North side of Kirkgate, Leith

Category

Museums & Galleries Item

Item no

11291

Title

North side of Kirkgate, Leith

Artist / maker

Begbie, Thomas

Date

1858

Size

18 x 14.5 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

City Art Centre

Copyright

The Cavaye Collection of Thomas Begbie Prints ; The City of Edinburgh Council Museums & Galleries

No.31 in volume.

Annotation below title reads 'Wilson's (Memorials of Edin.) thus describes this building "The upper stories appear to have been erected about the end of the 16th century and form a neat and picturesque specimen of the private buildings of this period. But the ground floor presents altogether dissimilar features. An arcade extends along the whole front formed by semicircular arches resting on massive round pillars finished with moulded capitals...that they are of considerable antiquity cannot be doubted" The house was demolished in 1892'

Leith is situated in the north of Edinburgh where the Water of Leith joins the Firth of Forth. It has acted as Edinburgh's maritime connection for many centuries, and continues to be one of the UK's busiest ports. It was incorporated into Edinburgh in 1920 having previously been a separate burgh. It is now home to the Scottish Executive's main offices, Edinburgh's Sikh temple, the Royal Yacht Britannia and Ocean Terminal, a large shopping and entertainment complex.

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