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Bridge over the Water of Leith Upper Drawbridge now Sandport Place Bridge |
Upper Drawbridge, Leith - 1910
© Reproduced with acknowledgement to Archie Foley, Joppa, Edinburgh
Sandport Place Bridge, Leith - 2011
© Copyright: Peter Stubbs - please contact peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk Photo taken: January 21, 2011
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1910 |
2011 |
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Comparison of 1910 and 2011 photos Bridge over the Water of Leith The two photos above show the same view, but were taken about 100 years apart. Both photos look NW across the bridge at Sandport Place, towards Ronaldson's Wharf |
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Upper Drawbridge Location The bridge over the Water of Leith at Sandport Place is where the Upper Drawbridge once stood. This view looks to the NW across the upper drawbridge towards the buildings on Ronaldson's Wharf. The winding gear for the central section of the bridge that opens can be seen in this photo. |
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1870 Map The Upper Drawbridge is the first bridge over the Water of Leith upstream from the bridge linking Commercial Street and Bernard Street. It can be seen on this 1870-71 map, immediately to the left of the letter 'L' of 'LEITH HARBOUR' written in the Water of Leith.
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Google Map This photo of the upper drawbridge was taken from immediately to the right of the point on the 'A' arrow symbol on this Google map.
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Buildings The buildings beside the Water of Leith to the east of the Upper Drawbridge on the north bank of the river in Ronaldson's Wharf. The first two buildings are Kelly & Co and Johnstons Ltd. The signs on their buildings read:
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Another Photo of Upper Drawbridge Here is another photo of Upper Drawbridge, Leith. This photo looks across the river from Coalhill to the old buildings in Ronaldson's Wharf:
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Acknowledgement: Archie Foley, Joppa, Edinburgh: January 5, 2010 The tow photos above are from a series of photos posted onto boards in an old album that Archie Foley acquired a few years ago. Archie believes that these are likely to be official photos that probably once belonged to Leith City Council. |
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Recollections 1 Frank Ferri Newhaven |
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Thank you to Frank Ferri who wrote: |
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Opening the Bridge "That's a wonderful picture of the upper drawbridge at Leith. It is now named Sandport Place, formerly Bridge Street and before that, Bridge End. I remember this bridge well. It was still in use up until at least the late-1950s. When the bridge was required to be raised, employees from Leith Dock Commission would come along, fit a handle to the bridge mechanism, and literally, manually caw the handle to raise it. Meeting Place "The senior citizens of the day would meet beside the chains** on the Leith Docks side of the bridge, for a daily spinning of yarns, including my late grandfather Jock Jones with his wee Cairn Terrier. My grandfather was sadly blinded when working as a 'hauder oan' (holder on) in Robb's shipyard. He was the man who held the hot rivet with a tool on one side whilst the riveter made it fast by hammering the rivet head on the other side.. He was father to 13 daughters and lived at 36 Sandport Street." Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh: January 20+25, 2011 ** See also 'Recollectons 2' below |
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Recollections 2 Frank Ferri Newhaven |
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I asked Frank Ferri about 'the chains' on the drawbridge. |
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Frank replied: The Chains "The bridge pillars were linked with chains. They were in front of the present day heavy traffic guard rail. As kids we would dangerously sit on the chains and swing, completely oblivious that we might just swing in to the water. The old men used to stand just to the right hand side of the drawbridge; that's the north side overlooking Ronaldson's Wharf." Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh: January 25, 2011 |
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Beside the Water of Leith Now, immediately beside the Water of Leith, at the south east corner of the bridge, there are some public benches and an information board, There is also one of the old Leith lamp posts and a metal line on the pavement showing the course of the Water of Leith from Balerno to Leith. |
