Leith Walk, Leith

Category

Library Item

Item no

4627

Title

Leith Walk, Leith

Description

Leith Labour Hall occupies the imposing corner premises on the corner of Leith Walk and Smith's Place. There are shop frontages at street level and a delivery of furniture items is being made to one of the businesses.

Artist / maker

Unknown

Date

1921

Size

15.3 x 20 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Copyright

The copyright status of this item is unknown. If you have information related to the copyright holder please contact us.

Item is dated 9th June 1921

Leith Walk in Edinburgh is a notably wide street running from the west side of Calton Hill down to Great Junction Street in Leith. It follows the line of a raised pedestrian walkway which ran along the top of an earthen rampart constructed to defend the city against Cromwell's army in 1650. In 1776 this walkway and the road immediately to its west were combined as a single, modern road. This road, along with North Bridge and Leith Street, provided greatly improved access to Leith from Edinburgh.

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.

Exhibitions with this item

Other views of this item

Related images

Related subjects

Business > Service industry > Shops

Places > Edinburgh areas > Leith

Places > Edinburgh areas > Leith Walk

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Sport and leisure > Activities > Shopping

Transport > Land > Carts and wagons