History of Leith, Edinburgh

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…)