The Kirkgate, Leith

Category

Library Item

Item no

5577

Title

The Kirkgate, Leith

Description

Shop workers and customers stand on the street outside shops in the Kirkgate, Leith. The male shop workers wear aprons. Above the fishmonger's store there are rows of plucked poultry suspended from metal racks. A cat sits close by the fishmonger's shop. Signs for other establishments are on the walls of the shop as is a street lamp.

Artist / maker

Unknown

Date

1890

Size

27.6 x 21.5 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Kirkgate in Leith continues north from the northern end of Leith Walk. It was redeveloped in the mid 1960's to form a pedestrianised area including a shopping centre and housing. Vestiges of the old Kirkgate remain in the form of South Leith Parish Church and Trinity House, both dating from the first half of the 19th century.

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.

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Related subjects

Animals > Mammals > Cats

Business > Service industry > Shops

People > Commercial activities > Shop workers

Places > Edinburgh areas > Leith

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

(55°58′20″N, 3°10′16″W)