Carpenter's Land, Leith

Category

Library Item

Item no

5220

Title

Carpenter's Land, Leith

Description

An ornate gas lamp guards over the entrance to Carpenter's Land, Leith. The narrow lane has many houses with external staircases. In the street outside some of Leith's inhabitants pose for a photograph beside a grocer's store. Children gather on either side and in the centre is a cheery old woman and man. A young woman stands behind. The shop has an advert for Sunlight Soap in the window.

Artist / maker

Unknown

Date

1924

Size

19.9 x 16 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

This is part of a photographic survey made to accompany the Edinburgh (Leith) Improvement Scheme of 1924.

The Edinburgh (Leith) Improvement Scheme, 1924, was a plan for the regeneration of an area of Leith surrounding Constitution Street and to the north of Great Junction Street. The Town Council Minutes of 3rd April 1924 propose the demolition or reconstruction of "certain houses, courts, and alleys&unfit for human habitation". The concerns of William Robertson, Medical Officer of Health for the City and Royal Burgh of Edinburgh, were that the "narrowness, closeness, and bad arrangement, or the bad condition of the streets and houses&or the want of light, air, ventilation or proper conveniences or other sanitary defects&are dangerous or injurious to the health of the inhabitants of the buildings in the said Areas, or of the neighbouring buildings&". The scheme involved large-scale demolition in this area of Leith, and the re-housing of most displaced residents outwith the areas covered by the scheme.

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Related subjects

Architecture > Architectural features > Stairways

People > Adults > Men

People > Adults > Women

People > Children > Boys

People > Children > Girls

Places > Edinburgh areas > Leith

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Transport > Infrastructure > Lanes

Transport > Infrastructure > Street lights

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