times a day from Leith with holiday-makers. To accommodate the better-off, superior villas were built along the Shore Road. For the day-tripper or overnighter there were the facilities of the Tea Garden Hotel, which was opened in 1886 by the enterprising Leith businessman, William Kinnaird. It caters for all the needs of the visitor, providing breakfast, dinner and tea as well as cigars and picture postcards. It incorporated the Aberdour Bazaar - the souvenir shop for everyone, as it advertisements proclaimed - selling toys, photos and useful articles for presents. Kinnaird was clearly out to make all the profit he could during the summer season. He had to as in the off-season there was little trade and, as one local writer put it, the Gardens “are a desolation:.

For more information go to the link on the rhs

ASK someone in Leith if they could direct you to Lapicide Place and they will consider it and then probably say, ‘Ah know the name but ah could nae tell you exactly where it is.’ (more…)

BEFORE the days of protection by the Welfare State, poverty and and emplovment were the harsh realities of the times and soup kitchens were all that could sustain some families during the winter months when outdoor workers could be laid off due to the weather.

Some members of South Leith Church ran such a kitchen during the 1890’s from premises in the Coalhill and then from two shops in St Andrew Street.The former halls in Duke Street were also used for this purpose before the Town Council decided to build a permanent soup kitchen in the Coalhill at the corner of Parliament Street.

A Clothing Sooiety was also run in order to help those in need during the worst of the winter weather.

Source “The Porthole”

THE Chain Pier comprised three spans, suspended from iron chains and ran out to sea for a length of 500 feet from its location opposite Trinity Crescent.

It was constructed by Captain Brown of the Royal Navy and was opened in 1821 having cost £4000 to build. It was four feet wide and had a depth at low water of from five to six feet and it served steam packets to Stirling, Queensferry and other ports in the Forth.

Improvements to Leith Docks and the opening Granton Harbour in I833 saw its use decline and it was used mainly by bathers and was once the headquarters of the Forth swimming club.

In 1840 it became the property of the Alloa Steam Packet Company but by 1852 it was already decaying and it was eventually distmantled around 1900.

Source The “Porthole”

The Scottish National War Memorial commemorates nearly 150,000 Scottish casualties in the First World War, 1914 - 1918, over 50,000 in the Second World War, 1939 - 1945 and the campaigns since 1945, including the Malayan Emergency, the Korean War, Northern Ireland, the Falklands War and the Gulf War.

The Memorial is to be found in Crown Square at the very top of the rock on which Edinburgh Castle stands. In 1927 the architect Sir Robert Lorimer and two hundred Scottish artists and craftsmen created a serene Hall Of Honour and Shrine where the names of the dead are contained in books that are on permanent display.

For more information go to the link on the rhs

Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, though not its largest city, derives its name from the time (about A.D. 620) when the fortress of Edwin’s burgh was raised on a lofty spur of the Pentland Hills, overlooking the Firth of Forth, and established the Anglian dominion in the northern part of the Northumbrian Kingdom. Edinburgh Castle was a royal residence in the reign of Malcolm Canmore, husband of St. Margaret, who died there in 1093.

For more information go to the link on the rhs

The Firth of Forth is the estuary or firth of the River Forth, where it flows into the North Sea between Fife to the north, and West Lothian, the City of Edinburgh, and East Lothian to the south. The river is tidal as far inland as Stirling, but generally it is considered that the inland extent of the firth ends at the Kincardine Bridge.

For more information go the link on the rhs

The Firth of Forth is the estuary or firth of the River Forth, where it flows into the North Sea between Fife to the north, and West Lothian, the City of Edinburgh, and East Lothian to the south. The river is tidal as far inland as Stirling, but generally it is considered that the inland extent of the firth ends at the Kincardine Bridge.

A large number of towns line the shores, as well as the petrochemical complexes at Grangemouth and Burntisland, the commercial docks at Leith, oilrig construction yards at Dalgety Bay and Methil and the naval dockyard at Rosyth, with numerous other industrial areas including the Forth Bridgehead area.

The Kincardine Bridge and the famous Forth Road Bridge and Forth Rail Bridge carry traffic across the Firth.

The inner Firth, i.e. between the Kincardine and Forth bridges, has lost about half of its former intertidal area as a result of land being reclaimed, partly for agriculture, but mainly for industry.

The Firth is important for nature conservation. The Firth of Forth Islands SPA (Special Protection Area) is host to over 90,000 breeding seabirds every year. There is a bird observatory on the Isle of May

for more information go to the link on the rhs

Of all the islands on the Firth of Forth, in Scotland, on which there remains ruins of the old churches,I have heard is The Bass Rock,the May Island, Fidra, Inchkeith, and Inchcolm,the latter being the most interesting, it has splendid old ruins of an old abbey which stands on a camp area where followers of Columbus settled, This is probably where historians got the name Iona of the East, we all know that St Columbus spread the gospel all over Scotland, and originally from the sacred Isle of Iona in the west, havent been there myself but have been told that the best ruins are still to be seen there, and the best religious establishments in Scotland, most of what I have written here I read years ago in a book called, The Islands of the Forth, and what people have told me over the years, not being a religious man myself am interested in old Scotland, and the architecture etc.

For more information go to the link on the rhs

Because James I had many conections to Leith building the Kings Wark which is on the Shore and by tradition the Preceptory of St Anthony I have included this article about him

@1394–1437, king of Scotland (1406–37), son and successor of Robert III. King Robert feared for the safety of James because the king’s brother, Robert Stuart, 1st duke of Albany, who was virtual ruler of the realm, stood next in line of succession after the young prince. Albany had already been suspected of complicity in the death of James’s older brother, David Stuart, duke of Rothesay. Accordingly, in 1406 the king sent James to France for safety, but the prince was captured on the way by the English and held prisoner until 1424″

for more details go to the link on the rhs

“Yes, my dad and all his family have very strong links with Leith and in particular the docks. My dad (Archie) started his working life at a very early age in a blacksmiths shop and was living in the area known as the Citadel. (The old bridge as I remember from my childhood is still there and is the only evidence of its existence now that you can still see). It was close to the railway sidings and opposite the main hub of the docks. It was a relative of my dads who owned the little shop that stood in the childrens play area (swings - think!) of the Citadels square. His dad worked in the docks and drove one of those peculiar shaped articulated lorries which seemed to be everywhere when us kids were young.
My dad had four sisters who worked nearly all their lives either in or around the whisky bonds and married men who they encountered doing similar work in that area. Even to this day they still tell stories about their childhood and in particular the war years. After national service my dad and my uncles all became lorry drivers (the new rock and roll?) and did long distance driving for several firms in the area. My dad ended his driving career with Russell of Bathgate who had their depot at the big flour mill (Ranks?) in the docks. The old Leith that my dad lived and worked in and which many of our family have fond memories of is now barely recognizable and seems a life time away”

Published with permission

The Royal Yacht Britannia is moored at the Ocean Terminal at Leith and is open to the Public and well worth a visit.

Brittania is now owned by the “The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust” a non Profit making charity, which is grateful for your support. All proceeds go towards Britannia’s long term maintenance.

Cumberland Market, Regent’s Park and Jane Street, Leith, Scotland.

In 1840 William Grimble of Albany Street, London, a gin distiller by trade, decided to embark on producing vinegar from spirit left over from his distillery. He went into partnership with another distiller, Sir Felix Booth, and they set up premises in Cumberland Market. The venture was unsuccessful, and so they turned to the more orthodox method of vinegar brewing. The brewery burnt down in 1864 and was rebuilt and extended soon after.

for more go to the link on the rhs

The early part of the 19th century saw considerable exploitation of South Georgia’s Fur Seal population, with Edward Fanning taking 57,000 seal skins on one voyage.

Leith Harbour, an abandoned Whaling Station

There were at least 17 other sealing expeditions on the island, and the Fur Seal population soon declined. The next to be exploited were the elephant seals (for their oil), and when these had been decimated, the trade collapsed around 1830.

For more information go to the link on the rhs

Trade Directories, books which listed the businesses and tradespeople in town, first appeared in the latter half of the 17th century. They can be inaccurate and the evidence they provide must be treated with care. Directories for the larger towns were published each year, and those for London was not only published each year but several publishers brought out their own versions.

For more go the link onthe rhs

Shipping Adverts (19th Century)

These adverts show some of the transport available, and in some cases the speed and cost of this transport, in the early days of photography in Edinburgh.

For more go to thelink on the rhs

ONE of the oldest buildings in Leith, The Vaults is first referred to in 1439 when a grant was made by Patrick, Abbot of Holyroodhouse to Sir Kobert Logan, Lord of Restalrig and his heirs. (more…)

A historical perspective, drawn from the Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland: A Survey of Scottish Topography, Statistical, Biographical and Historical, edited by Francis H. Groome and originally published in parts by Thomas C. Jack, Grange Publishing Works, Edinburgh between 1882 and 1885.

This edition is copyright © The Editors of the Gazetteer for Scotland, 2002-2004.

For more information go to the link on the rhs

The Birth Of Golf
Golf as we know it today originated from a game played on the eastern coast of Scotland in the Kingdom of Fife during the 15th century.

Players would hit a pebble around a natural course of sand dunes, rabbit runs and tracks using a stick or primitive club. (more…)

Captain Vernon Kell, the first head of the Security Service, masterminded an operation that culminated in the important closure of Germany’s spy network in Britain on 4 August 1914 - the day of the outbreak of the First World War. (more…)

Leith was part of Edinburgh, became separate and rejoined in 1920. Technically becomes Leith a bit down Leith Walk, the real centre is the Foot of the Walk at the junction with Great Junction Street. (more…)

This contingent of Fife Officers were seconded to assist Leith Police during the dock strike in August 1913. The officer second from left in the front row is Constable, later Sergeant James Peebles. He was an ardent member of the Police Federation and gave evidence to the Royal Commission on Police Terms and Conditions of Service in 1919. Mr. Peebles later became Provost of Auchtermuchty.

From Fife Constabulary website at http://www.fife.police.uk/Police_History/phistory1912-1920.htm

Several authorities cite the ‘secrecy’ of the Freemasons for the ‘absence’ of early Scottish golf history records, particularly of the Royal Burgess, but the argument and evidence for these claims are weak. The main reason that the members of early golf clubs were Freemasons was because virtually all middle class men of ability in Scotland in the century after 1717 were Freemasons from senior law officers to skilled artisans as well as poets and writers. (Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott were masons). This was apparently because, from 1717, the Scottish ’stonemason’ Freemasons, called Operative Masons, began to allow merchants and professional people, termed Speculative Masons, to join Lodges or create their own. This practice spread elsewhere in the world. For example, in France Voltaire became a Mason as did George Washington who was buried with full Masonic honours in America.

For more information go to the link on the rhs

The earliest record. of a Municipal Fire Brigade in Leith is contained in the General Fire Regulations for the Fire Engine Department of the town of Leith, dated 1837.
The following extracts from the above regulations make most interesting reading.

For more information go to the link on the rhs

A fascinating history with excellent photos, reminding us of a time when PC stood for Police Constable and not some modern, lunatic concept. The Leith and Edinburgh police are much in evidence here, the former always being associated with that well-known tongue twister “The Leith police dismisseth us.” Having a driver say that several times could be even better than a breathalyser test. Illustrations show not only individuals and groups but also dress, headgear, rank insignia, medals, shoulder/collar titles, handcuffs, truncheons, and whistles. Apart from giving the background history the author also gives us accounts of various incidents and events such as murder cases, capture of a German spy in Edinburgh in WWII, shooting of the Assistant Chief Constable in July 1940 and other cases. There are lists of the recipients of the Police Long Service Medal, both regular force and special constabulary

For more information go to the link on the rhs

Wondering how to fill in the gaps in your family tree? Perhaps you want to know if someone else is working on a different part of your family that may complete yours? Or even if you have relations that you know nothing about. If you wish please send your family tree to [email protected] and I will post it onto my website at www.lineages.co.uk in order that the information is shared by everyone and who knows we may bring whole families together again.

