Clock Tower on Former Leith Provident Co-Op Society

Category

Library Item

Item no

51741

Title

Octagonal Clock Tower on former Leith Provident Co-Operative Society building, Great Junction Street

Artist / maker

Magee, Gregg

Date

2021

Type

Digital image

The Leith Provident Co-operative Society was established in Leith in 1878 when the first shop was opened at 147 Great Junction Street. By 1879 the business was doing so well that another shop was opened on Bonnington Road, and by 1926 there were 26 branches. In 1911 they opened their department store at 170-174 Great Junction Street.

By 1953 Leith Provident Co-operative Society had 30,500 members (customers with a Co-op number were part-owners of the store) and an annual turnover of £2,500,000. In 1966 Leith Provident merged with St. Cuthbert's Co-operative Association.

Great Junction Street was first proposed in the early 19th century, with the intention of linking Leith docks with Ferry Road and Leith Walk, and to enable traffic from the docks to bypass Leith's old narrow streets. Building started with Junction Bridge in 1818 but the road linking it with Bonnington Road was not built until the late 1830s, allowing traffic from the docks to reach Leith Walk.

Exhibitions with this item

Other views of this item

Related images

Related subjects

Architecture > Architectural features > Chimneys

Architecture > Architectural features > Clocks and clock towers

Architecture > Architectural features > Windows

Homes > Residential buildings > Flats

Places > Edinburgh areas > Leith

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Read how our collections have inspired people taking part in events, visits and community groups. Use the slider or navigation arrows to see more responses.

Clock Tower on former Leith Provident Co-Op Society