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Leith Licensed Victuallers Cycling Club
Unknown, 1895,
Leith Licensed Victuallers Cycling Club
Leith Licensed Victuallers Cycling Club
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Related
Location
Category
Library Item
Item no
1746
Title
Leith Licensed Victuallers Cycling Club
Description
The Leith Licensed Victuallers Cycling Club pose for a photograph on steps behind a tenement building. They are dressed in their best clothes, with the women displaying a wide array of fancy hats and dresses. There are many men in the crowd too, most of whom are wearing flat caps. A few children are being held up by their mothers.
Artist / maker
Unknown
Date
1895
Size
18.5 x 23 cm
Location
Edinburgh and Scottish Collection
Cycling clubs of this kind flourished in the United Kingdom in the late 19th and early 20th century. The proliferation of such clubs was due in no small part to the introduction of the Rover Safety Bicycle in 1885. J. K Starley's design featured similar sized rear and front wheels, a diamond shaped frame, and a chain drive linking the cranks and pedals to the rear wheel. This form, immediately recognisable as the basis for modern bicycle design, quickly took over from the precarious 'Ordinary' or 'Penny Farthing'. The improved comfort and safety of the Rover Safety Bicycle greatly increased the popularity of cycling as a leisure activity.
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.
See more images of Leith in the
Leith Lives
exhibition.
Exhibitions with this item
Pedalling past: Edinburgh's cycling heritage
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Related images
Related subjects
Clothing and dress
>
Accessories
>
Hats
Homes
>
Residential buildings
>
Tenements
People
>
Commercial activities
>
Shop workers
Places
>
Edinburgh areas
>
Leith
Places
>
Scotland
>
Edinburgh
Sport and leisure
>
Activities
>
Cycling
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