History of Leith, Edinburgh

Late 15th- early16th century date uncertain

In 1752 the vessels of Leith amounted to sixty eight, with a tonnage of 6,935; and two years subsequently we find an attempt upon the part of a captain in the royal navy there to defy the Scottish Court of Admiralty in the roads and harbour. (more…)

This is an early charter of South Leith Church. Showing Peter Falconer erecting a Chapel to St peter in the Church

Joseph Knight was born in Guinea and as a boy was either captured by natives and sold to white slavers, or was captured by white Slavers. He was brought to the coast and put onto a Slave ship bound for Jamaica, the Captain of the ship being called Knight. (more…)

By David M. Robertson M.D. FSA. Scot.

During the progress of the restoration of St Marys Church, South Leith, in 1847-48, 1 was one morning waited on by Mr James Dryden, the Inspector of Works to Messrs Hamilton, architects, who requested me to examine a coffin which had just been brought to view,
On proceeding with him to the church, I found at the north end, immediately under the floor of the portion used as the Session Room, a coffin covered with purple velvet (a portion of which is herewith produced) (more…)

Robert Gavin was born in Leith in 1827,his father was Peter Gavin who was a merchant, he never married. Educated at the Leith High School and later studied drawing at the Trustees Academy in Edinburgh. By 1855 he was a ARSA and in 1868-69 went to America and the continent. By 1873 he was living in Tangiers and painted negro subjects. By 1879 he became a RSA. He died in 1883 at Newhaven and was buried in Warriston Cemetery.

The above is taken from the accounts of James IV in 1497 and it can be seen that he made a donation to the New Kirk of Leith to our Ladie eighteen shillings scots. This Church later became South Leith Parish Church

The Barbarian Scot

The legend of Sawney Bean doesn’t appear before the 18th century and may have orginated out of the anti-Scottish propaganda of the mid 18th century due to anti-Jacobite feeling in England.

The picture above is taken from Michael Lynchs A New History of Scotland and below is written.

To London Sawney came,who from his birth
had dropped his folio gates on mother earth
Shown to a boghouse,gazed with wondering eyes
then down each venthole thrust his brawny thighs
And squeezing cry’d Sawney cried Sawneys a laird I trow
never did he disembaage till now