History of Leith, Edinburgh

IT IS one of the city’s best-known buildings, with a history stretching back more than 500 years.

And the building, which housed many of Edinburgh’s early shops in the 1500s and was used as a trading centre until the Victorian era, has also survived attempts to knock it down – before eventually becoming the subject of one of the first conservation projects in Scotland’s history.
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HAVE YOU ever wondered why many people first associate Scotland with red-haired men in kilts with a funny accent imbibing a wee dram of whisky? While there is nothing wrong with that image, there are many more accurate characteristics to describe the people, places and things connected to the blue and white Saltire.

Who are we and how did this small nation develop into such an influential home for intelligent, creative and colourful individuals? Those are questions that we posed to ourselves following reader comments that expressed a desire for more interesting stories on Scotland and its people. Not surprisingly many of you wrote to us from North America, where Scottish descendants by the thousands (and friends of Scotland) live today.
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South Leith Church became the Parish Church of South Leith by Act pf Parliament on the 24th June 1609. The Church will again be celebrating this in 2009 at which time everyone who has had a connection with the Church both now and in the past will be made most welcome.

This was preached at South Leith Church in 1571 at the General Assembly on the 13th January by David Fergussone from Dunfermline and dedicated to the Earl of Mar, Lord Erskine and Regeant to his Kings Majeastie his Realms and lieges

This record shows the begining of the Witchcraft Trials at South Leith Church. Many were found Guilty and executed on the Castle Esplanade.

The English Civil War eventually effected Leith as it was captured by Cromwell in 1650 after the Battle of Dunbar

South Leith Church was for a time a Episcoplalian Church which ended in 1693 and the note on the left hand side covers its subsequent history on the right hand side is the begining of the Presbyterian record at the meeting House which was used until the Church was restored