History of Leith, Edinburgh

The Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem originated in the Eleventh Century as a monastic brotherhood caring for the needs of Latin pilgrims in the Holy Land. for more click here

The History of the medieval Order is so well known, and has been published in so many other places, that there seems little point in providing a comprehensive account here. for more click here

The story, which connects the Knights Templars with Freemasonry in Scotland, after their return from the Crusades and after the suppression of their Order, forms one of the most interesting and romantic legends connected with the history of Freemasonry.for more click here

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Leith never had a connection with St Ninian however we have a St Ninian Church and Manse which originaly was the chapel of St Nicholas Hospice in North Leith. Could this be the origins of it as the knights who came to Leith came from Torphichen. If this is correct then it follows that the knights of St John also founded the St Nicholas Hospice-

“In the 5th century St Ninian is remembered for bringing the Christian faith to West Lothian Scotland and building there a small chapel in the village of Torphichen.

Seven centuries later the Knights of St. John established their Scottish headquarters (preceptory) at Torphichen and incorporated the St Ninian’s chapel into their newly constructed (Norman) church, 1168. As a result the Knights dedicated the building to their founder, John the Baptist, while dedicating one of its side altars to St Ninian. A hospital existed on the upper floor of the transept.”

Source-Torphichen Church & Torphichen Preceptory and the Knights of St John

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Dalhousie Castle is ample and well fortified, scil. surrounded by a pinnacled wall of quite polished workmanship, For more click here

…The fifth is the West Port. The castle has been favoured and repaired by recent Kings, and fortified by breastworks on the east…for more click here