Leith Pilot's Licence

Category

Museums & Galleries Item

Item no

22105

Title

Leith Pilot's Licence

Description

Pilot's Licence; fair condition.The document is white and printed in black. Trinity House at top; seal in lower left corner; issued to James Hume 13 August 1912; crossed in red with the word 'Inoperative' across centre;

Date

1912

Size

30 x 45 cm

Type

Paper

Location

Museum of Edinburgh

Accession number

Ref NH43/1a/94

James Hume was a Leith pilot for many years, like his father before him. His first licence was issued in 1912. He also held general licences for the Harbours of Granton and Leith. Today, several items from his career as a pilot are held by the Newhaven Heritage Museum.

Seen here is the first licence issued to James Hume in 1912. It authorizes him to pilot ships from as far south as St Abbs, across to Fifeness and west to the Carron Roads. A few harbours are mentioned as being excluded from his area.

By the 19C the main business of Leith was its trade. As the principal port in Scotland, exports included herring and cod. Shipbuilding, and at one time whaling, offered work for many. 16 boats fished from Leith in the 1920s, but none are based here today. The area has become a fashionable suburb of Edinburgh.

Exhibitions with this item

Other views of this item

Related images

Related subjects

Places > Edinburgh areas > Newhaven