The 'Penny Bap'

Category

Library Item

Item no

38499

Title

The 'Penny Bap'

Artist / maker

Unknown

Engraver

Unknown

Date

1981

Size

10.1 x 14.8 cm

Type

Press cutting

The "Penny Bap" restored on its new site on reclaimed land at Seafield. The photograph was taken by retired elder Bill Collin in April 1981. In the car park of near by office buildings stands "the Penny Bap" stone, a huge glacial boulder dropped at Seafield by ice sheets after the last ice age.

Forgotten folk-lore in Edinburgh includes a tale of the elusive shell-clad Shellycoay believed to haunt Edinburgh's Docklands. According to local legend the Seafield Shellycoat made its home inside a barnacle encrusted boulder (The Penny Bap) that was moved when Leith docks expanded. Local children dared each other to run round the boulder 3 times chanting "Shelly-coat, Shelly-coat gang awa hame, I cry nar yer mercy, I fear na yer name". The spirit was said to appear.

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Architecture > Architectural features > Gates

Manufacturing Industry > Manufacturing facilities > Refineries

Places > Edinburgh areas > Leith

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Plants > Trees

Transport > Infrastructure > Pavements

Transport > Land > Cars