Thousands of spectators are expected to line the Royal Mile and congregate around the Parliament and its neighbour Our Dynamic Earth, for Saturday’s Opening of the new Scottish Parliament building by Her Majesty The Queen.

10 AUGUST 2004. THE DEBATING CHAMBER AT THE SITE OF THE NEW SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT COMPLEX AT HOLYROOD, EDINBURGH. PIC-ADAM ELDER/SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT. PHOTOGRAPH©2004 SCOTTISH PARLIAMENTARY CORPORATE BODY.

The streets around Holyrood in Edinburgh will come alive with entertainment from a range of colourful top performers – including fire eaters, stilt walkers, pipers and drummers. (more…)

The person putting on the concert was a J.C.MACCALL who sometimes worked as a comedian and was my grandfather.

MRS. M MITCHELL

(Iam very gratefull to Mrs M.Mitchell for sending me this poster as it is on this that the history of the town is built. Not only on great events but the small events that shape all ours lives. If there is more material like this out there I would more the pleased to post it and acknowledge the source as this is important before the history of Leith is lost forever)

The reason why this document is important is because it raises question as to why the Elders of South Leith Parish Church were called the “Preceptors of the Preceptory of St Anthon’s” and the Church is not called South Leith Parish but the “Church of St Anthon’s” and the graveyard is not called the graveyard of South Leith Parish Church but the “Churchyard of St Anthon’s”

An idealised view of a monastery. It should be nored that many medieval Hospices developed into substantial monasteries

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It so happens I had personal experience of seeing and speaking to some of these Repatriated British POW`s, they were part of an exchange UK/German scheme organised by the Red Cross, two Swedish passenger/hospital ships, one of which was the s.s. Kungsholm, the other, s.s. Gripsholm, brought the contingent into the Firth of Forth, anchored in Leith Roads, Tenders brought the men, bandaged or on crutches,into Leith and entrained them at the West Pier, close to the now defunct Henry Robb Shipyard, for dispersal in other parts of UK.

My fortuitous meeting, purely by accident, occurred quite close to my home, on a side stretch of railway line near Newhaven station, long since closed, at that time it conveyed traffic from Leith Docks to Edinburgh Princess Street, Caledonian Station and beyond: Passing over a bridge in Craighall Road a garage owner called me over to indicate the long train of coaches, all with Red Crosses boldly painted on sides and roof, what little I remember of the exchanged greetings with those in earshot were of happy smiling faces, and asking where they were, security was very real and harsh in those days, within a short time the train pulled away, the passengers therein no doubt eagerly waiting to meet up with their families.

A somewhat fleeting glimpse of history in the making, not a lot but I am happy to pass same along.

WLH…2004

(Short article by WLH suggested by michael coughlan from his comment on this site “I suggest you should have something on the return of the repatriated POWs in October 1943, mostly heroes from the defence of Dunkirk and fliers. ” Indeed they were heroes and to whom this nation owes a great debt for protecting the freedoms we now enjoy. We must never forget. JSA)

“To all and Sundry to whose knowledge these presents shall come we the Reverend Dr Robert Dickson and Mr Thomas McKnight Ministers of the Gospel in South leith and also the Elders Deacons and remnant members of the Kirk Session of South Leith Preceptors of the Preceptory of St Anthon’s in Leith Superiors of the tenement and others underwritten know ye that we have ratify approve and for us and our successors in office perpetually confirm to and in favour of William Giles Brewer in Leith eldest son and nearest and lawful heir of the deceased John Giles Brewer in Leith his father a disposition dated the 10th day of June one thousand seven hundred and sixty three years duly ratified the same day made and granted by Robert Anderson sometime Brewer in Leith thereafter merchant in Edinburgh second lawful son of the deceased Patrick Anderson merchant in Leith and sometime Deacon of the Coopers there with the special advice and consent of Grizel Callender his spouse for all right of liferent or other right or title whatever she had or could claim to the lands

The area of the map on the top right hand corner is the area mentioned i this document. On the left hand side is the foot of Leith walk and on the rhs can be seen part of the Churchyard of South Leith Church (or the Churchyard of St Anthon’s as mentioned inthe document). This map is dated 1852.

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This cheque was issued to the Rev James Scott of Junction Road Church in 1931 and is a very rare example of the type cheque issued at the time

A CAMPAIGN has been launched to halt controversial plans for a massive waste plant in Leith amid claims council leaders have tried to keep the project quiet.

Protesters have set up an action group to oppose the proposed waste transfer facility at an industrial yard in Salamander Street.

Petitions have collected 3000 signatures and city planners have been bombarded with more than 100 objections.

Community groups, businesses and residents plan to demonstrate outside the City Chambers.

The complex is intended to replace the ageing waste transfer facility at Powderhall, which had to be temporarily shut down two years ago after the discovery of asbestos.

Around 250,000 tonnes of rubbish are expected to be processed every year at the Leith facility.

Local councillor Phil Attridge, who is helping to organise the protest, said officials had tried to quietly “dump” the site in the area. But the council has denied any responsibility for informing people as the planning application has been lodged under the name of the yard’s owners, the hauliers John G Russell Transport Limited.

However, the applicants say they are acting on the instruction of the council and that the site was identified by officials in its environment department.

The protesters’ main concerns are additional noise, an increase in traffic, the threat of vermin and the possible impact on property prices.

City planners had recommended the application be approved when it came before councillors last month, when just nine objections had been recorded.

But a decision was deferred to give the council’s full planning committee a chance to discuss the application when it meets in November.

The council has since received dozens of objections, and Cllr Attridge said people were still coming to terms with the proposal.

He said today: “The council is just trying to dump this on the people of Leith and have deliberately tried to keep it quiet. The whole thing quite literally stinks and people are rightly very upset about it. Leith isn’t Edinburgh’s dustbin, and people in the area aren’t prepared to accept this.”

The Leith Action Group was formed after a public meeting on Sunday night and plans to lobby the council and the Scottish Executive on the issue.

Spokeswoman Cathy McCulloch, chairwoman of St Mary’s RC Primary School Board, said: “The frightening thing is this planning application could have been approved without anyone in the area knowing about it.

“People just don’t understand why they’ve not been consulted on something of this scale.”

City environment leader Bob Cairns dismissed claims that the council had deliberately kept quiet about the application, insisting that was a matter for the developers. He added: “It’s not our project, it’s a private contractor that has submitted the planning application and we have no direct involvement in it.”

However, John Russell, chairman of the hauliers firm, said: “It was the council that asked us to submit this planning application. They’ve been looking for a site to replace Powderhall for some time and they were satisfied that this was the most appropriate place for it.”

BRIAN FERGUSON
CITY COUNCIL REPORTER

source-Scotsman

In response to my request for support for the parents of St Mary’s, the Links Community Council and the people of Leith. I have received the following from ex pats. However I need a lot more if we are to make a difference. Please let me know what you think. Your opinion is important. (more…)

All it takes for evil to exist is for good men to say nothing up to now you have said nothing about this important issue. How about some support or do you honestly believe the right place for this is beside a school who is kidding who!

This is not strictly about the history of Leith nor the history of Scotland that impacted on Leith. However it is about the future of the town and Port of Leith and I am seeking as much support from ex Leithers, People of Leith descent and people who care for the future of Leith. let me hear from you as soon as possible as this is vital!!

Thank you

(more…)

The orders of friars that emerged in the early thirteenth century spread rapidly throughout Europe and were a radical new force amongst the religious orders.

The two most significant orders were the Franciscans founded by St. Francis of Assisi and the Dominicans founded by St. Dominic. Both received papal approval in around 1215. (more…)

This is a collection of articles and resources aimed at anyone interested in Scotland between A.D. 500 and 1603, from about when the King of Dál Riata moved from Ireland to Argyll to when King James VI of Scotland inherited the English throne. Because medieval Scotland was not isolated from its surroundings in either space or time, there are also some articles concerning related regions and the focus time span is somewhat flexible. (more…)

The fortification of Berwick gives the best impression of what the walls of Leith were like in 1560.

The substantially Elizabethan military fortifications around the old town of Berwick-Upon-Tweed are a fascinating way of exploring the troubled and intricate history of this border town. When they were built from 1558 onwards, the threat of attack from Scotland was once again a real one and the earlier Tudor earth ramparts and medieval stone walls were incorporated into the latest technological design for defense. (more…)

Edward was the eldest son of Henry III, King of England and was born in 1239. Henry III had a long reign and this meant that Edward was in his thirties before he became king himself. In 1254 at the age of fifteen, Edward was married to Eleanor of Castile. Eleanor was the thirteen year old half-sister of Alfonso, the King of Castile and the marriage was designed to help protect the lands of Gascony which England still owned. Edward was awarded the lands of Gascony through the marriage and took over from Simon de Montfort whose improper running of the area had lead to revolt. Henry III was eager to provide Edward with more experience and in the same year granted him lands in Wales, Ireland and the Channel Islands. Edward and Eleanor were married in Castile and returned to England in October of 1255.

For more information and Timelines go to the link on the rhs

England did not have a standing army at that time, and relied on the strength of the ‘Trayned Bandes’, who acted as a sort of National Guard. The trained bands were made up mostly of the middle-class, who gathered together once a month to train as a unit, and to socialize with other town-folk. (more…)

The smoothbore cannon, first appearing in the early 14th century in Europe, assumed its classic form at the beginning of the 17th century, which persisted unchanged to the mid-19th century, when it was superseded by the breechloading rifled gun. It perhaps still remains in modified form as the infantry or trench mortar, and a few other smooth-bore weapons. (more…)

James V (April, 1512 - December 14, 1542) was king of Scotland (September 9, 1513- December 14,1542). (more…)

Marie de Guise (in English, Mary of Guise) (November 22,1515 - June,1560) was the queen consort of James V of Scotland and the mother of Mary, Queen of Scots.

The eldest daughter of Claude, Duke of Guise, head of the French House of Guise, and his wife Antoinette of Bourbon, Marie was married at the age of 19 to Louis of Orleans, Duke of Longueville. They had one son, Francis, before Marie’s husband died in June 1537; their second son was born posthumously but did not survive.
(more…)

House of Guise: French ducal family, primarily responsible for the French Wars of Religion.Founded as a branch of the House of Lorraine by Claude de Lorraine, first Duke of Guise, 1496-1563, whom King François I made a Duke. Claude’s daughter, Mary of Guise (1515-1560), married King James V of Scotland and was mother of Mary Queen of Scots. (more…)

Although those who had signed Charles I’s death warrant were punished (nine regicides were put to death, and Cromwell’s body was exhumed from Westminster Abbey and buried in a common pit), Charles pursued a policy of political tolerance and power-sharing. In April 1660, fresh elections had been held and a Convention met with the House of Lords. Parliament invited Charles to return, and he arrived at Dover on 25 May. (more…)

Charles I was born in 1600, the second son of James I and Anne of Denmark. After several unsuccessful attempts at arranging a marriage, Charles married the 15 year-old daughter of France’s King Henry IV, Henrietta Maria. Three years of coldness and indifference ensued, but the pair finally became devoted to each other, producing four sons (Charles [who died as a teenager], Charles [who became Charles II], James and Henry) and five daughters (Mary, Elizabeth, Anne, Catherine and Henrietta Anne). Charles I was executed for treason in 1649. (more…)

The 1996 summer archeological excavations of the Chapter House floor of Melrose Abbey undertaken by Historic Scotland were designed to increase knowledge of this important medieval building.

