History of Leith, Edinburgh

On this page are found the names of Bernard Lindsay and Barbara Logan who were married at South leith. It was Bernard Lindsay that Bernard Street is named after

On this page from 1608 is the first mention of Communion at South leith Parish Church. Although it would have been celebrated prior to this no record exists.

This page comes from the “South Leith Records and covers the period 17th June 1645-18th June 1645 at the height of the plague in Leith. Mention is made of the Blockhouse which covered the area between St Anthony Street and Great Junction Street and was a Fortress.
(c) South Leith Records

These few sad remains from a 1979 archaeological dig at Darien in Panama is all that is left of Scotlands one and only attempt to have a colony in the New World it was a total disaster. The Ships left from Leith in 1698 and 1699 and very few returned to Scotland most having died from disease and from a hurricane of South Carolina in August 1700..

Leith was the largest importer of wine outside of London in the country much of it coming from Bordeaux. To this day large wine vaults still exist under the streets of Leith.

This was a common sight in Leith in the 18th century when Claret was delivered in much the same way milk is today

This was the worst Railway disaster in British History taking place on the 22nd May 1915.Two trains were involved and on board one were “A” and “D” companies of the Royal Scots. The final total was 127 dead and 246 injured the troops having come from Leith and Musselburgh.

One witness reported that men were asking to be shot rather then suffer the agony they were in.

THERE has been a great deal of publicity given to the new rights of access that were launched following legislation that went through the Scottish Parliament. Everyone can have access to most land and inland water so long as exercising these rights responsibly.

What isn’t always appreciated is that, here in Edinburgh, The Scottish Rights of Way and Access Society – often referred to as ScotWays – has been working to establish, protect and preserve the public’s rights of access in Scotland for a very long time.
for more click on the introduction

Leith was part of the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Bernicia in the 6th century and the angles would have traded with the people of Leith at a Beach market like that shown above