History of Leith, Edinburgh

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…)

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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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…)

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…)