History of Leith, Edinburgh

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.
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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.

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…)