The team from Historic Scotland investigated the lead container said to contain King Robert the Bruce’s heart which had been removed from beneath the Chapter House floor. (more…)

1831-1860

Opening

This was Edinburgh’s first railway. It ran from Edinburgh St Leonard’s station in Edinburgh to Dalkeith. St Leonard’s station was beneath the slopes of Arthur’s Seat in Holyrood Park. (more…)

The Scottish Crown has a long and complex history. From a number of local rulers governing separate territories and peoples, a single king emerged by the beginning of the twelfth century to govern most of what is today’s Scotland. The thirteenth century was a time of instability for the Scottish Crown in the face of internal fighting and the Wars of Independence with England. (more…)

The best way to discover the practical fruits of a system of religion is to examine a people or a country in which for generations that system has held undisputed sway. In making such a test of Roman Catholicism we turn to some country like Spain, Italy, Colombia, or Mexico. (more…)

The Knights Templars were the earliest founders of the military orders, and are the type on which the others are modelled. They are marked in history (1) by their humble beginning, (2) by their marvellous growth, and (3) by their tragic end.

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The Knights Hospitaller (the Order of Knights of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem or Knights of Malta or Knights of Rhodes) were a militant Christian monastic group founded in the 11th century. Based in the Holy Land, the order was charged with the care and defence of pilgrims. (more…)

This is a woodcut from the pamphlet Newes from Scotland, about the North Berwick witch-hunts of 1590-1. The author was probably James Carmichael, minister of Haddington, who helped to interrogate the North Berwick witches and who advised King James on the writing of his book Daemonologie. The pamphlet was published in London in 1591, and contains virtually the only contemporary illustrations of Scottish witchcraft.

The woodcut illustrates various scenes relating to the pamphlet.

Centre and left: a group of female witches listen to the Devil preaching a sermon in North Berwick church at Hallowe’en 1590, with John Fian, schoolmaster of Haddington, acting as their clerk.
Top left: a ship is sunk by witchcraft. The witches were accused of raising the storms that troubled the voyage of James’s bride, Anne of Denmark, to Scotland, though in fact none of her ships were sunk. The pamphlet describes the sinking of a ferryboat in the Forth, and elsewhere in the trials some of the witches were accused of having sunk a ship, the Grace of God, at North Berwick.
Top right: witches stirring a cauldron—a stock image rather than a scene directly from the pamphlet.
Right and bottom right: a pedlar who discovers witches in Tranent is magically transported to a merchant’s wine-cellar in Bordeaux. This story is told in the preface to the pamphlet only to be described as ‘most false’, but this did not discourage the illustrator.
The best edition of the pamphlet Newes from Scotland is in Lawrence Normand and Gareth Roberts (eds.), Witchcraft in Early Modern Scotland: James’s Demonology and the North Berwick Witches (2000). For other works see Further Reading on Scottish Witchcraft.

For more information go to the link on the rhs

Raphael Hollinshead was one of the erliest writers in the Siege of leith being included in his Chronicles of Englnd, Scotland and Ireland and first published in London in 1570 in two volumes and then in 1587 in three volumes.

The introduction to an early re publication of Hollinsheads work on the “History of Scot;land”

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If you know the date of Baptism, Marriage or Death of your ancestor and which church they attended then a good source of information is the local Parish Magazine. On the page above is the mention of a death in battle from the First World War and the death of Lord Kitchener when HMS Hampshire was sunk. This page dates from July 1916 and comes from St Thomas Leith

This document dating from the 13th May 1891 from the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland confirms the report of the Committee on Constitutions and passed by the Edinburgh Presbytery to grant a new Deed of Constitution for St Thomas Church Leith.

Above can be seen an image of the large Hall at Junction Road Church in 1894 and below is the ground plan.

The above pages form part of the reference and C.V. for Mr Alexander Miller who was applying for the post of Precenter in Junction Road Church. Unfortunately the paper is becoming very faded and dates from 1865.

This is part of an illuminated Scroll given to a Mr A, C.Tail on him Leaving Leith in July 1905. He was a member of Junction Road United Free Church and taught in the Sabbath School of Junction Road Church. He was connected also to the Vulcan Foundry in Leith. (Unfortunately the scroll isn’t very clear)

Crabbie & Co was based in Leith for many years at 108 Great Junction. However Crabbie’s have now left Leith and what was theirProperty is now new housing.

This is part of a plan for a proposed new bottle wahing cellar April 1956.

This is a picture of St Thomas-Junction Road Church on the 14th May 1978

Elder son of Sir James Stewart of Doune and married the daughter of the Earl Marischall 1580 and style Earl of Moray the Bonny Earl became a favourite with the ultra protestant faction and his religious leanings exacerbated his family’s feud with the earl of Huntly who murdered him at Donibristle in 1592.

Painting of the murdered Earl commissioned by his mother. To inspire revenge Moray’s embalmed corpse remained unburied until 1598 when the privy council ordered its burial.

“Ye hielans and ye lowlands
O whaur hae ye been
And laid him on the green
He was a braw callant
And he rid the ring
And the bonnie earl o’Moray
He micht hae been a king
O lang will his ladie look
Owre the castle Doune
Ere she see the earl o’Moray
Come soondan throu the toun
Noo wae be tae ye, Huntly
And wherefore did ye sae?
I had ye bring him wi ye
But forbard ye him to slay
He as a braw callant
And he played at the ghuve
And the bonnie earl o’Moray
He was the queen’s true love
O lang will his ladie look
Owre the Castle Doune
Ere she see the earl o’Moray
Come soundan throu the toun”

A portrait of Moray’s murderer the sixthg earl of Huntly.

Over the centuries Scotland has contributed a great deal to the fact and fiction surrounding the pirate.

The infamous Captain William labeled is believed to have been born in Greenock in 1645 and the father of the US Navy, Scots-born John-Paul Jones, was labelled a pirate in his native country as a result of his daring raids on the British coast. (more…)

Coasts of Scotland on marine charts, 1580-1850

Whilst marine charts of this period obviously focus on nautical information for mariners, they also play an important part in establishing the coastline and shape of Scotland, as well as providing often unique information on coastal settlements and ports. (more…)

The sentiment which led people to bury their dead within the shadow of the church impelled others to covet the higher privilege of burial within the church itself. No doubt many devout men Catholics, Episcopalians and Protestants have been buried interred within the church wherein when living they used to sing and pray and perform the rites of their religion. (more…)

-Illustrating the change from Scots wearing the “Irish dress” to the great-kilt, or belted plaid.

-Illustrating the change from Scots wearing the “Irish dress” to the great-kilt, or belted plaid.
Highlanders wearing “Dyed shirts” and a “light wrap of wool of different colours.” - Jean de Beaugue’, 1540’s. (more…)

The Broad Wynd was a noted place a long time ago. In it are yet to be seen many old houses which must have been important ones in their day. We find in the “Takes and Traditions of Leith” that in 1739 the declaration of war against Spain was declared in this year at the foot of the Brad Wynd and at the end of the pier. (more…)

Up to 1840 there stood a fine old building at the head of the Sheriff Brae facing the Coalhill usually described as the residence of one of the Logans of Restalrig. The upper row of windows which rose above the eaves of the house were elegantly sculptured and bore various dates and devices and these are still preserved having been built into the north wall of St Thomas manse. (more…)

The inscription is as follows-“In memory of James Combe MD who died 14th February 1883 aged 87

James Combe was born in 1796. He became a licentiate in medicine in 1814 and was sitting for the degree of Doctor when the guns of Edinburgh Castle were announcing the victory of Waterloo. He sailed soon afterwards for India where he developed extensive experience with the Army. He was an authority on Cholera and was very useful during the epidemics which broke out in the country in 1832 and again in 1847. (more…)

The inscription runs-William Thomson died 28th March 1889. Sarah Wishart his wife died 13th December 1889.

James Thomson born in the year 1756 was the son of a bonnet laird at Loanhead. He followed the building trade when he came to Leith. James Place, John’s Place and Thomson’s buildings were erected by him. He is also said to have built the first Leith Academy in 1796 or 1806. (more…)

Leith c1877 by Telemaco Signorini (1835-1901)

The view is the Kirkgate at the corner of St Anthony Street. The original is in the gallery of Modern Art Florence.

At the Pipes and at the end of Water Lane Messrs J and Ebenezer Murray had their grocer’s shop for many years. Eban was a well known man and a character in his day. In the Sheriff Brae there was an extensive soap manufactury carried on by the old firm of Jameson and Auld. The date of the building is shown on a stone in the wall opposite to Mr Darge’s public house-built in 1583. Rebuilt by T.J (Thomas Jameson) 1800-which shows it must have been a very old establishment. Mr Jameson was a brother of Professor Jameson of the Natural History Chair of the University of Edinburgh. Mr Auld was long in the service of the Hudson Bay Company and for some years a magistrate in Leith under the old system. The soap work was latterly carried on by William Taylor and Co whose name can still be seen on the gateway. The premises are now partly owned by Mr George Taylor, dairyman. (more…)

These pages mention the “Magistrates and Masters of Incorporations of Leith, The Superintendence of the Docks, Commissioners of Police etc of 1829.

Junction Road United Presbyterian Church Bazaar 1896. In Aid of the building Fund

Junction Road United Free Church Leith Bazaar 1906

Crawford’s Advert from June 1911

Life and Work from June 1911

Life and Work from February 1913

The covers of very rare early editions of Life and Work for St Thomas Church Leith and adverts for Church Bazaars along with a early advert for Crawfords Biscuits which started on the Shore Leith.

In the old part of Leith-the Kirkgate, Tolbooth Wynd, Coalhill, Sheriff Brae, Giles Street, Yardheads. Many of the old merchants and traders had their places of business in the early 19th century. (more…)

This document is one of the few calls to a minister in existence and is the call of the Rev Francis Muir from the Relief Church in Leith dated 1823.and is signed by both the elders and members of the congregation.
Below is a reference given for the Re Francis Muir from Mr Andrew Simson Master of the Parish School

Reproduced with permission of Rev George Shand and the Kirk Session of St Thomas-Junction Road Parish Church , Leith

This is a interesting map of Leith showing the Gallowlee approximately in the centre of the section shown. The full map of Leith and Edinburgh shows all the gallow in Edinburgh.

From 1759-Richard Cooper ” A pl;an of the City of Edinburgh with adjacent grounds”

The Gallowlee midway between Edinburgh and Leith and near the present Shrub Place was a well known and famous place. An old “Chronical of Tales and Traditions of Leith” thus narrates about it-“During the troublous times of Morton’s regency the Gallowlee had rather an undue share of notoriety.

According to Captain Grant while Morton strung up his prisoners by fifties on a gigantic gallows at the Gallowlee midway between Leith and Edinburgh, the Loyalists displayed an equal number on a gibbet which reared its ghastly outline on the Castle Hill, in view of the Regents camp. (more…)

Edinburgh City Libraries

If you can help identify any of these pictures, please contact staff in the Edinburgh Room: 0131 242 8030 or [email protected].

What is happening here?

Where is this house?

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The images below come from a book called “A Beacon in our Town” “The Story of Leith Hospital” by Christine Hoy which tells of the establishment of the first hospital in the 15th century to the closure of Leith Hospital in the 1980’s. It is a very well written book which should not only be read by anybody who consider themselves a Leither but by anyone who cares about health and medicine in Scotland. However there is more because this hospital gave hope to many and left a huge legacy to the people of Leith and a very great inspiration to many

A Ward in the Old Leith Hospital

The Children’s Ward Leith Hospital

Sir Gilbert Archer and the Princess Royal at the opening of the Nurses Home Leith Hospital

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In early July on Leith links a special Golf competition took place. The Leith Rules Golf Hickory Open.

Hugh Blackie and Tom Nichol

This is one event that tries to ensure that Leith Links receives due recognition for the part it played in the history of Golf-the first rules of the game were formed by golfers playing there in 1744. (more…)

HE had a relish for life - and a voracious appetite for drink and women. And he wrote it all down. James Boswell is perhaps best known for penning The Life of Samuel Johnson, regarded by many as the finest biography ever written in the English language.

