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- This article is about Leith, Scotland; see also other places called Leith.
History
Historically Leith and Edinburgh were separate burghs, but growth over the centuries means that Leith and Edinburgh now form a contiguous urban area. Leith was merged with Edinburgh in 1920 following an unofficial referendum in which the people of Leith voted five to one against the merger.
Leith has a long and prominent role in Scottish history. As the major port access to Edinburgh, Leith has served as the staging point for many of Scottish history's significant events. Mary Queen of Scots' mother - Mary of Guise - ruled Scotland from Leith, as Regent for her daughter in 1560. At that time the Scottish Court was situated in Leith. The Regency ended in disaster with French Catholic troops being ousted by Scottish forces aided by English protestant troops. The following year Mary Queen of Scots arrived in Leith to begin her ill-fated six year reign.
About a century later Leith was both a battleground and ultimately headquarters for Oliver Cromwell forces. An archway of the old Leith Citadel stands as the only remnant of extensive Cromwellian fortifications forced upon Leith following the move north of a roundhead army.
The remains of the battlefield are now a park called the Leith Links and the grassy mounds mark former cannon emplacement earthworks. This was also where the earliest record of golf was found; it was the subject of a ban by King James II in 1457 as it interfered with the more useful sport of archery. The links are the site of an early five hole golf course built in the 18th century. Leith bolsters its claim to being "the home of golf" because the official rules of golf that were initially formulated at Leith in 1744 by the Honorable Company of Edinburgh Golfers were then later adopted by St Andrews.
During the American war of independence John Paul Jones, a Scotsman who is credited as founder of the US Navy, led a flotilla of three former French vessels against Leith. The heavily armed warships were, reputedly, repulsed by appalling weather. Leith built fortifications after this event to prevent any repeat threat to the port and to Edinburgh. Part of Leith is still known as "The Fort" to this day, although all of the 18th century buildings, save a gatehouse, are long since gone.
The docks at Leith underwent severe decline in the post-Second World War period, with the area gaining a reputation for roughness and prostitution. In recent years Leith has undergone significant regeneration and is now a busy port with visits from cruise liners and the home of the Royal Yacht Britannia, Ocean Terminal, and administrative headquarters of the Scottish Executive. The council and government's 'Leith Project' provided a further economic boost. The shore area of Leith, once seedy, is now a centre for a range of new pubs and restaurants in charming surroundings.
The new face of Leith
After the decades of industrial decline, slum clearance and resultant depopulation in the post-war era, Leith gradually began to enjoy an upturn in fortunes in the late 1980s. Several old industrial sites were developed with modest, affordable housing, while small industrial business units were constructed at Swanfield, Bonnington, Seafield and off Lindsay Road. The Shore developed a clutch of upmarket restaurants, while the once industrially-polluted, desolate banks of the Water of Leith were cleaned up and a public walkway opened.
Leith's gradual revival was greatly accelerated, however, by the decision of the Scottish Office (now the Scottish Executive) to purchase the disused and filled-in Old East and Old West Docks as a low-cost site for one of its civil service offices in the mid 1990s. The influx of well-paid civil service jobs boosted local commerce and fostered Leith's growing reputation as a white-collar, small business location. Further large-scale service and tourist development followed, including the Ocean Terminal complex and the permanently moored Royal Yacht Britannia.
In 2004 the owner of the Docks, Forth Ports, announced plans to close down the port and carry out a major redevelopment of the area. The planned development, which was approved by the City of Edinburgh Council in 2005, will be the size of a small town with up to 180,000 new homes; [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4251869.stm it include a luxury residential area named Platinum Point, a central park surrounded by narrow streets, and grand crescents and avenues. The whole project is expected to be completed by about 2020. The plans have not been entirely well received, with concerns being expressed that the scheme does not give enough importance to affordable housing, and that it will only exacerbate the income disparity that already exists in Leith.
Famous people from Leith
- Eduardo Paolozzi - Pop Artist and sculptor.
- Chris Small - professional snooker player.
- John Hunter - Second Governor of New South Wales
- Robert Jameson (1774-1854) - Scottish naturalist and mineralogist.
- John Gladstone - MP and father of William Ewart Gladstone.
- Irvine Welsh - author of Trainspotting and other novels.
- Ross Ollerhead - star of the video for Elton John's hit "Tiny Dancer".
- Dick Gaughan - prominent folk singer from Leith
- Adam Archibald - World War I recipient of the Victoria Cross
Notable streets in Leith
Constitution Street | Great Junction Street | Leith Walk | Timber Bush
Other points of interest
Leith is home to Hibernian FC, who play at Easter Road Stadium. (NB: Easter Road Stadium actually straddles the old council boundary between Edinburgh and Leith, the north end being in Leith, the south in Edinburgh).
The Proclaimers had a hit with "Sunshine on Leith". They are supporters of Hibernian Football Club and the song is regularly played before home matches.
Irvine Welsh was born in Leith and several of his books, including his debut novel Trainspotting and its sequel Porno, are partly set there.
Grand Theft Auto computer game developers Rockstar North are based on Leith Street, the road (continued as Leith Walk) to Leith from central Edinburgh. Prior to this, the company was based within Leith itself - in an office building situated next to Leith Links park. The park itself is honoured in the fourth Grand Theft Auto game, Vice City, where the local country club is called Leaf Links.
External links
- http://www.edinburgh-forthside.co.uk/forthside/
- http://www.leithhistory.co.uk/
- http://www.leithchurches.co.uk/
- http://persevere.lineages.co.uk/
- http://www.waterofleith.org.uk/
References
- John Russell, The Story of Leith, 1922.
Edinburgh | Towns in Scotland | Ports and harbours of Scotland | Former royal burghs
"Leith"