History of Leith, Edinburgh

The Lubeck letter was written from Haddington after the Battle of Stirling Bridge at which William Wallace defeated the English army of Edward I in 1297. It was written to the the City states of the Hanseatic League of Lubeck and Hamburg telling them that Scotland was independent again and that it was safe to trade again. From this date Leith became the principal port of Scotland before the rise of glasgow in the 18th century.

I have been unable to find the origins of this story outside the history and traditions of Leith. However the details although meagre in the extreme tell a very interesting story. The Green Tree was an area in Giles Street and did exist and appears on old maps and stood near to vinegar Close which was removed during the Leith Improvement of 1880. Vinegar Close ran from the Yardheads to Giles Street across what is now Henderson Street. (more…)

THERE is so much that’s familiar in this picture of one of the busiest junctions in Edinburgh today. Although it was 1958 when our main photo was taken, there are few of today’s city residents who wouldn’t instantly be able to recognise Haymarket.

The most striking difference, though, comes from the traffic on the streets, rather than the buildings around them. for more click here

IT’S a sign of how much of a chord author Maggie O’Farrell struck with the readers of her latest novel that she hasn’t been to an event promoting it without someone telling her their own personal story. “Every single time I have done a reading I’ve had at least one person come up and say to me this happened in my family,” says the writer, who celebrates her 35th birthday tomorrow.

“I had someone recently who remembers being taken to see a great aunt,” Maggie recalls. “She discovered later that her aunt had been raped by a priest when she was 14, but they had believed the priest instead of her. He said she was lying and deranged. Later the priest did it again. This time the family believed the girl. I don’t know what happened to him – prosecuted I suppose. But this woman’s aunt never got out.” for more click here

A satirical look on monkish impropriety. Please see below ” The Charter of Humbert, of the abbey of Saint Anthony”

South Leith Church will be open to all between 2pm and 4pm Monday 4th to Friday 8th June for peace and quiet, private prayer, or just to look around. Tours/Pilgrimages round the Church and grounds may also be arranged. Please contact Jennifer Booth
661 3813 (home) or 554 2578 (Church office)

1833-1839 Provost Adam White
b. Gifford 14.6.1760 d. Leith 31.12.1843

1839-1845 Provost James Reoch
b. Leith 6.11.1768 d. Leith 22.11.1845

1845-1848 Provost Thomas Hutchison
b. Kinghorn, Fife 1796 d. Leith 8.5.1852

1848-1851 Provost George Adinston McLaren
b. Leith 1801 d. Leith 9.3.1881
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