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SHE was the original Charlie’s angel. A pistol-packing sister of the ’45 who defied her husband and rallied 300 troops to stand behind Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobite cause.

Her leadership led to the Rout of Moy, but the bravery of Anne Mackintosh, known as Colonel Anne, is unrecognised and until now she has been buried in an unmarked grave in a Leith cemetery. (more…)

The Scottish Genealogical Society have brought out two very useful booklets the first one being the “Duddingston Monumental Inscriptions” which includes the Duddingston “Poll Tax” records for 1694-1699.

Plan of Duddingston Churchyard

Plan of North Leith (or Coburg St) Churchyard

The next one which has just been issued is the “Leith Monumental Inscriptions” for both North and South Leith Churchyards. Both books being published by the “Scottish Genealogical Society” and both books being edited and compiled by D. Richard Torrance

Plan of South Leith Churchyard

The stones of North Leith (or Coburg Street) churchyard were recorded by John Fowler Mitchell CIE in the early 1950’s since then nearly a third of the Churchyard has been lost through vandalism and the Water of Leith.

The stones of South Leith were first transcribe in 1960 by Sidney Cramer

All enquiries about the availability and price of the two above books should be made to-The Scottish Genealogical Society, 15 Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh EH1 2JL or by email at [email protected].

Duddingston Kirk

For enquiries about unmarked graves at any of these graveyards should be made to the Scottish Archives pre 1859 and for post 1859 to the City of Edinburgh Council at Mortonhall Crematorium.

The aim was to establish;

1) That South Leith Parish Church had a Choir area and Transepts as according the Pentworth Map and written documentary evidence. Also to confirm that the length of the Church was 225 feet from East to West. and-
2) To discover the foundations of the King James VI Hospital, Session House and Grammar School

The survey was carried out by the dept of Archaeology from the University of Edinburgh. (more…)

Leith in the early 19th century was famous for brewing. And celebrated in the famous ale brewed by Mr Giles in St Anthony Street Brewery. (more…)

Sir Thomas Graham Lieutenant General in 1810 the hero of St Sebastian, afterwards Lord Lynedoch and proprietor of Balgowan in Perthshire, began life as a Leith Merchant.

Sir James Kempt. Major General in 1812 a distinguished officer under Wellington was a native of leith; he was created a Knight of the Bath. (more…)

The Defence League of Junction Road UP Church came about as a reaction, because of the attitude towards drink in the late 19th century and the Temperance Leagues, to the use of fermented wine at communion. A part of the Congregation was against using fermented wine at Communion and they eventually left to form the Ebenezer Church in 1891. Which must have been very difficult for some people as the split was treated like a death with people using black edged paper to notify the church of there intention to leave.

Letter to the members of Junction Road Church 1890 from Rev James Scott

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The images of the ministers of Junction Road Church from 1822-1974

Rev Francis Muir 1822-1864

Rev James Deans 1865-1878

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From the end of the 18th century down to 1842 or thereabouts Whale ships went yearly from Leith to Greenland and the Davis Strait for Whale fishing. When they came home bumper full as they frequently did the result of a successful fishing they brought much wealth into the port. The owner of most of them was the old respectable firm of Peter and Christopher Wood. (more…)

While going through some papers belonging to St Thomas-Junction Road Church I came across a bundle of papers relating to some research someone was doing on brewing in Leith and the brewing interests of William Younger in particular. Now in this there was nothing new or particularly novel as it is well known that William Younger starting brewing in Leith before moving to Holyrood. (more…)

In St Andrew Street there is an extensive and substantial block of buildings called the Vaults including large vault, grain vaults, warehouses, yard and business offices, extending up St Giles Street. They were long owned as they are yet by the old respectable firm of Messrs J.G.Thomson and Co Wine and spirit merchants and agents in Scotland for the old firm of Barclay, Perkins and Co porter brewers of London. (more…)

The old stone pier of Leith was a strong structure. It was in the past a favourite walk of old Leith folk. Almost every morning betwixt nine and ten o’clock there might be seen among others Thomas Jamieson, of Jamieson and Auld, James White of Adam White and Co, Robert Strong, John Hutton of the Rope Work, James Reach of Charles Cowan and Co, Patrick Hodge etc taking their walk to the end of the pier and back again before they went to business. (more…)

The Leith Shipbuilders did a large amount of business in the past. Robert Mackenzie & Co was an extensive and well known firm and built many fine ships in its day, which traded around the World. The ships it built were of the kind that the poet Longfellow describes in his poem of “The Building of the Ship” (more…)

The spacious Road now known as Leith Walk was as its name implies originally a narrow foot path betwixt Edinburgh and Leith and used only by foot passengers. It owes its origin to fortifications erected by General Leslie in 1650 to oppose Cromwell. (more…)

I just discovered this site and have been in Leith a couple of times looking for places my gggrandfather lived. My gggrandfather was a James Wallace who lived at 4 Junction Street and according to the 1841 census, had 9 children.There are no signs of the family in leith after 1844. He was in the bakery business and apparently some of his sons joined him in the business.

I am looking for old photos which may show that part of Leith on the 1800’s or any Wallace connection which may still be in that area though the family seemed to have emigrated to either Canada or America as I found, Can anyone help?

(Can I mention that the above message came from my other website at www.persevere.lineages.co.uk)

The Old firm of William Sibbald and Co were long in the West India Sugar and Rum Trade. The owned the Isabella Simpson, The Lady Forbes (Captain Gourlay), The Roselle, and Lune. Their Office was in the Kirkgate near the Lochend water pipes “Sibbald Bond” in the docks is still known. They had to give up business somewhere about 1826. (more…)

Generation No. 1

JOHN1 HALDANE (Source: LDS.) was born Abt. 1796 in Leith, and died Aft. 15 November 1871 in Aft 17 September 1866. He married SARAH TATLOCK (Source: (1) LDS., (2) OPR(e).) 8 April 1814 in South Leith OPR, daughter of JAMES TATLOCK and MARGARET BELL. She was born 8 February 1795 in Dundee OPR (Source: OPR(e).), and died Bef. 1865

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Plan of Nave 478 seats

Plan of Gallery 414 seats

William Younger was a Brewer in Leith and this is his will dated 10th May 1770 describing places in Leith at the time.

When a person in the present day walks along the quay or Shore of Leith, he cannot but be struck with the absence of vessels. If half a dozen or so are lying along the quayside from the top of Coalhill to the lower drawbridge it is an exception to the ordinary state of matters. (more…)

This is a couple pages from the notes of Francis Muir minister of Junction Road Church from 1846 and is a example of Communion notes from 1846

Reproduced by kind permission of the Rev George Shand and the Kirk Session of St Thomas Junction Road Church ©

This picture was taken in the doctors sitting room at Leith Hospital in 1906.

© Lothian Health Services Archive, Special
Collections Division, Edinburgh University Library. Acknowledged with thanks.

The Lothian Health Services Archive is a repository for institutional administrative and clinical records, private papers, photographs and objects relating to the past and present of Lothian health. This website aims to act as a gateway into the Archive, giving information on collections, history, and special ongoing projects and services, as well as details about how to contact and visit us.

Please visit the link on the rhs for further information.

One of the highlights from the history of Leith Hospital was the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Kent in 1935.

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The Rannie Monument can be seen on the outside wall on the south side of South Leith Church. The inscription is as follows- “In memory of James Rannie Esq., Wine Merchant, Leith who died the 8th April 1805 aged 69 years.
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I received the following comment- From Mr Iain Colquhoun
“Great - but a noticeable absence is Leith Hospital. I trained as a Nurse there from 1974. Apparently it pioneered the use of Intravenous infusions, a doctor there having laid the basics for it, but it had never been tested due to the danger of causing death. Then a sailor from a ship in the docks was brought in with cholera. As he was likely to die anyway, they gave him IV fluids - and it cured him. So this small hospital had a great claim to fame.

I lived in Buchanan St from 78-86. Great neighbours. Re-visited it in 1992 and walking down street was hailed as if I had never left! That’s Leith for you!”

Mr Colquhoun is right and I have decided to write a series of articles on Leith Hospital. It would help if people who read this site could let me know of their experiences of Leith Hospital in the past and if possible if photographs could be sent as a attachment that would be great.

Leith Hospital was a truly great Leith organisation and very much loved and supported by the town. It was a sad day when it closed but by writing these articles for the next generation there is no reason why it should be forgotten.

John Arthur (Editor)

In the war of 1914-1918 only two small ships were built at Leith for the Royal Navy. During the intervening years the shipbuilding facilities of the port were consolidated into one efficient unit ready to take its share of the National defence. (more…)

Origins lie in the Edinburgh and Leith Humane Society, 1788. A dispensary opened in 1815 followed by a casualty hospital in 1837. Both combined to form Leith Hospital in 1848, which was formally incorporated in 1907. Thereafter it served as a general hospital for men, women and children and included an accident unit. Women medical students were admitted for clinical instruction in 1886. Leith Hospital became part of the Edinburgh Northern Hospitals under the South Eastern Regional Hospital Board. From 1974, it was part of the North Lothian District of Lothian Health Board. The hospital closed in 1987 and functions were transferred to Western General Hospital.
Archival History: Records held within the National Health Service prior to transfer
Immediate Source of Acquisition or Transfer: Leith Hospital Administrator, May 1986

From the “Edinburgh Almanack 1829 entry for the Leith Dispensary and Humane Society.

Publication Note:
Boyd, David H.A. Leith Hospital 1848-1988 Edinburgh: Scottish Academic Press, 1990
Hoy, Christine A Beacon in Our Town: The Story of Leith Hospital Edinburgh, 1988

For further information please go to-
http://www.lhsa.lib.ed.ac.uk

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Quite recently I read of much work being carried out to preserve various aspects of marine historical heritage, may I be permitted to my experience from hatch to dispatch, in a manner of speaking, my position at the time having been an ordinary bottom of the ladder Merchant Navy boss man, or better known within the industry as a Ship Master, sometimes referred to on board ship as the `old man`, or in Official and formal circles as the Captain, I had somewhat hastily been appointed as Master to one my Company’s elderly vessels which was presently loading a bulk cargo of Agricultural Phosphates (fertiliser) at the Belgium port of Antwerp, to be conveyed and delivered to Leith in Scotland. (more…)

FAIRFREE ex HMS Felicity 1946. ex HMCS Coppercliff 1944

Some people may remember, when ships used to ply up and down Leith Harbour, no not the docks, anywhere above the swing bridge, which no longer opens, to the boatyard, which used to be accessed from Ballantyne Place, and could seen from Great Junction Street Bridge, the Leith Shore had its fair share of ships alongside the quays on either side, plus the constant traffic in and out of the East and West Old docks, now filled in. (more…)

Where the Flying Fishes play.

Around about the same period, give or take six months or so, in between real sea-time voyages I used to enjoy similar short encounters on various craft which were counted home jobs but quickly had to fore-go them purely because they could and did not count as sea time for the purpose of sitting the Board of Trade exams for ‘tickets’: (more…)

The “Helen Blake” with Captain W. L. Hume, M.N.I. (second right) with some of the hands who helped re-furbished the ex Life-boat, just prior to presentation to the RNLI museum in Chatham Dockyard. (more…)

WITH A WEE BIT OF BACKGROUND

Inasmuch as my original intention started out simply to record details of the boats which linked my family connection to fishing, it became somewhat bogged down with the innumerable changes of vessel Name(s), Ports, Owners and eventual demise of these craft it became quite obvious that the cold and indifferent list of particulars forming part of this work would make rather fatuous reading and could not be logically presented without associating some informational knowledge regarding the men who made these trawlers a reality, the crew, shore support staff and so many others dependant and depending on the success of such ventures which like most things progressed from relatively small beginnings to become a major business in the national economy. Therefore my story spread further a field to include a little bit of insight to the broad outline of what goes on behind the scenes - when someone goes into a fishmonger to buy a pound of nice fresh fish fillet, do they ever imagine the real effort or cost expended to get it there in the first place!. (more…)

In the dim and distant past before the 1939 war, I was introduced to the rites and mystique of showing cine films for the benefit and enjoyment of others, apart from the occasional Saturday morning visit to a local cinema with most of the other noisy youngsters in our neighbourhood.

