Leith History

Dates

 

1400s

1457

Golf:  Earliest evidence of golf being played in Scotland.  James II forbids playing of golf on Leith Links as it interfered with archery and other defence activities.

1497

Plague:  at Leith

 

1500s

1505

Ship:  The Margaret, first ship of James IV fleet in Scotland launched at Leith.

1511

Ship:  The warship, The Great Michael, then by far the largest ship to have been built in Europe was launched at Newhaven.

1560

Siege:  Leith besieged by the English Army.

1561

Mary Queen of Scotland:  landed at Leith.

1589

James VI:  and his wife Anne of Denmark land at Leith.

 

1600s

1645

James VI:  crosses from Kinghorn to Leith

1645

Plague:  Bubonic plague kills 2,736 out of a population of 4,000.

1645

Charles II:  visits troops on Leith Links.

1655

Citadel of Leith:  Building commenced.

1661

Horse Racing:  Earliest mention in Mercurius Caledonius.

1682 Golf:  James, Duke of York:  plays golf on Leith Links

 

1700s

1710

Stone Pier:  built at Leith

1720

Graving Dock:  built

1754

Mons Meg:  removed to the Tower of London..

1756

Whaling:  Edinburgh Whale Fishing Company established.

1763 Stage Coaches:  between Leith and Edinburgh- journey time 1 hr
1791 Smacks:  start to sail between Leith and London.

 

1800s

1806

Old East Dock:  - built 1800-1806.

1809

Martello Tower:  - built on rocks in the Firth of Forth near Leith Docks, to defend Edinburgh from the French in the Napoleonic wars.

1812

Custom House:  - built.

1818

Junction Bridge:  - built.

1812

Custom House:  - built.

1812

First Steam Boat: - 'Lady of the Lake' begins sailings Leith to Alloa.

1817

Old West Dock:  - built 1810-1817

1821

Trinity Chain Pier:  - built to the west of Newhaven.

1822

George IV:  - landed at Leith  -  the first visit of a British monarch to Scotland since Charles I.

1827

Execution:  - the last to take place in Leith  -  at Constitution Street.

1827

Mons Meg: - returns to Leith, then in procession Edinburgh Castle.

1833

Independence:  -  Leith gains independence from Edinburgh.

1851

Piers extended:  -  East to 4,550 ft, West to 3,103 ft.. - 1826-1851

1851

Leith Hospital:  -  opens.

1852

Victoria Dock:  -  completed (registered for occupation 1851)

1869

Albert Dock:  -  completed (registered for occupation 1853)

1874

Victoria Swing Bridge:  -  built over the Water of Leith in 1874,  then the largest in Britain.

1881

Edinburgh Dock:  -  registered for occupation

1883

Leith Sailors' Home:  -  built  beside the Water of Leith at the entrance to Leith Docks.

1893

Imperial Dock:  - registered for occupation

 

1900s

1905

Electric Trams:  begin.  Edinburgh continues to use cable cars.

1915

Gretna Rail Disaster:  214 officers and men lost.

1920

Amalgamation:  Leith amalgamates with Edinburgh.

1920

Western Breakwater:  -  at Leith Dock  -  completed.

1956

Royal Yacht Britannia:  -  brings Queen Elizabeth II and Duke of Edinburgh to Leith.  The yacht is now decommissioned and is a visitor's attraction at Leith Docks beside Ocean Terminal.

1956

Leith Docks:  -  opening of deep water facilities.

1960

Kirkgate:  -  demolished and rebuilt.

1969

Leith Docks:  -  new entrance opened.

1984

Shipyard:  -  Henry Robb shipyard at Leith Docks closes.

1992

Scottish Office:  -  building commences at Leith Docks.

1995

Tall Ships Race:  -  Cutty Sark Tall Ships Race starts from Leith.

 

2000s

2000+

Waterfront Project  -  major housing developments in Leith Docks.

 

Acknowledgements

Some of the details above are taken from:

1. a list compiled by David S Valentine for a leaflet sponsored by Lothian & Edinburgh Enterprise Ltd. (The list can be consulted at RCAHMS).

2.  'The Port of Leith', a book published by Leith Chamber of Commerce, 1937.  The book has a half-page introduction in each of thirteen European languages and Esperanto.  (The book can be consulted at Leith Library).

 

Leith Sailings - Destinations

Leith Sailings - Exports & Imports

 

 

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