The knowledge of how these images were inexplicably thrown on to the screen did not mean anything until a very ancient hand-cranked 35mm Pathe ‘home-movie’ projector came our way together with a large box of film stock which consisted of four-inch spools of old black and white silent films, although some were tinted with blue or sepia-toned effects; not quite colour, but the idea was there.

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A brief background regarding the Firth of Forth Pilotage Authority pertaining to the boarding and landing vessels - sea going cutters and harbour launches.

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The Gibson Window is situated in the South Aisle of the Church and the inscription says-“In memory of Mungo Campbell Gibson born 9th March 2819 died 25th January 1890. Shipowner and Elder in this Church” (more…)

Extracts from Burgh of Edinburgh Records indicated that a communiqué had been received, in 1589, from King James VI requesting that ‘’ane gude shippe be sent to conduct him safely from Denmark to his Scottish
kingdom’’. The Lord Provost, Magistrates and Council contacted the Master of Leith Trinity House, and arranged for the hire of a vessel, manned by twenty four experienced sailors, at least six being qualified as Pilots in Scottish waters.

In 1654 William Robertson was designated as Chief pilot ‘for the better service of the Edinburgh Merchants and all strangers frequenting the Roadstead and Haven of Leith’ dues were fixed - ‘of ilk ship bearing the marks of seven feet of her deeping’, ten shillings Scots per foot, pro rata to those of fourteen feet at thirty shillings. (more…)

During my formative years at day school in Edinburgh, Trinity Academy, the Empire Exhibition, situated at the City of Glasgow Bellahouston Park, opened by King George VI on 3rd May 1938. (more…)

In 1822 George IV became the firsr British monarch in 171 years to vist Scotland. Below can bw seen the “Landing of George IV at Leith” by Alexander Carse.

His entrance into Edinburgh can be seen in John William Ewbanks painting of 1827 below.

Robert Louis Stevenson’s full name was Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson and on many occasions visited South Leith Churchyard from which he got the name John Pew which he immortalised as Blind Pew in Treasure Island. John Silver is buriedin the Old Calton Cemetry Edinburgh however in the 18th century Calton was within the Parish of South Leith. His characters in Kidnapped such as David Balfour and Alan Breck were based on real people the name and description of alan Breck appears in the Custom records of Leith.

This scene is from “Disney’s” version of “Treasure Island” . Many of Stevensons ideas of pirates came from the pirates of Leith.

Stevenson is seen seated in the middle of this picture taken at his house in Samoa 1892

During the 1830’s and 1840’s Ireland was racked by famine with the repeated failure of the potato crop. This English Caricature published in 1831 highlights the callous attitude shown towards the starving Irish by the English and Scots alike and that same attitude existed in Leith as well at the time.

Although better known for his discovery of Logarithms. What is less well known is that he tried to help Sir Robert Logan of Restalrig to discovery Templar treasure at Fast Castle because apart from being a brilliant Mathematician he also dabbled in the black arts.

John Napier of Merchiston. His Tower House still exists and is incorporated into the Napier University Building now at Merchiston Edinburgh.

Within the care of South Leith Church but not on show is a portrait of Robert Dickson (1787-1790) minister of South Leith Church by Sir Henry Raeburn and across the road at Trinity House hangs Raeburn’s famous painting of Admiral Duncan hero of Camperdown and next to it that of Captain Brown the master of Trinty House who sailed the Admiral’s flagship the “Venerable” throughout the bold manoeuvres of that stirring sea fight.

Sir Henry Raeburn

Faceing the Admirals portrait is the huge painting of Vasco de Gama passing the Cape of Good Hope which is truly huge. (more…)

Unbeknown to us care free youngsters, having just returned from delightful holiday at our house in North Berwick, preparations for war had been in place for some considerable time, a government edict strongly advising evacuation for all school pupils in the Edinburgh area, this began for us on Saturday 2nd September 1939. (more…)

After their victory over the English in 1550 the French held a magnificent celebration in Rouen attended by Mary of Guise and Henry II of France. The arrival of the French King in the town is shown in this colourful contemporary manuscript.

This portrait of Mary of Guise is attributed to the 16th century artist Cameille de Lyon. The Siege of Leith only ended on her death in Edinburgh Castle in June 1560

Her coat of arms can be seen in the West Porch of South Leith Church

The Death Mask of Mary, Queen of Scots is now at Lennoxlove which is the seat of the Hamilton Family. Perhaps the Death Mask tells us really how she looked rather then from the many portraits which exist.

The Death Mask of Mary, Queen of Scots

Her Coat of Arms can be seen in the West Porch at South Leith Church.

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Much of what is accepted today as Leith History originated from “The History and Antiquities of Scotland” written by William Maitland and published in 1757. However despite being a excellent historian some of what he says about Leith is being questioned today. However it was Maitland who realised that South Leith Church Orginated from a simple Hopice type building developing later by the additions of the North and South Aisles and a Choir area destroyed during the Siege of Leith.

These two charters shown here could perhaps be amongst the most important charters connected to Leith. The top Charter in two parts and is the donation of Land in Leith in 1230 to the knights of St John at Torphican and the name of the Grand Master is mentioned Godfrey de Saulton. The donor is Gilbert Son of Henry of Leith (a later Henry of Leith becomes Dean at Restalrig Church now St Margaret’s).

Top part. Charter 1230

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This is the first page of “The History of Scotland” written first in Latin by the Bishop of Ross and translated into Scottish by Father James Dalrymple who belonged to the Scots Cloister at Regensburg and was originally translated in 1596. This edition was published by William Blackwood and Sons in 1895.

“The History of Scotland” showing an impossible image of Mary, Queen of Scots and the future James VI/I
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Not far from the haunt of the “Green Lady” in St Anthony Lane there lived an individual sometimes called the “Warlock of the Lees Quarter” but more commonly called the “Warlock Laird”. The Lees Quarter was made up of St Anthony’s and part of the Yardheads.

Martin Schongauer. Temptation of St. Anthony. c.1480-90. Engraving, 12 1/4 x 9″ The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. The forerunner of South Leith Church was the Preceptory of St Anthony. Leith itself has had according to legend Satanic happings.

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I am a latter day Bow-Tow, and proud of it, my great, great paternal grandfather, and those before him, all belonged to the honourable calling of Marine Pilots for their intimate local knowledge of the River and Firth of Forth from Stirling in the West to Barnsness/Fifeness in the East, as were the generations to follow, on my maternal side going equally as far back were all fishermen/pilots, ultimately aspiring to trawler skippers and owners, all having been born and brought up in the village, between Annfield, Main Street, James Street, and the Laverockbank: the women folk mostly having been fish wives. (more…)

HMS Hearty

Thoughts and recollections of being associated with an assortment of steam driven ships of a bygone age, although only a youngster at the time such experiences began for me during the nineteen thirties. (more…)

The Rev William Muirhead D.D. Shanghai China, Senior Missionary of the London Missionary Society in his youth attended Junction Road Church and under the influence of a sermon preached by Mr Muir he resolved to devote his life to the missionary cause. Writing to one of Mr Muir’s sons at the time of his father’s death Mr Muirhead says “When I contemplate my first aspirations after missionary work, my soul clings to him to him as their great instrumental cause. Though I have been long and far separated from him yet I delight to trace my spiritual relation to your dear father as a son in the faith and to whom under God I am largely indebted for the position I now occupy and the course of Christian Service it is mine to follow out”

The Rev William Muirhead
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JAMES HUME, 20 years of age, 13 Lindsay Road, Leith, on the 16th August 1911, rescued a child, 9 years of age, from drowning in Newhaven Harbour, Leith.

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Some memories from the past of Leith celebrated in Stone and Glass

St Ninians Churchyard Coburg St Leith

St Thomas’s Manse bombed during the First World War
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A cannonball, possibly fired during one of the several battles fought in Leith, has been unearthed within seventeenth century ironworking deposits at a construction site in Leith. (more…)

The area where St Anthony’s Preceptory was situated is very rich in myth and legend. This particular story is not well known. If you look at the Pentworth Map you will see a building variously called the Block House of St Anthony or as St Anthony Steeple. (more…)

The Coal Hill was in the late 18th century was according to local legend the favourite resort of all disembodied spirits who were permitted to “revisit the glimpses of the moon” in Leith. At that part of it nearest to the Tolbooth Wynd there were a number of ruinous houses, part of which were occasionally occupied by wandering out casts but for which no rent was either paid or expected. (more…)

At a meeting of the Congregation held on the 15th December 1892 it was resolved to purchase old property adjoining the Church and fronting Bonnington Road in order that it might be demolished and for new halls for the Church erected in the site.

The property was obtained for £500 and by competition the plans of Mr Peter L.Henderson of Edinburgh was chosen and by the 4th October 1894 the work was completed at he cost of £3160 including the price of the old property and other due payments. (more…)

Recollections from an old salt. Captain W. L. Hume, M.N.I., retired Shipmaster, - everything from Tankers to Lighthouse Tenders, Deep Sea to Coasting, Passenger to Salvage Tugs, and, not without a bit of unbelievable comfort, large Luxury Ocean Going Motor Yachts - thought it might be a good idea to jot down some of his recollections from early beginnings and his introduction to a life at sea, being thrown in, as it were, at the deep end, namely as a schoolboy passenger/first tripper on a deep sea trawler, or, in modern television parlance, to quote Captain Manwairing from ‘Dads Army’ - “stupid boy” -.

LEITH Registered “OCEAN FREEMAN” (more…)

Regular contributor Captain W. L. Hume tells the story of the SAMUEL GREEN, built and completed as a mine sweeper/fishing trawler but never commissioned in the Royal navy, spent most of her working life as a luxury steam yacht, and retired as a floating restaurant in Leith Dock restaurant in Leith Docks.

Steam yacht OCEAN MIST on the Caledonian Canal

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Below is a drawing of St Ninian’s Church or the “Auld Kettle". It can still be seen in Quayside Street although today it is offices.

The original Church plate of Junction Road Church

Mary Reid lived in 59 Giles Street where her father was a victual dealer and she was nine year old when on the 11th June 1823 her mother told her to get ready to “gang tae the kirk”. (more…)

The Rev George Gordon Macleod was born at the Free Kirk Church Manse Croy on the 19th November 1853. He was ordained to the Ministry at Carnwath on the 16th November 1876 and inducted at Walsall Presbyterian Church on the 6th February 1881 and the inducted to Junction Road United Presbyterian Church on the 22nd February 1883 and died very suddenly at Leith on the 5th June 1886 and buried at Nairn Cemetery. (more…)

Junction Road Church was known in its early days as “a great Kirk for Captains and Company Porters” the broad beliefs of the Relief Church held at the time of such bigotry seemingly commending it to this class of enterprising, independent men.
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The portrait of the old gentleman sitting with the role of building plans in his hands and looking down approvingly from the wall of the Session Room upon the present generation of Junction Road folks is not the portrait of the architect of the Church .
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Captain Blackwood joined Junction Road Church on October 1842 and at that date there is the following entry in the Role of Members in Mr Muir’s handwriting-
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One of the attractions of portobello in the past was its pier which had a saloon, tearoom and concert hall. The pier closed for good during the First World War.

The Beadle Alexander Bain could tell many interesting stories of the early days of the Junction Road Congregation. Like how they sat on rough deal boards set up on trestles in the “laft” of the Church along with the other worshippers when the building was newly opened, that portion not being finished. (more…)

By tradition one of the most frightening places in Leith was supposed to be St Anthony Lane just at the rear of the present day Church Halls for South Leith Parish Church. (more…)

Despite all the improvements in Policing and Court Procedures etc crime does seem to be on the increase. So how did our forebears deal with rogues in yesteryear? There was one method very common in Leith and Restalrig which in many histories is missed out for one reason or another. (more…)

I have been unable to find the origins of this story outside the history and traditions of Leith. However the details although meagre in the extreme tell a very interesting story. The Green Tree was an area in Giles Street and did exist and appears on old maps and stood near to vinegar Close which was removed during the Leith Improvement of 1880. Vinegar Close ran from the Yardheads to Giles Street across what is now Henderson Street. (more…)

The large mound on Leith Links near to Leith Primary School which is sometimes called the Giant’s Grave but more generally called the Giants Brae is usually stated in the historical accounts of Leith to have been thrown up by the English during the Siege of Leith in 1560. In this case tradition is at issue with history and I shall now give the traditional account of its origin. (more…)

Alexander Blackwood youngest son of Captain Alexander Blackwood was born in Ayr in 1836. (more…)

Wool Sales, 1884 who had their premises in Leith at 129 Constitution Street, Leith.
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Alexander Bain alias “Sandy” or “Sanders” as he was familiarly called was born at Kemp‘s Close Leith, which was demolished in the Municipal Improvement Scheme of 1880, on the 19th October 1782. (more…)

On the evening of Tuesday 26th January 1890 the Congregation assembled in Junction Road Church to celebrated the jubilee of Robert Wright as an elder. (more…)

Francis Muir was the first minister of the Relief Church of Junction Road.He was born at Strathhaven on the 13th August 1797 and ordained at Leith 11th June 1823. He was Moderstor of the Relief Synod in 1841 and was for forty-eight years minister of Junction Road. He died at his house in north Fort Street on the 13th September 1871.

Francis Muir

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Some adverts from 1911 and 1913 which appeared in the Life and Work magazine for St Thomas Church Leith. (more…)

Do you recognise anyone in the the Photographs? The first one is of the 17th Leith Company of the Boy’s Brigade taken during the session of 1926-27 from Junction Road Church. What are their stories? What happened to them? and below are members of the Kirk Session either of St Thomas’s or Junction Road taken around c1920. Who are they does anyone recognise them now? (more…)

I was looking at old photographs recently at St Thomas-Junction Road Church and came across a collection of Photographs entitled “St Thomas’s Parish Church Leith, Rev J.A. Fleming minister and Session 1908” mounted on a brown board and presumably had been framed at one time. (more…)

High up on the north side of the tower of South Leith Parish Church can be seen the Coat of Arms of King James VI of Scotland and first of England not only this but on the west side can be seen the Coat of Arms of Charles I his son and successor who was executed in 1649. Within the Tower can be seen the Coats of Arms of his grandmother Maria de Loraine wife of James V better known as Maria de Guise and his mother Mary, Queen of Scots. (more…)

This is the last known picture of the congregation of the Harper Memorial Church Coburg Street leaving Church after a Communion Service cira 1962 (more…)

Robert Louis Stevenson’s full name was Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson (while in his twenties he dropped the Balfour name) and while in his twenties he visited South Leith Church to find his ancestors graves he passed a grave to a John Pew. This named he used for Blind Pew in “Treasure Island”. His knowledge of pirates is based on the true recollections of Leith Pirates of long ago and how they use to attack the Portuguese and Dutch. (more…)

“Headland Archaeology are currently excavating a site for Barratt Homes on Giles Street. All evidence so far relates to post-medieval buildings on the (former) St Andrews Street and Giles Street frontage, including some interesting early cellars.
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These are pictures of some of the streets and alleys swept away at the end of the 19th century by the “Leith Improvement Act”

MeikleJohn’s Close and Horse Wynd, Leith

Vinegar Close and Yardheads, Leith

Lauries’s Close and Binnie’s Close, Leith

In Addition to their ordinary revenue from lands, rents and gifts, the Preceptory of St Anthony were entitled to a Scots Quart of Wine out of every tun or cask imported into Leith. (more…)

“Few people in Leith or elsewhere nowadays are acquainted with the expression “The Leith Nobility”. Yet true it is that the expression was neither a groundless nor a satirical one. (more…)

These images of Leith belong to the Leith of the past but they still live on in the memory of many people. (more…)

This has been included because of the many Leith and Edinburgh places mentioned in the genealogy. The genealogy below is taken from “Bermudian Genealogy” with permission and shows in detail how a family can move from one part of the world to the other. It is a very fine piece of genealogical research and well worth reading. (more…)

John Martine in 1888 who also wrote “Reminiscences of the Royal Burgh of Haddington” wrote the “Reminiscences of the Port and Town of Leith". In the introduction he writes.
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I came across this website while looking for something else and I think it is excellent. So if anyone can help please contact him. The website is at http://www.angelfire.com/nb/henryrobb/main1.html and is well worth a visit
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Below is the introduction the “The Ships List” a excellent site for anyone searching for anything to do with shipping including passenger lists, fleet lists etc, the site can be found athttp://www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines/leith.htm and a link can be found on the rhs
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The picture below is of Smiths Land in Fox Street Leith. Also known as the “Irish Barracks 1924

James Mackenzie remembers “We tried to start a union. A chap in the shop where I worked got all the barmen together to hold a meetin an’ get a union. (more…)

The pictures below are of the front and rear of the Harper Memorial Church which later became St Ninians Coburg St Leith and they are perhaps the only ones in existence. The Church itself closed in the 1960’s and was later demolished. The congregation is now amalgamated into North Leith Parish Church.

Front from Coburg Street

Rear from the Water of Leith

The minute of the 7th July 1645 begins a new era at South Leith Church and it covers a period that has been discussed and argued over ever since as the entry in the records doesn’t exactly answer the question as to whether or not Cromwell occupied the Church. However the implications of the record are that he probably did. (more…)

The areas of Leith which were the responsibility of individual Elders or Elders was called a quarter and they were the “Sands”, “Hill”, “Lees”, “Craigend”. (more…)

The “Church Buird Clothes” were cloths spread on the boards or tables which were specially erected within the Church at South Leith for Communion before pews had become a common feature of the Church.. The church prior to the 18th century had a dirt floor and tables where erected within the Church and then a fence erected around the tables. This can be seen from the Kirk record of the 5th April 1632. (more…)

Did you know that Storrie’s Alley which ran of the Old Kirkgate was named after James Storie who was a Brewer in Leith during the great Plague of Leith in 1645 and one of his large Cooper kettles was used to boil clothes on Leith Links? He is mentioned in the South leith Records of the 23rd November 1645. (more…)

The connection between South Leith and Leith Academy go back several hundred years and for interest here are three entries from the Session records about the appointment of Master of the Grammar School as Leith Academy was then so called. (more…)

On the outside south wall of South leith Church is a monument to James Rannie as follows ” In Memory of James Rannie Esq. Wine Merchant, Leith, who died the 8th April 1805 aged 69 years (more…)

Lochend lies approximately half a mile from Restalrig and a mile from Leith and was the site of the Logan Castle/fortified house

The House of the Logans Barons of leith and Restalrig, Lochend 1847

View of Lochend 1847

View of Restalrig Church now St Margarets c1880

Restalrig Church now St Margart’s 1817 by James Skene

This is a view of Jock’s Lodge near to Restaltig and showing the road to Portobello about c1880

Views of Portobello c1880, top l. Ramsay Lane, centre top The Established Church, top r High Street looking east, bl Town Hall now a police station, br Episcopalian Church c1880

High Street, Portobello, c1880

Portobello 1838 (after W.B.Scott)

Signal Tower. Leith Harbour 1829 (After Shepherd)

St James Chapel, Leith 1820, After Storer

St James 1882. Fortunately it still exists but not as a church. from a photograph by Mr J. Chapman

A DESCRIPTION of North Leith given in a traveller’s guide dated 1787 did not paint an encouraging picture. Very little had changed for over a century and it consisted of one main street which ran from the bridge and had many narrow lanes and closes leading off. Some of these ran down to the carpenter’s yards by the river and others on the North side gave access to the gardens used by the inhabitants. The buildings were described as being very mean in their appearance and were inhabited by people who let their rooms during the summer months for those who wished to bathe in the salt water of the Forth. (more…)

IF you’d asked for vinegar in your chips in a Leith ‘chippy’ some years ago, the chances are that it would have been from a bottle labelled Grimble’s Malt Vinegar. (more…)

Registrum Secreti Sigilli Regum Scotorum. The Register of the Privy Seal, 1488- 1584 (Registrum Secreti Sigilli Regum Scotorum or RSS for short) has been published in 8 volumes. They are fully indexed by person, place and office with the addition of a subject index in vol. 8. (more…)

Robert Liddle (1823-1870)

“Like his father, Robert Liddle worked as a carter in Coldstream. He married Isabella Kelly on 12 March 1847 in the Coldstream Parish Church. Born in Yetholm in the neighbouring county of Roxburghshire, Isabella was the daughter of a soldier, formerly of the Royal Artillery at Woolwich, Kent, England. (more…)

This is a interesting Website that I have come across today and although it is a genealogical site should be of interest to people interested in the history of Leith due to the fact that the Logans were Barons of Leith and Restalrig. The site can be found at http://web2.airmail.net/rsfalls/. There is a link on the rhs

The times, seasons and methods of Farming were determined at open air meetings of the local farmers known as the Burlaw Court held fortnightly in the Docot Park on the farm of Newmains whose fields were where Hermitage Place and the streets nearby now stand. (more…)

In Scotland a very important advance under the Commonwealth was the introduction of Newspapers. Among these were “A diurnal of passages and affairs, a reprint at Leith of a paper published in London commenced in November 1652. The Mercurius Politicus was issued from the citadel in the following year with the motto from Horace “Ita vertere seria” printed at London and reprinted at Leith. This journal varied from eight to sixteen quarto pages. (more…)

These are some views of Newhaven as it was in the 188o’s (more…)

Some views of Leith Walk, Leith as it was in the 1880’s (more…)

A Plan of Leith showing the Eastern fortifictions in1693. From Greenville Collins “Great Britain’s Coasting Pilot, London 1693. (more…)

A view of Bonnington and the Water of Leith as it was in 1851. From a drawing by William Channing. (more…)

Going from left to right Bonnington house, Steewartfield, centre Redbraes, right to left Silvermills House, Broughton House, Powder Hall, Canonmills House. c1880 (more…)

Above the curious little hill on Arthur Seat called the Haggis Knowe or sometimes called the Fairies Knowe stands the ruins of a chapel and what was believed to be a hermitage of St Anthony. Recently it has been discovered that it was a monastic custom house and storage building for wool. Furthermore it was more then likely connected to the Preceptory of St Anthony of Leith (more…)

There were three Lords of the Manor of Restalrig -the lords Balmerino, Sir William Purves of Abbeyhill, the persecutor of the Covenanters and the Nisbets of Craigentinny of whom the first Laird James having purchased the lands from the notorious Sir Robert Logan, the last of Restalrig built what was the oldest and most interesting of Restalrig’s Mansions
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The first mention of Leith in the historic record is in the foundation charter of Holyrood Abbey granted by David I in 1128. (more…)

Despite many writers on the history of Leith insisting that Mary de Guise had a palace. They are wrong because her palace was in Edinburgh under Edinburgh Castle on the site of the Free Church College beside New College. The Palace itself was demolished in 1846 (more…)

The Churchyard at South Leith was already ancient at the time of the Reformation and had already become the resting place for generations of Leithers who had been buried there with the solemn words and ritual of the Roman Catholic Church. (more…)

A former feature of the Churchyard at South was the King James Hospital in the South West portion. The Hospital proper was a plan erection resembling a tenement which according to Kincaid measured fifty feet by thirty feet. (more…)

The Presbyterians returned from the Meeting House in 1692 and the communion that year was no ordinary affair as the Kirk Records testify. The Church was cleared and all the seats removed as in former times so that the tables could be se up as in former times.
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George Wishart so well known as the author of the elegant “Latin memoirs of Montrose” a copy which was suspended at the neck of the great Cavalier and soldier at his execution in 1650.was appointed minister of North Leith in 1638 when the signing of the covenant as a protection against England, the King and became a test of Faith and allegiance to Scotland. Deposed for refusal to subscribe to it, (more…)

This history of the American Consulate in Leith is excellent and I would like to share it with my readers. (more…)

I came across this website today on the history of Theatre in Edinburgh and I thought it was excellent which included the following piece on the “Gaity Theatre” which stood in the old Kirkgate Leith. A photograph of the theatre can be found below and at http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/Edinburgh/Gaiety2.htm and is well worth a visit
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These monumental stones were originally within South Leith Church however they were removed when the Church was restored in 1847/48 as the floor within the Church was lowered by eighteen inches. (more…)

On the west side of Shore Place (formally Queen Street) once stood an early Episcopalian Chapel. Referring to the period of Culloden, Chalmers says-“Throughout these troublesome days a little Episcopalian congregation was kept together in Leith, their place of worship being the first floor of an old dull looking house in Queen Street (dated 1516) the lower floor of which was in my recollection a police office” (more…)

Mr Daniel Wilson in his “Memorials of Edinburgh vol 1 page 94” remarks-“The fine old mansion of this family (Balmerino) still stands at the corner of Coatfield lane, in the Kirkgate. (more…)

Since the Reformation of the Church of Scotland in 1560 harsh laws were imposed in Scotland just for being a Roman Catholic and this only being changed in the early years of the 19th century. (more…)

For anybody who thinks of Scotland in terms of shortbread, kilts, whisky,couthy highlanders, Brigadoon and what the Scottish Tourist Industry tells us is the image of Scotland. The picture below could come as a shock and may change your idea or mental image of Scotland. (more…)

The Cant Ordinary was a Tavern in the Kirkgate beside Trinity House. Unfortunately it was demolished in 1883 because it probably was one of the oldest buildings in Leith perhaps dateing to the 12th century however the top part dated from the 16th/17th century. In its time ministers of South Leith stayed there, and during the time of the regents meetings took place here that effected the future of Scotland, in the later 17th/18th century duels took place here.

The Cant Ordinary, Kirkgate, Leith c1880

This map shows part of North Leith in 1852, Junction Bridge is seen along with the hospice for incurables erected by Sir John Gladstone in 1842. Also the Leith Engine Works which later became Hawthorns. North Leith Free Church can also be seen. (more…)

This is part of John and Cornelius Blaeu’s Map of the Lothians and Linlithgow of 1654 taken from their atlas. (more…)

This is part of John Elphinston’s map of the three Lothians of 1744 and dedicated to the Earl of Hopton and shows leith in context with the surrounding area (more…)

This is one of the earliest records of Tolls and Customs at Leith (more…)

The Logans of Restalrig were Barons of Leith and Restalrig since 1385. Although the last Robert Logan was disinherited in 1609 the family regained some of their property in Leith and became merchants. They are now connected with the Borders. Below can be seen an example of one of their charters (more…)

The name of Tolbooth Wynd comes from the fact that this was where the Tolbooth of Leith was. Erected on the instructions of Mary, Queen of Scots after much trouble. She had instructed the Council to erect this but after being ignored several times she wrote again “We charge you that you permit our inhabitants of our said town of Leith to build and edify our house of justice within our said town of Leith and make no stop or impediment to them to do the same for it is our will that the same be built and that you desist from further molesting them in time coming as you will answer to us thereupon”
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Near to the top of the Old Tolbooth Wynd an ancient signal Tower once stood and can be seen in an old engraving below. (more…)

During the craze for Canal Building in the late 18th and early 19th century there was a proposal to build a canal across Leith Links to join Leith Docks with the Forth-Clyde Canal and that is what is shown on this map. Fortunately it never happened! (more…)

It may seem strange describing Torphichen Church on a website dedicated to the history of Leith. However in 1230 Gilbert son of Henry of Leith donated the site on which South Leith Church now stands to Godfrey de Saulton who was the Grand Master of the knights of St John at Torphichen in 1230. Nothing happened with this donation until 1320 when the Knights of St John came into Leith possibly to treat Robert the Bruce as according to the Parliamentary records Robert the Bruce came to Leith from Dundee at exactly the same time. Furthermore the ground plan of South Leith Church shown on the Pentworth Map of 1560 is identical to the plan shown below for Torphichen Church. The footings of the Transepts and Choir still exist under the Churchyard at South Leith Church. Furthermore the first Protestant minister of South Leith belonged to the Lindsay family it seems strange to find possibly the self same family connected to Torphichen as well (more…)

It is recorded that Scottish Ships during the log wars with the Edwards of England almost destroyed English Sea Power. (more…)

The first mention made of shipping in the Forth in any quantity is in 1411. When as chroniclers Burchett and Rain record that a squadron of ten English Ship of war under Sir Robert Umfraville Vice-Admiral of England attacked and ravaged both sides of the Forth for fourteen days and destroyed many ships including one called the “Great Galliot of Scotland”. - and returned to England with so much plunder and prizes that prices fell in England. His nickname became “Robin Mend-the-Market”. (more…)

In 1820 Lord Erskine visited Leith after fifty years and a banquet was given in his honour in the assembly rooms at which many members of the Scottish Bar were in attendance. The following day he returned to London by sea from Leith taking ship on the famous fighting smack called the “Favourite” captained by a famous Leith Captain Mark Sanderson. (more…)

About 1770 a few merchants started to build houses in the vicinity of Leith Links. These were followed by others however no plan was adhered to. (more…)

The casual visitor to the district of Restalrig neat Leith, when he looks on the little church surrounded by a small Churchyard and set today in the midst of a great new housing scheme, would never imgine the wealth of tradition and the long history centred in that unpretentious building-the Parish Church of Restalrig (now called St Margaret’s).
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This plan of South Leith Church and Trinity house comes from the first ordinance survey map of Leith in 1852 (more…)

This plan comes from “A plan of Edinburgh with adjacent grounds” by Richard Cooper 1759 (more…)

The top drawing byJames Skene is of the Sheepheid Wynd Leith and below is Smeaton Close or Smiton Close by James Grant c1850 (more…)

In many ways Restalrig was the earliest Christian settlement in the area with the coming of the cult of St Triduana. On the death of St Triduana in the 4th or 7th century the date is uncertain she was buried at Restalrig and near to where she was buried a well sprung up and pilgrims from all over came to bath their eyes in the water. This ceased at the Reformation. Her Well suffered a name change to St Margaret’s Well. (more…)

The Preceptory of St Anthony stood on what is now the Church Halls of South leith Parish Church. It was destroyed during the Siege of Leith in 1560 however over a period of some two hundred years it developed into one of the largest churches in Scotland unfortunately nothing remains of it today. The hospital of the preceptory later became Trinity House. This is a English translation of the Charter from the Latin. (more…)

This map was done in approximately 1530 and is based on the memory of Alexander Alesius who left Scotland because of his Protestant beliefs. The map appears in the Cosmologue of approximately 1550 (more…)

The Balmerino family had long connections with Leith. However it is with the sixth Lord that the family connection with Leith came to an end. (more…)

One of the most famous Charters in the history of Scotland and one which it is often stated to have started all the troubles between Leith and Edinburgh was one granted to the City of Edinburgh by Robert the Bruce dated the 28th May 1329. However this Charter only confirms an earlier Charter of Alexander III (1241-1286). It is written in the following terms- (more…)

On the 20th August 1561, Queen Mary landed at the Town to take possession of the throne of her ancestors. The time was about eight in the morning and Leith must have presented a different aspect from the proceeding year when the canon of the besiegers thundered against the walls. (more…)

At Pilrig St.Paul’s we have about 30 copies of a small book by James Marshall( formerly Associate Minister at South Leith and well known LeithHistorian) The book is entitled ” Old Leith at Work". This is a excellent book to purchase and is priced at £2. If you like a copy please let me know by emailing [email protected]. This is a very difficult book to obtain and well worth reading for the details of the trades of old Leith. So if you are into local History or Genealogy this is a must for you.

If Leith is about anything it is about the Sea and Ships. Leith has been a port for well over two thousand years. It is the port which has shaped its history and will its future destiny. Here are some views of the harbour from its past

Leith Pier and harbour 1798 (more…)

A writer in the “Bee” a extinct Edinburgh newspaper wrote in 1792 “that thirty years earlier there was only one glass company in Scotland the employees working for six months in Glasgow and the following six months at Leith”. (more…)

The fisher folk of Newhaven had many superstitions which are now slowly going out of fashion now. Foe example while at sea if the idea of a cat or pig should cross the mind then the name of the animal could not be mention and if mentioned only in very veiled terms. To think of dogs was bad luck and to think of a hare was absolutely terrible! (more…)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. While accepting most of the Timeline below. I would suggest that according to research done the rules of Golf were first formulated on the Links of Leith and sent to St Andrews which they requested in 1744. (more…)

In the “Old Statistical account” we find it stated that there are appearances of coal on the sea side, in the adjacent part of Royston and Wardie both above and below the water line. At times of scarcity the poor carried this coal away to. There was even a pit sunk at Pilton wood in 1788 but was soon abandoned due to inferiority of the coal found. In the links at Royston can be seen the remains of ancient coal working. (more…)

Just to the west of Leith along the Forth Coast lay the Wardie Muir which must have been a wide, open and desolate place extendinf from Inverleith and Warriston to the shore of the Firth of Forth and from North Inverleith Mains of old called Blaw Wearie on the west to Bonnington on the east traversed by a narrow stream know as the Anchorfield Burn. (more…)

Just along the coast from Leith is the town of Portobello now part of Edinburgh. It was once a desolate place and was known as the Figgate Muir and was probably part of the Drumsheugh Forest. Through this flowed the Figgate Burn from Duddingston Loch a continuation of the Braid. (more…)

In front of South Leith Church and where the West Gates now stand stood a tower like edifice called the Kantore. Up to the late 18th century if a person was caught boiling a kettle, cutting a cabbage or eating a radish, or even walking in the Street during the time for Church could be arrested by a military patrol or by elders of the Church called “searchers” and incarcerted in the Kantore.
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John logan was minister of the second charge at South Leith Parish Church between 1773-1786 and is rightfully famous for writing some of the finest Scottish Paraphrases. (more…)

In 1784 James Taylor who lived near Restalrig thought of building a balloon on the same principles as the Montgolfier brothers. He was a poor man who supported himself and his family by writing. (more…)

We hear nowadays how the West unfairly trades with poorer countries. Unfortunately the idea isn’t a new one. (more…)

The Mercurius Politicus-these are rare volumes now held in the National Library of Scotland records that in October 1652 there was a dangerous mutiny among General Monks garrison in Leith due to deductions being made to create a store. (more…)

In 1623 Vice-Admiral Sir William Monson a distinguish English Naval Officer who had served with Raleigh in Elizabeth’s Reign in many expeditions under James VI and who survived till the Reign of Charles I wrote in his book “Naval Tracts” that Leith should be made the Capital of Scotland! (more…)

The author Chambers relates in his book “Book of Days” a curious story which happened in Leith in 1731. The story comes from Lady Clerk of Penicuik (nee Mary Dacre of Kirkliston in Cumberland) who told it to the Blackwood’s Magazine in 1826. (more…)

At the age of twenty seven in 1786 the already acclaimed poet Robert Burns made the two day trek from his native Ayrshire on a borrowed pony to Edinburgh and entered the city by the West Port and shared a room with a friend in the Lawnmarket. (more…)

To guard against a possible French invasion at the time of the Napoleonic wars towers were modelled on the original at Mortella Point in Corsica were built at strategic points around the east coast. One was constructed on mussel Cape Rock at the mouth of the harbour in 1807/9 at the cost of 17,000 pounds. Migrant labourers may have been used for carvings on the stonework describe Irish Folk Symbols. (more…)

Leith Central Station was opened in1903 in a curious set of circumstances. (more…)

Unfortunately the “History of Leith” site has been down over the the past few days due to Server problems which have now been resolved. I would like to apologise to all my readers for this however this happened due to circumstances beyond my control.

I have been researching and writing about the “History of Leith” and the Kirk Records of South Leith Parish Church. These records tell not only of the history of the Church, but also the history of the community of Leith over a period of over three hundred years. (more…)

When Leith at last obtained its own Town Council the right of electing the Councillors lay with such of the citizens of leith as were qualified to vote for a member of Parliament, the town being divided into Wards for the purpose of the election. (more…)

On the 22nd June 1679 the covenanters were defeated by the Duke of Monmouth at the Battle of Bothwell Brig and the survivors where held in the Inner Greyfriar Yard which was an extension of the famous Churchyard of Greyfriars in Edinburgh. This part of the Churchyard was later to be called the Covenanters Prison. (more…)

As the name suggests this Close wasn’t originally a Close but an open piece of ground at one time. The name comes about due to a meeting House being erected on this spot in 1688. It was here that the Presbyterian Congregation of South Leith met while the Church at South Leith was Episcopal. Strangely enough the meeting house got the name “John Knox’s Church". (more…)

The recovery of the town from the effects of years of invasion and destruction as these of Hertford would have been long delayed if it wasn’t for the Reformation and the peaceful reign reign of James VI. A period of comparative prosperity began and many new buildings were erected. (more…)

The “Schole of Warre is a poem written by Thomas Churchyard who came to Leith in 1560 with the English army and goes on for eighty verses. (more…)

John White (1867-1951) stands out amomg Scottish Churchmen of the 20th century as a man of contradictions. It is either of a man who got out of touch with the Church he served or a man whose Church abandoned the values he stood for. (more…)

As in the case of David Lindsay of South Leith Church George Wishart of North Leith Church was a staunch Royalist in the year 1638. (more…)

Leith became famous for the following story. The Fairy boy of Leith acted as the drummer to the elves who met every week on the Calton Hill. (more…)

Before ignorance and bigotry were banished by education and the advancement of science. Leith possessed its full share of superstition in common with the rest of the country. Amongst the most imaginary and remarkable with whom the good folk of Leith had to deal was Shelly Coat. A spirit of the waters and so named from his outward covering or coat being formed by seashells. (more…)

In the year 1779, Leith was thrown into the utmost confusion and alarm, by the appearance of the noted John Paul Jones. (more…)

To the people of our town the Churchyard of South Leith is almost as precious and as interesting as the old Church itself. (more…)

This religious house appears to have been founded by King James IV in 1506 in order to provide for the spiritual welfare of the Shipwrights, mariners, and others connected with the Royal Dockyard erected by him at Newhaven. It was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and St James and had a brief existence, having been dissolved or transferred at the time of the Reformation and the site became appropriated as a cemetery for the people of Newhaven. (more…)

James Reoch was born in Leith in November 1757. His father of the same name had come from the Parish of Kirkmichael in Banffshire. (more…)

After the Battle of Sauchieburn which took place near to Bannockburn James III was murdered by a soldier dressed as a priest. The country was in turmoil and James IV was young. However James had made friends with Scotland’s greatest seamen Sir Andrew Wood of Leith which was to be of some importance to the future of Scotland (more…)

The port of Leith today for all intents and purposes is now finished and is now turned to building developments and new housing. How so very different it was over a hundred years ago. (more…)

William Cowper who was Bishop of Galloway in 1619 was addicted to the game of golf and would play as much as possible on the links of Leith. (more…)

It is strange to think that leith today has many fine restaurants and many people think this is a new inovation but that isn’t the case. (more…)

The port of Newhaven lies only a short distance from Leith along the coast. The following is a description given of the Newhaven Fishwives of over eighty years ago. (more…)

In 1795 was established the Corps of the the Royal Leith Volunteers who received their colours on Leith Links on the 26th September (more…)

The Island stands halfway between Leith and Kinghorn in the Firth of Forth and the name according to tradition comes from the Keith Family. (more…)

It is recorded that all pirates who committed crimes or misdemeanours upon the high Seas were down to 1822 hanged within the flood mark. (more…)

Within the Churchyard of Coburg St Leith can be seen the large alter stone of Thomas Gladstone and was the Grandfather of William Ewart Gladstone the famous Victorian Prime Minister.

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In the first years of the 18th century there were the occasional ships between Leith and London. (more…)

In the old Tolbooth Wynd stood the Old Leith Sugar House Company. The circumstances that Leith was a central Port for carrying on West Indian trade Where vessels could be fitted out more easily than on the Clyde and at a lower rate then in London-beside the savings on freight and charges-encouraged the West Indian Planter to make it the place for his consignments. Thus a house house baling sugars was set up in Edinburgh in 1751 and the manufacture was still carried on in 1779 by the company which started it. (more…)

Not really history related but … We are pleased to announced the launch of Persevere a new local community portal for leith featuring News, local links, discussion forums.

The idea of a Leith newspaper has been floating around for years (and has even been tried on a number of occassions) but sadly financial support for the launch of a new paper has been hard to come by so for the time being. However, Leith still needs a voice and its with this in mind that we have launched a site designed to fit in with the modern, up incoming and exciting Leith that we know today.

The site can be found at www.lineages.co.uk/persevere

The reason for my very high regard for South Leith Parish Church is because it does as it preaches. But not only this it has shown a very marked tolerance towards all people over many centuries. (more…)

The Queen Victoria Statue stands at the foot of Leith Walk in what is now the entrance to the New Kirkgate Shopping Centre. (more…)

I was thinking of running courses on Genealogy and local history in Leith. Also to do walking tours around Leith to hear some of the fascinating stories of Leith.

I would like to know how many people would be interested in attending these courses or to do a walking tour by contacting me by email at [email protected]. The basic cost would be £6 per person attending.

Further I was thinking of starting a Genealogy/history magazine which could be posted out on a quarterly basis. Again if you are interested please contact me at the above email address.

I just want to judge the number of people interested in the above ideas in order to judge whether or not it would be viable to do it.

I will wait until the end of the month before letting people know if I have enough interest shown

Some of the highlights of Leith History (more…)

For many centuries horse racing was a favourite pastime in Scotland. In 1552 there was an annual race at Haddington. (more…)

The Links of Leith having been used for many purposes over the centuries and has seen the coming and going of many armies. (more…)

This Project began with a stroke of luck. I have been working on the history of the area covered by the parish of Newton in midlothian,since a local history society began 21/2 years ago. Being a relative incomer,and a librarian,I opted to pursue written material, and set out to comb the indices of any likely looking books, making a chronological card index of anything that I found
MARION M. T. RICHARDSON ©
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IN 1493, Robert Ballantyne, Abbot of Holyrood, first spanned the Water of Leith by a solid stone bridge of three arches, thus connecting South and North Leith. The bridge crossed the stream from a point now known as Old Bridge End, off the Coalhill. (more…)

This article was written for the 150th anniversity of St Thomas-Junction Road Church and shows their commitment to not only only their Parish, but to the Town of Leith, and to the openess and the inclusiveness of the Christian faith. Welcoming everyone of faith and doubt. It is a wonderful inheritance and an example to all. (more…)

This article was written by a young Girl sometime after the First World War and tells of her childhood experiences in Leith. It is written in the dialect and style of the period (more…)

The records from 4th January 1599 - 25th March 1613 for South Leith Parish Church (more…)

Compiled from the Parish Registers for the year 1588 to 1700 and from other original sources, D. Robertson LL.B S.S, Session Clerk Printed by the authority of the Kirk Session by William R. Duff & Co, Leith, Published by Andrew Elliot, 17 Princes Street, Edinburgh, 1911 (more…)

If you enter South Leith Parish Church by the West Porch, you will see in a glass case, what look like two riding caps and a couple of batons. Not very interesting you may think, however, if you do, you would be completely wrong because these objects date from the 18th century and they belonged to the Churchyard Guards who defended the churchyard against the “Resurrectionists” or “Grave Robbers”. (more…)

Adam White was a native of the Parish of Gifford and was born in 1760. He came to Leith at a very early age and after some training in business (more…)

Using in the main the Session Records of South Leith Parish Church this paper explains the close relationship that South Leith Parish Church has had with North Leith parish Church over several hundred years. (more…)

The most important place to start in any research of the history and genealogy of Leith is South leith Churchyard. (more…)

The story of the King James VI is central to the history of Leith and connects its early history with the modern world (more…)

Part 5 South Leith Records 1925. A record of a Commemoration Lecture given by Rev. William Swan.

David Lindsay returns to Leith to die but first he was involved in the Gowrie Conspiracy. One of the most mysterous in Scottish history. (more…)

Part 4 South Leith Records 1925. A record of a Commemoration Lecture given by Rev. William Swan.

The Life and Times of David Lindsay-A Strange dream of the apocalypse (more…)

Of Church,State and Civil War (The Life of David Lindsay (more…)

Part 2 South Leith Records 1925. A record of a Commemoration Lecture given by Rev. William Swan The story of Esme Stewart. (more…)

South Leith Records 1925. A record of a Commemoration Lecture given by Rev. William Swan (more…)

The history of Leith and Restalrig are closely tied together. This week we look at how Restalrig came into being.
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From the records of the Land holdings and medieval Charters of Restalrig that we can find not only the names of the farmers who farmed around the area but we can also reconstruct in our minds eye what Rstalrig would have looked like several hundred years ago. (more…)

I recently got a phone call from my good friend George Scammel who has made many of the ship models which are now in the Ocean Terminal and was interested in Roman Leith as he was interested in building a model of a Roman Galley for the Ocean Terminal and required some information. As I didn’t have the information to hand I had to do some research on this.
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Like any town Leith has changed and evolved through time. The Leith of today and tomorrow is not the Leith of fifty years ago or a hundred years ago. The simple fact is that people live and die, houses and warehouse are built and demolished, ideas and employment’s which were applicable in past centuries are no longer viable today or in the future (more…)

This was the period when episcopacy was re-established in Scotland after the Cromwellian period and the restoration of the Monarchy all legal rights for Presbyterianism being removed. The records of Sir John Foulis of Ravelston give us a brief grimpse into life during theis turbulant time. (more…)

One of the greatest mysteries connected to South Leith Parish church is when it was built and the usual answer is 1483 or about that date but is this date correct ? (more…)

The year was 1746 and at a place called Culloden the Duke of Cumberland defeated the Jacobites and at long last the dreams of the Jacobites of regaining the throne of Great Britain came to a very bloody end. So what impact did this have on Leith with the first flood of displaced people from the Highlands after 1746? (more…)

You may not consider yourself important enough to be remembered but you are because what we do affects what other people do and in turn affects and creates what sort of society we live in (more…)

On the Firth of Forth near to Scotland’s Capital city is the Port of Leith. Not a large Port by international standards but despite this one of the most famous ports not only in Scotland but also in the United Kingdom. Within its small compass the story of Scotland can be told. It has seen war and death, times of plague, battles on the Forth, Kings and Queens of Scotland, days of high adventure, the Reformation of the Church of Scotland started here and was completed in Leith in 1560 decided on the battle field between Leith and Edinburgh at the Siege of Leith, it has seen Trials for Witchcraft, The Knight Templars (Crusaders) and the Knights of St John from Torphican, The Industrial Revolution which brought wealth to a few and misery to the many (the industrial Revolution was the period from the late 18th century to throughout the 19th century which saw people move from the countryside into the large towns and cities to find work in the new factories driven by the newly invented steam engines, it also seen the development of steam trains, the replacement of wooden hull ships by steam ships (eg the Sirius which was built in Leith in the 19th century was the first steamship to cross the Atlantic), the list of famous people and events in the history of Leith is endless. So where to begin the Story….
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